September 3, 2006 | Author: Linda Parker

God’s Invitation:  Taste and See

“O taste and see that the Lord is good:

How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

Psalm 34:8

Study Overview

God is inviting you to a banquet! At this banquet, He is the main course.  Throughout our study of the Psalms, He wants you to “taste and see that He is good.”  In our classes, we will urge you to read, meditate, write, discuss, sing and experience the Psalms as maybe you never have before.

We are starting with Psalm 34 because from this one bite you can taste almost every flavor of all the rest. Praise, humility, trust, faithfulness, deliverance, justice, thanksgiving, and even prophecy are all pressed into these words of God’s servant, David.

Background

Tradition surrounding Psalm 34 marks it as “A Psalm of David, when he feigned madness before Ahimelech (specifically Achish, King of Gath), who drove him away and he departed.”  These events are recorded in I Samuel 20:1 – 22:2:

David fears he has fallen out of favor with Saul and begs Jonathan to confirm his suspicions.  In the famous scene that follows, Jonathan returns from a confrontation with his father and shoots the arrow beyond David to signal Saul’s plan to kill him.  After a tearful parting from Jonathan, David flees to Nob, where Ahimelech, the priest, offers the consecrated Bread of the Presence to sustain David and his men.  Ahimelech also arms David with the very sword of Goliath, which David had used to cut off the giant’s head. David then flees to Gath, a Philistine stronghold and hometown of Goliath.  When he is recognized, he pretends to be crazed, scribbling on the city gates and letting saliva drool down his beard.  Achish, the king of Gath, admits that he has had quite enough dealings with madmen, and allows David and his men to leave.  They escape to the cave of Adullam where David’s brothers and all his father’s household join him. And the scriptures say, “Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them.”

Read Psalm 34

Read the entire Psalm aloud, keeping in mind the events that have transpired in David’s life, that are fresh in his mind, as he writes these inspired words.

Discussion

1.  What do you see in this Psalm that could specifically relate to David’s experience with King Saul, Jonathan, Ahimelech the priest, and Achish, King of Gath?

2.  How does David respond to the Lord in this Psalm and what qualities of a true worshipper do you see (especially in vs. 1-5)?  How can we emulate those qualities in our public and private worship today?

3.  Picture David, talking as the captain of those who were in distress, in debt and discontent, as he says “Come you children, listen to me.”  How would his words, starting especially in vs. 11, apply to them and to us? What are you in distress, debt or discontent about and how can the God revealed in this Psalm help you?

4. What signs of Jesus our Savior do you see in this Psalm?  What comfort might he have received from knowing this Psalm during his days on earth?

              (v. 20 relates especially to Exodus 12:43-46 and John 19:32-36)

5. What do you “taste” in this Psalm that is good about the Lord and his promises?

(See also 1 Peter 2:1-3)

Pictures

All the Psalms are full of graphic descriptions that help us see God.  Don’t miss these pictures from Psalm 34:

Verse 5:  “They looked on him and were radiant and their faces shall never be ashamed.”  For the full picture read about Moses with the Lord on Mount Sinai from Exodus 34:29-35 and about the coming of Christ from Isaiah 60:1-5.

Verse 7:  “The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him.”

For the full picture read about Elisha and his servant surrounded by the armies of the Arameans from 2 Kings 6:15-17.

What other pictures do you see?

Class Wrap-Up

Spend the last five minutes of class in spontaneous worship to the God who is Good! Read scripture, pray and sing together to celebrate the blessings of those who take refuge in the Lord.

Assignment

This week, post a sheet of paper on your refrigerator.  Write at the top “The Lord is Good.”  Encourage everyone in your household to write things that they see or things that happen that remind them God is good.  Bring the sheet back next week to share with your class.