Psalm 34: Taste and See God's Refuge and Hope

Apr 26, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Saliva on the Beard

David scratched at the Philistine gate like a wild animal, drool dripping down his face. His enemies laughed as he played the fool to escape death. Yet in that humiliation, he wrote Psalm 34. God’s goodness isn’t measured by our dignity but by His presence in our desperation. [38:30]

When you face situations that make you feel foolish or powerless, God sees your raw trust. David’s insanity became a canvas for divine deliverance. The same God who preserved David in disgrace walks with you through shame.

How often do you equate God’s favor with your reputation? What if your lowest moment became the stage for His faithfulness?

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
(Psalm 34:4, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal His goodness in a situation where you feel exposed or humiliated.
Challenge: Text someone facing a crisis: “I’m praying for you right now—Psalm 34:4.”

Day 2: Talitha Koum in the NICU

A three-week-old girl lay lifeless in a hospital bed. Machines hummed as parents gripped her tiny hand. Like Jesus speaking to Jairus’ daughter, believers gathered to declare, “Talitha koum”—“Little girl, arise.” Miracles don’t check calendars. [30:51]

Jesus interrupts death’s timeline. An hour without oxygen, four days in a tomb—both bow to His voice. When doctors outline outcomes, God authors resurrections. The Ellis family’s crisis isn’t too messy for His healing breath.

Where have you stopped praying because “it’s been too long”? What if today held the turnaround?

“He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’… Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around.”
(Mark 5:41-42, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for His power over timelines. Name one “impossible” situation to pray over daily.
Challenge: Write “Talitha koum” on your mirror—pray it over someone needing healing.

Day 3: Radiant in the ER Waiting Room

David wrote, “Those who look to Him are radiant” while fleeing assassins. Radiant faces don’t mean pain-free lives. They glow from fixed gazes—like Moses descending Sinai, skin shining from God’s presence mid-crisis. [51:01]

Your countenance betrays your focus. Staring at problems etches worry lines; beholding Christ illuminates hope. The Ellis family’s weary eyes still spark with faith—not because tubes vanished, but because they’re seeking His face.

What do people see in your face after you’ve prayed? Fear’s residue or worship’s glow?

“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
(Psalm 34:5, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one fear stealing your radiance. Ask for fresh focus on Christ’s face.
Challenge: Smile intentionally three times today while whispering, “I see You, Jesus.”

Day 4: Brisket and Banana Pudding Faith

David didn’t say “hear about the Lord’s goodness”—he said “taste and see.” Like describing smoked brisket to a hungry friend, faith moves from menu-reading to feasting. Real trust digests God’s faithfulness, not just recites it. [59:37]

The Ellis family isn’t theorizing about miracles—they’re tasting desperation and seeing God’s nearness. Trials become banquets when we let God serve His presence. Abstract beliefs won’t sustain you; experiential encounters will.

When did you last “taste” God’s goodness—not just think about it?

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
(Psalm 34:8, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for three specific “tastes” of His goodness this past year.
Challenge: Eat a meal today slowly—thank God for His faithfulness with each bite.

Day 5: Refuge in the Roar

Lions surrounded David long before he wrote, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him.” Refuge isn’t the absence of predators but the presence of protection. God didn’t remove David’s enemies—He garrisoned him with angels. [50:37]

You’ll always hear the roar. But refuge means knowing the Lion of Judah outpaces every threat. The Ellis family sleeps near hospital alarms, yet rests in the shadow of the Almighty.

What roar deafens you to God’s presence? How can His nearness quiet it today?

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
(Psalm 34:7, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to make you aware of His spiritual protection in a specific struggle.
Challenge: Draw a circle around your home/workplace—pray Psalm 34:7 over it aloud.

Sermon Summary

A family health emergency opens the service with urgent prayer for baby Charlie, whose cardiac arrest led to an extended period without oxygen and a stay in the NICU. The congregation intercedes, invoking biblical examples of resurrection and healing and asking God for strength, peace, and restoration. The focus then shifts to Psalm 34, written by David while fleeing for his life and pretending madness before a Philistine king; that crisis becomes the soil for a startling conclusion: God remains good even amid danger. David’s response moves from survival to worship, declaring praise at all times and boasting in the Lord despite fear and persecution.

Psalm 34 receives close reading. The text emphasizes praise that does not depend on favorable outcomes but on God’s unchanging character. Seeking the Lord brings answers and lifts fear, not necessarily by removing problems but by releasing people from the prison of relentless what-ifs. The psalm also promises a visible change: those who look to God become radiant, their faces reflecting hope and peace instead of shame and anxiety. The writer presses the reader to taste and see God’s goodness, insisting that experiential knowledge of God surpasses mere theological information.

Practical application closes the exposition with a simple, repeatable pattern to cultivate God’s presence: spend five to ten minutes daily in worship, read Psalm 34 slowly, bring specific fears to the Lord, name three evidences of God’s goodness, and remain open to God speaking and prompting obedience. A personal example models this pattern: confession and reconciliation after a relational strain illustrate how divine presence reshapes relationships. The service ends with an invitation to receive prayer teams and to carry the conviction that refuge in God produces blessing, deliverance from fear, and a transformed countenance that witnesses to his nearness.

Key Takeaways

1. Praise God at all times Praise must root itself in God’s character rather than circumstances. Cultivating praise amid trials reframes suffering as a context for worship and anchors the heart in what God has already done. This discipline trains the soul to respond to God’s constancy rather than chase changing outcomes, turning distress into steady devotion. [40:44]
2. Seek God to overcome fear Actively seeking the Lord interrupts the internal loop of what-ifs and anxiety. Turning to God brings deliverance from the inner prisons of worry because divine presence displaces the imagined threats that dominate the mind. The remedy is relational: pursue God when fear rises and expect his answering presence to reorient courage and trust. [46:02]
3. Looking to God makes one radiant Fixing attention on God changes the visible self: eyes, expression, posture, and presence reflect what occupies the heart. Radiance in scripture signals a transformed inner life that outshines shame and communicates hope even when problems remain. This brightness becomes a credible testimony that points others away from panic and toward God. [50:09]
4. Taste and see God’s goodness Intellectual assent falls short of knowing God; tasting requires encounter and practice. Experiencing God through worship, Scripture, and honest prayer produces conviction that cannot be conveyed by argument alone. The invitation calls for a disciplined, sensory faith: engage, taste, and let God’s goodness become evident in life. [56:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:41] - Prayers for Baby Charlie
[29:34] - Corporate Intercession and Declarations
[32:09] - Tithes and Offering Prayer
[32:51] - Baptism Class and Registration
[34:00] - HopeFinder and Youth Fundraiser
[35:31] - Series Intro: Dropping Psalms Part Two
[36:56] - Background on Psalm 34
[40:44] - Praise God at All Times
[46:02] - Seek the Lord, Be Delivered from Fear
[50:09] - Radiant Countenance from His Presence
[56:25] - Taste and See God’s Goodness
[62:43] - A Simple Weekly Divo: Worship and Prayer
[66:01] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Psalm 34:1-8 (ESV)
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

1 Samuel 21:10-15 (ESV)
(Context of David fleeing Saul and pretending madness)

Exodus 34:29-35 (ESV)
(Moses’ radiant face after encountering God)

Observation Questions

Psalm 34 was written by David during a time of crisis (1 Samuel 21). What specific actions did David take in that crisis, and how does Psalm 34 contrast with his circumstances?
The sermon emphasized that praise is rooted in God’s character, not outcomes. What phrases in Psalm 34:1-8 highlight God’s unchanging nature?
According to the sermon, what visible change occurs in those who “look to God” (Psalm 34:5)? How does this connect to Moses’ experience in Exodus 34:29-35? [51:13]
The phrase “taste and see” (Psalm 34:8) was linked to experiential faith. What examples from the sermon illustrated this idea? [57:15]

Interpretation Questions

David wrote Psalm 34 after fleeing Saul and pretending madness. Why might he focus on praising God’s character rather than pleading for deliverance in this psalm?
The sermon stated, “Fear is exhausting” and traps people in a “brutal cycle” of anxiety. How does seeking God (Psalm 34:4) interrupt this cycle? [47:05]
What does it mean for believers to become “radiant” (Psalm 34:5) in practical terms? How might this radiance serve as a testimony to others? [52:04]
The phrase “taste and see” implies active participation. Why is personal experience with God more transformative than merely knowing facts about Him?

Application Questions

David praised God “at all times,” even in danger. What daily habit could you build to intentionally praise God before seeing answers to your prayers? [42:34]
The sermon suggested replacing fear by “seeking the Lord instead of Google.” What specific fear or “what-if” scenario do you need to bring to God this week? How will you actively turn to Him when anxiety rises? [48:29]
Radiant faces reflect inner peace. What distractions or worries most often dim your countenance? How could you redirect your focus to God’s presence this week? [53:24]
The pastor modeled thanking God for “three evidences of His goodness” daily. What three things can you thank God for today, even in a hard season?
“Taste and see” requires action. What step will you take this week to experience God’s presence (e.g., worship, Scripture, obedience) rather than just learn about Him? [01:02:23]
The sermon shared a personal example of reconciliation after conflict. Is there a relationship in your life where God is prompting you to apologize or extend grace? How will you obey? [01:05:21]

Sermon Clips

33s

#TasteAndSeeGod

“Have you tasted and seen that the lord is good? Have you experienced the presence of god? Have you tasted religion, or have you tasted the presence of god? Have you tasted church attendance, or have you tasted the presence of God? Have you tasted information, or have you tasted transformation that comes from the presence of God.”

33s

#PraiseInEverySeason

“And so as mature believers, we learn that we praise God in and out of every season of our lives, the highs and the lows, the good, the bad, and the hard. Because what God did for us on Calvary was more than enough. Listen. If God never blessed you with anything else, he is still worthy of your praise because of what Jesus did for you on the cross.”

29s

#ExperienceHisPresence

“And so David says, in the midst of running for his life, guys, I've experienced God's presence because in my time of trouble, I ran to him. I sought the Lord, and he answered, and he delivered me from all of my fears. And now he's saying to those of us who are reading his song, taste and see. In other words, you have to experience God's presence for yourself. Taste and see that the lord is good.”

29s

#BreakTheFearCycle

“Sometimes the biggest prison that you and I live in is not the prison that's outside of us. It's the prison that lives inside of us. And fear keeps so many people trapped in that loop and in that circle of fear and anxiety and worry and stress and depression, and then it loops back again to fear and anxiety and stress and depression, and then it loops back again.”

36s

#PraiseByFaith

“But see, mature Christians know how to praise god even when the answers don't come. Mature Christians know how to praise god before god's blessing comes. Mature Christians know how to praise God at all times because praising God isn't dependent upon your circumstances, and praising God isn't dependent on answered prayers. Praising God is dependent on character, God's character, and God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

42s

#FearIsExhausting

“Right? Because fear says, what if it doesn't work? What if it doesn't work? What if the treatment doesn't work? What if the medication doesn't work? What if the counseling doesn't work? What if my prayer doesn't work? What if I fail? What if we lose? What if they leave? What if I'm not enough? What if I get sick? What if something happens to my kids? What if my finances tank? What if I lose my job? What if I don't get that promotion? Right, man. I'm telling you, fear is exhausting.”

29s

#GodRemovesFear

“And god says in that season of uncertainty, in that season, as we learned last week when life feels unstable, unstable and you and I learn to turn to God, you and I learn to seek his face, God is faithful, and he will remove. He's not gonna take away the problems. He's not gonna take away all your responsibilities. He's gonna take away the fear that keeps us trapped in that brutal cycle.”

32s

#RunToRefuge

“And David says, when you and I learn to seek the Lord, when you and I learn to run to God, not to distractions, not to sin, not to things that only bring temporary relief when you and I learn to seek the Lord in our times of trouble. When you and I learn to turn to God who is our refuge and our strength and an ever present help in trouble, he will deliver you from all your fears.”

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Psalm 34: Taste and See God's Refuge and Hope

Devotional

Day 1: Saliva on the Beard

Day 2: Talitha Koum in the NICU

Day 3: Radiant in the ER Waiting Room

Day 4: Brisket and Banana Pudding Faith

Day 5: Refuge in the Roar

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Psalm 34: Taste and See God's Refuge and Hope

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