Psalms 34:8

O taste and see. The psalmist invites others not to take his word, but to put the matter to the test for themselves. “Taste” is from the Heb. ta‘am, “to try the flavor of,” here meaning, “to experience” (see Heb. 6:5; 1 Peter 2:3). The surest proof of religion is found in personal experience. Without Christian experience the religion of Christ is only theory, and as mere theory it has no saving power.

Good. Heb. tob, a word covering a wide range of qualities, such as “gracious,” “kindly,” “friendly.” A meditation upon this attribute of God should serve to correct our sense of cold justice. We should be sensitive to the gentler elements of God’s character. When tempted to forget gentleness in our relations with men, we need to think on this attribute of Deity.

Blessed. See on Ps. 1:1.

Man. Heb. geber, “the young, vigorous man.” None is beyond the need of divine help. In the divine plan, self-sufficiency is impossible. Man needs God.