Psalm 34 (33):9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

13:12), yet there will come a time when this initial encounter, this taste of grace, will ultimately transform into the fullness of our experience. Similarly, those who suffer from indigestion and have an aversion to food are healed by doctors who, through specially prepared meals, rekindle their desire for nourishment; as their appetite is stirred by these remedies, so too will the truth continually evoke an insatiable longing within you. "Therefore, taste," He urges, that you might be "blessed," like those who yearn and thirst for righteousness. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord." The one who consistently seeks the Word will place their hope solely in the Lord.

If you seek to mend a wound, He is the healer; if you suffer from fever, He is the source of refreshment; if you endure injustice, He embodies righteousness; if you are in need of support, He is assistance personified; if you dread death, He is eternal life; if you yearn for heaven, He is the pathway; if you wish to escape darkness, He is illumination; if you crave sustenance, He is nourishment. Therefore, taste and perceive how good the Lord is: blessed is the one who puts their trust in Him!

It is said to "taste" rather than "be filled," for our current understanding is partial, and our perception of the truth is like observing a reflection dimly; yet a time will come when the foreshadowing and initial taste of grace will be transformed into full enjoyment, which is why David expressed in another psalm, "I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." Just as the essence of honey cannot be adequately conveyed through words to someone who has never tasted it, the goodness of the heavenly message cannot be fully communicated through teachings alone; we must personally experience God's goodness through diligent exploration of the truth.

Basil the Great articulated this well, while Cyril posed a poignant question: “How can I describe the sweetness of honey to those who have never tasted it?” The sensation is more tangible than any verbal explanation. Likewise, in food, the delightful sweetness of its goodness is revealed through tasting; so too in the divine gifts, mere descriptions fall short of expressing their power, but through personal testing, one can truly recognize the impact of the grace contained within them. Hence, for those yet to experience the gentleness of God, it is often necessary to proclaim, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Eusebius notes that David, having felt the strength in consuming sacred bread at the house of Abimelech, uses this act as a metaphor, foreshadowing the nourishment of eternal life.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord." If placing trust in humanity leads to curses, as Jeremiah states, "Cursed is the man who trusts in man," it follows that the person who places their trust in the Lord is indeed blessed, as affirmatively expressed by David.

This trust, in turn, ought to naturally lead to seeking God, but without the reverent fear of God, trust lacks foundation, resulting in a guilty conscience that diminishes boldness in prayer. Thus, between the elements of trust and seeking God, there lies the essential fear of God, distinctive of the saints. Therefore, the experience of God’s goodness kindles trust, which, combined with an active reverence for God, inspires the courage to seek Him amid feelings of inadequacy and helplessness. This seeking becomes akin to the act of prayer; the fear of God provides the support for the one praying, trust invigorates the prayer's spirit, and the experience of goodness breathes life into that interaction. Taste and see how good the Lord is: blessed is the man who puts his trust in Him. Initially, it was an invitation to come and be enlightened; now it invites a deeper, heartfelt engagement. The approach here is not superficial but a true communion, much like how one consumes food; the one who tastes the Divine deeply engages with it, recognizing it as distinctly as if perceived with the eyes. All spiritual truths are genuinely known through heartfelt sensation, as the mind alone cannot grasp them fully. The Apostle asserts that senses must be refined to discern spiritual realities, highlighting the unique way to understand spiritual truths is through the heartfelt experience of tasting. Here, the Prophet speaks specifically of goodness; however, every attribute of God is recognized through this inward experience. Justice, patience, omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence are also perceived in this manner. When the heart tastes and feels them, the spirit comprehends their essence. Just as taste discerns food, the heart feels spiritual realities. Saint Basil the Great observes that just as one cannot accurately define the qualities of honey without having tasted it, so too is the goodness of divine things inadequately conveyed unless personally experienced. Regarding the comprehension of the Lord's goodness, the command to taste is given—but not to be satisfied too soon; for in our present understanding, we see through a mirror dimly (1 Cor. 13:12). A time will come when this present experience will transform into perfect enjoyment. Analogous to how a person with a stomach ailment, averse to food, is healed through specially prepared nourishment that stirs their appetite, there exists a spiritual counterpart. The Prophet promises that this experiential desire will continuously call forth a joyful longing, as the Lord declares: blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6). Even a small taste will ignite the desire for more and lead to fulfillment. Regardless of the degree of perfection attained, it only serves as a foretaste of what is to come. The Prophet invites us to savor the Lord's goodness, but how can one achieve this? The heart tastes this goodness through faith, earnest contemplation, and by positioning oneself in a place of divine grace. Faith serves as assurance for the hopeful and conviction for what we do not see, analogously to how sensual experience relates to the tangible world. If faith falters or diminishes, it can be strengthened through reflection on divine attributes, actions, and the manifestations of God's goodness throughout humanity’s history. This illumination reveals how the Lord cares for those who draw near to Him. Once this awareness takes root in the heart, it cannot help but feel a gentle outpouring of divine kindness. However, the most profound experience of God’s goodness arises from direct action—placing oneself in the embrace of God. This seems to be the essence of David's intention, suggesting that one should act, casting their burdens upon God and relinquishing all other sources of support. In doing so, one truly encounters the goodness of the Lord through genuine prayer (Euthymius Zigaben, Irineus, Archbishop of Pskov). Saints Athanasius the Great, Blessed Theodoret, Euthymius Zigabenus, and Anfimus, Patriarch of Jerusalem, highlight a particularly accessible means of experiencing God’s goodness through the Sacraments of the Pure and Life-giving Mysteries. This scripture is recited in church when preparing for Holy Communion, as the faithful await that blessed moment when they partake of the Body and Blood of Christ. The repentant sinner, whose conscience has been cleansed through confession, feels the warm embrace of the heavenly Father, welcoming them back into His care and inheritance. The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin, and through His Body, as our Forerunner, He entered into the Holy of Holies. Those who partake of the Body and Blood of Christ experience the cleansing of all sins and recognize their co-heirship with Him. When Communion transcends mere external ritual, it brings about a genuine awareness of the blessings received through God’s goodness, allowing one to truly taste His goodness. Blessed Theodoret perceptively observes that the partaking of this Life-giving Meal sharply reveals the Savior's goodness. What manifestations of His humanity speak more profoundly than the Cross, suffering, and death willingly embraced on our behalf? He nurtures us as both sustainer and wellspring of life. Blessed is the person who trusts in Him, for encountering God's goodness brings solace akin to a mother's embrace—a hallmark of true trust. Thus, tasting God's goodness nurtures trust; trust itself safeguards the treasures of that goodness. Those who have tasted the goodness of God have discovered a true treasure trove. Trust serves as the key, granting access to all spiritual riches. This is why the blessed are those who place their trust in the Lord. This blessing is not merely external happiness but a deep-seated joy within, which remains undiminished amidst external challenges. Unlike fleeting worldly benefits, which vanish the moment they are grasped, the internal satisfaction of tasting God’s goodness restores contentment without end. In contrast, those relying on created things find they lack true security. This reliance leads to a lack of trust and an absence of true experience of God's goodness. Human beings cannot exist without support; however, if that support is not grounded in God, it rests instead in oneself, others, or worldly situations. Such individuals do not proclaim, "God will assist me," but rather rely on their own efforts or the strength of others. They do not express confidence in divine protection but trust in human strength (Blessed Augustine). This person is truly unfortunate, endlessly wrestling with fear and anxiety, while the world around them remains in constant turmoil. The holy Apostle James admonishes those who exhibit such hubris, saying: "Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a city, and spend a year there and make a profit,’ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil" (James 4:13-16). Similarly, the holy prophet Jeremiah warns of God’s wrath against those who put their trust in man, relying on their own strength, stating that their hearts will stray from the Lord. Such a one will be like a wild shrub in the desert, not seeing when good comes but living in barren places, in a parched land where no one dwells. In contrast, blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord; they shall be like a tree planted by the water, sending out roots by the stream. They do not fear when heat comes; their leaves remain green, and in the year of drought, they are not anxious and do not cease to bear fruit (Jeremiah 17:5-8).