Reflections
Psalm 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (Read)
“Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”
What does Jesus tell us to do in this week’s Gospel? “Whoever eats this bread [my flesh] will live forever.” (John 6:51) However difficult Jesus’ words may have been for the Jews to accept (or for us), the psalmist is right when
he says, “Blessed the man who takes
refuge in Him.” Where else would we
turn when we are in distress?
The Psalm says, “When the afflicted man called out,
the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him.”
Just as the Lord answered Elijah and delivered him
from his despair (1 Kings 19:4-8), so He delivers us from
whatever has bogged us down spiritually.
The psalmist prays, “My soul will glory in the Lord,
that the poor may hear and be glad.” The word poor
is said to apply to one who depends completely on God
for his deliverance and his very life. That’s where Elijah
stood that day in the early stages of his long journey,
totally dependent on God for the strength to walk the
walk that was planned for him. (1 Kings 19:4-8).
And if the truth were to be known, that’s where we stand
even today, when we are short of endurance
along our spiritual journey.
The psalmist recounts for us how he gained deliverance,
“I sought the Lord, who answered me, and delivered me
from all my fears.” Despite the anguish in the psalmist’s
voice, there is also a powerful, joyful spirit – “Look to God
that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not
blush with shame.”
Where does our joy come from? How do we obtain a
joyful spirit? It comes from repenting and returning to
the Lord. Only then can we be embraced by the Lord.
Having humbled ourselves before Him, confessed our
sins, He takes us back.
He watches for us each day, encouraging us.
He reconciles us and restores us in a right relationship
with the Father. And He provides the inner strength and
the nourishment we need to complete our own spiritual journey.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist tells us how to obtain a joyful spirit, "Look to the Lord
that you may be radiant with joy." Describe how the Lord has given you
inner joy in the course of relieving you from your afflictions.
2. The Psalm says that the angel of the Lord 'encamps' around those
who fear Him and delivers them. Speak of how your faith has been
a source of strength and deliverance in the face of difficulty or persecution.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
ReplyDeleteThe Psalmist David was pleading for God’s protection in a time of crisis and in fear of being caught by King Saul.
David experienced God’s mercy and blessing to save him and rescue him.
Our knowledge of God is partial and incomplete. But if we trust Him daily by obedience in following God, and have a right relationship with Him, we can experience how good and kind He is.
We also can taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
You know why ? God promises to be close to the brokenhearted. In times of our problems, pain, failure, sorrow, and even small frustration which wears us down, He provides us with inner peace and radiant joy.
God is the source of our strength, courage and wisdom. If we also humble ourself and confess our sins, He will save those who are crushed in spirit. His ears are attentive to their cry.
Our Lord will redeem us and take us back again. No one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him. That’s why our Lord invites us to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. He promises deliverance and mercy to those who seek Him. He is faithful.
That’s why I will extol the Lord at all times. Let us exalt his name.
When faced with a difficult and troubling situation, we get together, pray for help and support and then discuss and firm up a best course of action. We know the Lord is listening, and we pray that what we hear and follow is Our Lord’s response. Often it is not what we were originally thinking & planning. Sometimes, the answer does not come right away. The solution, is to be persistent and properly grateful with the Lord.
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