1 Pedro 2
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Pedro 2:2
Spurgeon - When the apostle describes us under the character of “newborn babes,” he would have us lay aside all that is inconsistent with that character. Newborn children have no malice; they have no guile or craftiness; they have no hypocrisies, nor envies, nor evil speakings. They are clear from all these evils; would God we were as clear as they are! It would be better to be infants, not speaking at all, than to be among those who speak evil. It would be better to begin life over again than to live long enough to have gained a treasure of malice, and a hoard of cunning, and to have learned the tricks of hypocrisy. Let us be as simple as little children, as guileless, as harmless, as free from anything like unkindness as newborn babes are. And inasmuch as we are to follow them in what they have not, let us also imitate them in what they have. Let us desire ardently, as for our very life, the unadulterated milk of the Word. Let us cultivate that combination of hunger and thirst which is found in a little child, that we may hunger and thirst thus after God’s Word. We have done more than taste the Word; we have tasted that the Lord himself is gracious. Let us long to feast more and more upon this divine food, that we may grow thereby. (1 Peter 2- Commentary ) Read John Piper's discussion of what he refers to as "spiritual fatalism" which he defines as… the belief or feeling that you are stuck with the way you are—"this is all I will ever experience of God—the level of spiritual intensity that I now have is all I can have; others may have strong desires after God and may have deep experiences of personal pleasure in God, but I will never have those because … well, just because … I am not like that. That's not me." This spiritual fatalism is a feeling that genetic forces and family forces and the forces of my past experiences and present circumstances are just too strong to allow me to ever change and become more zealous for God (Titus 2:14), or more fervent (Romans 12:12), or more delighted in God (Psalm 37:4), or more hungry for fellowship with Christ (John 6:35), or more at home with spiritual things (Romans 8:5), more bold (2 Timothy 1:7), or more constant or joyful (Romans 12:12), or hopeful (1 Peter 1:13). Spiritual fatalism is tragic in the church. church. It leaves people stuck. It takes away hopes and dreams of change and growth. It squashes the excitement of living—which is growth. (1 Peter 2:1-3 Long for the Pure Milk) As newborn - Bengel says that newborns "are capable of nothing but desire" adding that in babes "in whom there is no guile." Peter had just discussed their new birth explaining that The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (The Gospel)… (and) you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding Word of God. (1Pe 1:3, 23) Hiebert observes that 1Peter 2:1-3 "constitute one sentence that centers on the imperative "crave" (1Pe 2:2). That craving is essential to the healthy growth of the new life. The obligation to grow involves the negative duty to remove all hindrances to growth (1Pe 2:1), and the positive duty to actively appropriate nourishment that furthers growth (1Pe 2:2). 1Pe 2:3 cites past experience as an incentive to growth. (1 Peter Commentary)
1 Pedro 2:2
Spurgeon comments that… If you have once had that sweet taste in your mouths, you will wish to have it always there, and you may do so if you continue to drink the unadulterated milk of the Word, and do not sour that good milk through tempests of malice, and envy, and evil speaking… Be glad to get simple truth, the “milk of the Word.” Even if you can digest the strong meat of the Word, never grow weary of the milk, for it is always good diet even for a full-grown man in Christ. Do not crave milk and water, but “desire the unadulterated milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby.” It is not enough for you to be spiritually alive, you must grow; and especially while you are babes in grace, your great desire should be that you may grow… The unadulterated “milk of the Word” is the best food for those who are, spiritually, “newborn babes.” Desire this unadulterated milk of the Word not out of an idle curiosity, but… - that you may grow thereby, - that you may grow wiser, holier, more earnest, more like your Savior, - that you may grow up into the likeness of Him Whose you are, and Whom you serve. You are in the family of God, but you are only babes in it yet; you have to grow to the stature of men in Christ Jesus, so “desire the sincere (unadulterated) milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” There is no other way of growing. You begin with tasting that the Lord is gracious, you go on to desire the unadulterated milk of the Word, and so you grow in grace more and more. If you have spiritually tasted this great truth, you have the flavour of it upon your palate, so that it makes you long for more of it. (1 Peter 2 Commentary ) Pure (97) (adolos from a = negative + dolos = deceitful cunning to mislead) means without guile, without deceit. Adolos describes that which is honest, sincere, pure, not mixed with with anything else, without admixture or unadulterated. Adolos is an adjective which is not found in the Septuagint (LXX) but was used in secular Greek writings describing seed or liquids which were described as "unadulterated." Adolos was also used to describe treaties as without fraud or guileless. And so in this context Peter is calling for intake of God's word, the only Word which is guileless, without imperfections, flaws, dilutions or anything that would deceive or lead astray! Steven
1 Pedro 2:2
Spurgeon - When a man is ill, he often loses his taste. The most delicious food is nauseous to him. His "soul abhors all manner of meat" (Ps 107:18). But such is the flavor of the truth that the Lord is gracious, that it is more pleasant to us when we are sick than at any other time. The love of Christ is a delicious refreshment for a sufferer. In order that (hina) is a purpose clause. Whenever you encounter a purpose clause (identified by "in order that", "so that" [991x in NAS95], "for the purpose that" - see more discussion terms of purpose or result) consider the "5P's" (Pause to Ponder the Passage then Practice it in the Power of the Spirit). Hina means "to the end that." As we observe it, we will find ourselves naturally re-reading the previous section (context). Questions we can ask include "What is the purpose?", "How do we achieve this purpose?", "What has to happen for this purpose to become a reality?", etc. Peter is explaining the purpose of intake of pure milk, with the implication that we should make sure it is indeed pure! The fulfillment of the purpose is critically dependent on the purity of the product, so to speak!. In short, the aim of the desire for God’s pure spiritual milk is growth in Christ-likeness. In summary, Peter's conclusion is simple - Just as babies grow best on pure milk, so too believers grow best on the pure milk of the Word of God. Believers never reach a place in this life where they stop needing pure milk. Johann Bengel - We are said to be born again unto salvation (1Pe 1:3, 5, 9) and in this passage, to grow unto salvation. Peter had in view Ps 34 which in the ninth verse (Ps 34:9), in the words following those used by Peter, offers salvation "O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." Fuller and happier experiences follow the first tastes of God's goodness. (Amen!) (The critical English Testament) Robert Leighton says that we are to… Crave the Word not just to hear it, but to grow from hearing it. The ear is the mouth of the mind, but meat that goes no further than the mouth does not nourish. To desire the Word in order to increase in knowledge, while necessary and commendable, is not the true reason for listening to the Word. As the Word is the means for beginning the Christian life, so it is also the means for continuing the Christian life. First, this will happen if we consider the nature of the Word in general, that it is spiritual and divine. The Gospel is called “light,” and God’s children are also called “light.” They are transformed by the Gospel and thus become even more enlightened the more they hear it, and so they grow. Second, if we look more particularly at the nature of the Word, it will be seen that it is most fit for increasing the graces of the Spirit (Ed: Cp Heb 10:29b-note) in a Christian, for there are truths in it that apply to them and through which they grow. It fans “into flame the gift of God” (2Ti 1:6-note). It does this by particular exhortations regarding the study and exercise of those graces, sometimes emphasizing one and sometimes another. The Word feeds faith by setting before it the free grace of God, His rich promises, and His power to carry them all out. The Word shows the strength of the New Covenant, so that “through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2Corinthians 1:20). The Word feeds repentance by making the vileness and deformity of sin daily more clear and visible. The Word increases our love for God by opening up more and more of His infinite excellency and loveliness to us. The Word brings Jesus Christ into our view, not only as the perfect pattern, but as the fountain of all grace. As we contemplate Him as God’s perfect image, the soul sees Him more clearly and can grow spiritually… As far as spiritual growth is concerned, remember that it is not observable in people while they are growing, but only after they have grown. It may appear that you are not growing in grace, but if you grow more in self-denial and are humble about your slow growth, all is not lost. While the branches may not be shooting up as fast as you would wish, yet if the root grows deeper, that will be useful for future growth. The person who is still learning to be more in Jesus Christ and less in himself, and is seeking all his dependence and comfort in him, is doubtless a growing believer. Many people wrongly conclude they are growing just because they are acquiring more knowledge. But the natural man is incapable of spiritual growth, for he is dead and does not have any of the new life to which this growth relates. Remember, Herod “liked to listen” to John (Mark 6:20). Consider, then, what true delight we might have in this. You find it a pleasure to see your children growing as they begin to stand and walk. But for the soul to be in the process of becoming more like God is a pleasure beyond all other pleasures. To find pride, earthliness, and vanity abating, and faith, love, and spiritual-mindedness increasing is the greatest delight. “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11-note). (1 Peter 2:1,2 Commentary-in depth) May grow (837) (auxano) means to cause to increase, to become greater in extent, size, state, or quality, (like a plant or a tree [or follower of Christ] would increase in size, stature, beauty, fruitfulness, etc). Figuratively, auxano describes the supernatural effect of the Gospel of grace (1Cor 3:6). For something to grow, it must be acted upon by an outside power and/or have the element of life within. In the spiritual realm, this growth is in a sense "synergistic" - that is to say believers must fulfill their responsibility to take in the Word of truth (James 1:18-note) that they might "be energized" in their spiritual life (Mt 4:4). As we take in the living and active Word (Heb 4:12-note), God's Spirit uses that nourishing supernatural source to supernaturally grow us into the likeness of God's Son, Jesus Christ. To reiterate, no intake of spiritual food equates with no spiritual growth! There is much published in America regarding how to "grow" one's church, but the focus is primarily on methods for increasing church membership. What Peter is addressing is the growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2Peter 3:18-note) that should be occurring in those believers who are already in the church. Auxano - 23x/23v in NAS - = causes the growth(1), causing the growth(1), full grown(1), grew(1), grow(8), growing(2), grows(2), increase(2), increased(2), increasing(2), spreading(1). Mt 6:28; 13:32; Mark 4:8; Luke 1:80; 2:40; 12:27; 13:19; John 3:30; Acts 6:7; 7:17; 12:24; 19:20; 1 Cor 3:6f; 2 Cor 9:10; 10:15; Eph 2:21; 4:15; Col 1:6, 10; 2:19; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18. In Acts 6:7 Luke records that the church in Jerusalem had leaders who were devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4), with the result that… the Word of God kept on spreading (auxano - growing); and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. This passage teaches that as we are faithful to the Master's Plan to make disciples, (Mt 28:18, 19, 20) "church growth" will take care of itself and it will be a church no longer filled with spiritual babies (See 1Cor 3:1-3, Heb 5:12-14-note) but with mature disciples who are trained to fight the good fight of faith (1Ti 6:12-note). Related Resource: Make Disciples 1 Make Disciples 2 - Begins study of Five Most Important Passages for Believers Make Disciples 3 - Chart comparing Filled with the Spirit and the Word Make Disciples 4 Make Disciples 5 Make Disciples 6 Make Disciples 7 Make Disciples 8 See the same figure of speech (metaphorical picture) in Colossians 2:19-note where the entire body grows [auxano] with a growth which is from God". Similarly, in Ephesians 4:15-note Paul instructs us to be "speaking the truth [The "pure milk of the Word"!] in love, we are to grow up [auxano] in all aspects into Him, Who is the head, even Christ." Are you growing spiritually or just growing old? Appetite for the Word needs to be developed and part of the development process involves putting off the old habits, sins, etc (See 1Peter 2:1-note). When you say "I'm not getting much out of the Bible" This says more about you than it does about the Bible! Beloved, if you desire to be a growing, healthy Christian, don't treat the Bible as snack food. A Chinese proverb says “Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still” which is the tragic plight of many who profess to be Christians and yet never take time to open God's Word! As someone has said "Just as you can’t be standing still you should never think that you have “arrived’ in your growth! – For “as long as you're green, you're growing. As soon as you're ripe, you start to rot.” In his second epistle Peter commands his readers to "grow (present imperative = continually, not an arrival on this earth but a process, glorification is the arrival in eternity future) in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2Pe 3:18-note) You may be asking "So how can I measure my growth in Christ likeness?" There are many ways one could answer this question but one way to measure your growth in grace is by your sensitiveness to sin. Christian author Jerry Bridges spoke to our need to continually grow in grace and knowledge of Christ when he said that "It is impossible to practice godliness without a constant, consistent and balanced intake of the Word of God in our lives." Vance Havner understood this truth about the power of the Word and it's relation to spiritual growth, explaining that "The storehouse of God’s Word was never meant for mere scrutiny, not even primarily for study but for sustenance. It is not simply a collection of fine proverbs and noble teachings for men to admire and quote as they might Shakespeare. It is ration for the soul, resources of and for the spirit, treasure for the inner man. Its goods exhibited upon every page are ours, and we have no business merely moving respectfully amongst them and coming away none the richer." A. H. Strong (of Strong's numbers fame) wrote that… A student asked the President of his school whether he could not take a shorter course than the one prescribed. ‘Oh yes,’ replied the President, ‘but then it depends upon what you want to be. When God wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years, but when He wants to make a squash, He takes six months.’” Strong also wisely points out to us that “growth is not a uniform thing in the tree or in the Christian. In some single months there is more growth than in all the year besides. During the rest of the year, however, there is solidification, without which the green timber would be useless. The period of rapid growth, when woody fiber is actually deposited between the bark and the trunk, occupies but four to six weeks in May, June and July.”—there are no shortcuts to reality! A meteor is on a shortcut as it proceeds to burn out, but not a star, with its steady light so often depended on by navigators. To taste of the grace of God is one thing; to be established in it and manifest it in character, habit, and regular life, is another. Experiences and blessings, though real gracious visitations from the Lord, are not sufficient to rest upon, nor should they lead us to glory in ourselves, as if we had a store of grace for time to come, or were yet at the end of the conflict. No. Fruit ripens slowly; days of sunshine and days of storm each add their share. Blessing will succeed blessing, and storm follow storm before the fruit is full grown or comes to maturity.”. Consider some familiar names of believers whom God obviously brought to maturity and used for His glory—such as Pierson, Chapman, Moody, Goforth, Mueller, Taylor, Watt, Trumbull, Meyer, Murray, Havergal, Gordon, Hyde, McCheyne, McConkey, Paxson, Carmichael and Hopkins. The average for these was 15 years after they entered their life work before they began to know the Lord Jesus as their Life and ceased trying to work for Him and began allowing Him to be their All in all and do His work through them. As Horatius Bonar once said "We must study the Bible more. We must not only lay it up within us, but transfuse it through the whole texture of the soul." Warren
1 Pedro 2:3
Spurgeon commenting on 1 Peter 2:3 agrees writing that… I THINK there can be very little doubt that Peter is here quoting from Psalm 34:8: O taste and see that the Lord is good. As I read you the chapter just now, I could not help observing the constant traces of Old Testament language. It endears Peter to us when we see how he prizes the ancient Word of the Lord; and, at the same time, it puts honor upon the Old Testament itself, when we see the Holy Spirit in the New thus quoting from the Old. It is noteworthy that in Psalm 34:8 the Lord God is spoken of. The passage actually runs — “O taste and see that Jehovah is good”; and Peter does not hesitate for a moment to apply the passage to the Lord Jesus. The word “Lord” is here used in its utmost fullness of meaning, as the equivalent for Jehovah, and it is applied to our Savior Jesus Christ. That Peter is here speaking of Jesus we are sure from the context: “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.” The chosen foundation-stone is, beyond question, the Lord Jesus; and Peter uses words concerning him which were written by inspiration concerning Jehovah himself. Evidently, to Peter the Lord Jesus was Lord and God… But now let us think of A SPECIAL SENSE which is exercised in tasting that the Lord is gracious. Faith is the soul’s eye by which it sees the Lord. Faith is the soul’s ear by which we hear what God the Lord will speak. Faith is the spiritual hand which touches and grasps the things not seen as yet. Faith is the spiritual nostril which perceives the precious perfume of our Lord’s garments, which smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia. Faith also is the soul’s taste by which we perceive the sweetness of our Lord, and enjoy it for ourselves. Taste is an inward sense, a private, powerful, personal appreciation. To taste is to know a thing in the essence, outcome, and enjoyment of it. To taste is to exercise discernment, to make discovery, and to gain assured knowledge of a thing. Apply this to the fact that the Lord is gracious, and what a weighty matter it is to taste thereof!… If you have tasted it, long for more of it. Do not hanker after the dilutions and concoctions of “modern thought,” which you will find vended in many a pulpit. Beware of dangerous foods, compounded of speculations and heresies. If you have ever tasted the true milk of the word, you will not desire any other; for there is none like it. When the other foods come into the market, say to yourself, “The best is good enough for me, and Christ Jesus is the best of the best. The Lord is so gracious that none can compare with him for a moment, and therefore I shall not leave him.” Let others fly to poisoned cups of error, or intoxicating draughts of superstition, we will keep to that which is so grateful to our taste, so nourishing to our souls. Next, expect to grow, and pray that you may do so. You, dear friends, have tasted that the Lord is gracious; and now you desire to be nourished up in sound doctrine, that your whole nature may be developed. How do Christians grow? If they grow aright, they grow all over. Some grow in knowledge, but they do not grow in virtue: this is as if a child’s head should get bigger and bigger, and the rest of his body should remain as it was: he will become a hideous creature, or will die of water on the brain. Some say they will make their hearts grow, and never mind their heads. This also will not do. If your heads remain pimples while your hands and feet increase, you will be deformed. We must grow up into Christ in all things. How? Why, by drinking in the unadulterated milk of the Word. To feed thereon makes us grow (1Pe 2:2b). Why are some stunted? Because they do not take enough spiritual food, or else because it is not the true word of God which they hear. It is sad that there should be so much evil teaching: it is the pest of our age. One of the most active agencies in London for the spread of certain diseases is milk; and though persons take in their milk carelessly, and think it is an innocent fluid, there may often be death in the can, and the pint of milk may be a pint of poison. The gospel is the most sustaining food for the soul; but if it is adulterated, it may convey spiritual disease and death into the soul. More mischief can be done by the pulpit than by all other agencies put together. Brethren, pray for ministers; for if they preach the gospel and water, so that the gospel loses its power; or if they preach gospel and poison, so that it ceases to be pure truth, then the people cannot grow, nor even live. Brethren, let us pray for more faith, more hope, more love, more zeal, and so let us grow. “Desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow.” Next, “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious,” abhor the garlic flavor of the world’s vices. I mean those alluded to in the first verse — “malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking.” If the Lord is gracious to you, be gracious to others. If you have tasted that the Lord is gracious, do not carry about with you the bitterness of malice, or the sourness of envy. Have no savor of cunning about you, nor the least taint of hypocrisy, nor the foul tang of evil speaking. Is not even a smack of evil too much? A man that has tasted that the Lord is gracious ought to have a sweet mind, and a sweet mouth; he should judge charitably, and speak kindly of others. If you do not do so, I advise you to taste again and again that the Lord is gracious, till the powerful savor of grace shall abide in the mouth, and cast out all the noisome savors of hate. I want you also, dear friends, if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to lose taste for all earthly trifles. Some amusements we are supposed to condemn; but we have not condemned them indiscriminately. We have nothing to say about their suitability for those who can be satisfied with them. Many diversions may be suited to those whose natures can be gratified with them. As to the children of God, we judge for them by quite another rule. Let the ox have its grass and the horse its hay; but souls must feed on spiritual meat. A farmer takes me over his farm. I see that he keeps swine, and I see the men bring out for them barley-meal and wash. The farmer asks me what I think of it. I think it is capital stuff for those for whom it is prepared. I do not condemn the swine for enjoying it, nor the farmer for providing it for them. But if he asks me whether I will have some of the wash, I am quick at answering, “No, farmer, not I.” “Why not?” “Well, I have other tastes. In your own house I have eaten bread and beef, and other foods are not what I hunger for.” That is all I say. Those who want vain amusements may judge themselves by their likings; but if so be that we have tasted that the Lord is gracious, our tastes are henceforth spoiled for the world’s impure delights. To dispute about taste is acknowledged to be unwise; and when sin and holiness become matters of taste with men, we shall soon see what manner of men they are. The taste of the world will never be our taste. I hope it never will; for if it were, we should have grave cause to fear that we were of the world. If we were of the world, the world would love its own, and we should love the world’s own as much as the world loves it. May you lose all taste for the apples of Sodom and the grapes of Gomorrah! Lastly, if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious, taste again. For what does the next verse say? “To whom coming, as unto a living stone.” You have come to Jesus; keep on coming to Jesus. You tell me that you trust Christ; trust him again, my brother. “He is all my hope.” Hope in him yet more. “He is my joy.” Rejoice in him still more. “He is my love.” Love him with all your souls. If you have tasted and enjoyed, then feast and enjoy. “Eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” There is no stint at my Lord’s table, and you need not restrain yourself from fear of surfeit or sickness. You can never partake too freely of the grace of Christ Jesus your Lord. No man was ever made ill by feeding too freely upon heavenly things. No, the dainties of heaven create an expansion of soul, and as we receive we gain capacity to receive yet more of holy gifts. We feast on when once we have tasted that the Lord is gracious. The Lord feed you to the full, for Jesus’ sake! Amen.(1 Peter 2:3 The Test of Taste - Pdf) Albert
1 Pedro 2:3
Spurgeon comments on "if" writing… If —then, this is not a matter to be taken for granted concerning every one of the human race. If —then there is a possibility and a probability that some may not have tasted that the Lord is gracious. If —then this is not a general but a special mercy; and it is needful to enquire whether we know the grace of God by inward experience. There is no spiritual favour which may not be a matter for heart-searching. But while this should be a matter of earnest and prayerful inquiry, no one ought to be content whilst there is any such thing as an if about his having tasted that the Lord is gracious. A jealous and holy distrust of self may give rise to the question even in the believer’s heart, but the continuance of such a doubt would be an evil indeed. We must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Saviour in the arms of faith, and say, “I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.” Do not rest, O believer, till thou hast a full assurance of thine interest in Jesus. Let nothing satisfy thee till, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit, thou art certified that thou art a child of God. Oh, trifle not here; let no “perhaps” and “peradventure” and “if” and “maybe” satisfy thy soul. Build on eternal verities, and verily build upon them. Get the sure mercies of David, and surely get them. Let thine anchor be cast into that which is within the veil, and see to it that thy soul be linked to the anchor by a cable that will not break. Advance beyond these dreary “ifs;” abide no more in the wilderness of doubts and fears; cross the Jordan of distrust, and enter the Canaan of peace, where the Canaanite still lingers, but where the land ceaseth not to flow with milk and honey. (Spurgeon, C. H. Morning and evening : Daily readings May 21 AM) Martin Luther said… Whosoever has not tasted the word to him it is not sweet it has not reached the heart; but to them who have experienced it, who with the heart believe, ‘Christ has been sent for me and is become my own: my miseries are His, and His life mine,’ it tastes sweet Johann Bengel… Tasting excites appetite (Ed: Beloved this also unfortunately true of the "forbidden fruit" of sin! So beware! Eat healthy "soul food"!). Compare Malachi 3:10 (The Critical English Testament) Peter continues the milk metaphor and likened their present knowledge of salvation to tasting. The readers had tasted and experienced God’s grace in their new birth, and had found that indeed the Lord is good. In this verse in which he gives the readers another reminder of the grace they had already experience, Peter quotes from Psalm 34:8 which in the Greek translation (Septuagint (LXX) uses very similar language… O taste (Lxx = geuomai - aorist imperative = do it now!) And see that the LORD is good (Lxx = chrestos ) How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalm 34:8) Robert Leighton - Our natural desire for food arises principally from its necessity for the nourishment of our bodies. In addition to this there is a sweetness and pleasantness as we eat it that serves to sharpen our desire, and nature has given it to us for this purpose. Thus God’s children, in their spiritual life, naturally desire the means of their nourishment and growth, as in this life we are always in a growing state. In addition, there is a spiritual delight and sweetness in the Word, for it reveals God, and this adds to their desire and stirs up their appetite for it. By the Word we grow, and in the Word we taste the graciousness of God. David, in the psalm that he dedicates wholly to this subject, gives both of these as reasons for his appetite. “Oh, how I love your law!” (Psalm 119:97). He declares that by it he was made “wiser than my enemies… I have more insight than all my teachers” (Psalm 119:98-99). He has been taught to keep his feet “from every evil path” (Psalm 119:101). He is taught by the Author of the Word, the Lord himself, to grow wiser and holier in divine ways. And then, in verse 103, he adds another reason: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ibid) O taste and see that the LORD is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Spurgeon (Notes on Ps 34:8) has the following meditation… O taste and see. Make a trial, an inward, experimental trial of the goodness of God. You cannot see except by tasting for yourself; but if you taste you shall see, for this, like Jonathan's honey, enlightens the eyes. That the Lord is good. You can only know this really and personally by experience. There is the banquet with its oxen and fatlings; its fat things full of marrow, and wine on the lees well refined; but their sweetness will be all unknown to you except you make the blessings of grace your own, by a living, inward, vital participation in them. Blessed is the man that trusts ("takes refuge") in Him (Ps 34:8KJV). Faith is the soul's taste; they who test the Lord by their confidence always find Him good, and they become themselves blessed. The second clause of the verse, is the argument in support of the exhortation contained in the first sentence. Ps 34:8. Experience the only true test of religious truth. Taste and see. There are some things, especially in the depths of the religious life, which can only be understood by being experienced, and which even then are incapable of being adequately embodied in words. O taste and see that the Lord is good. The enjoyment must come before the illumination; or rather the enjoyment is the illumination. There are things that must be loved before we can know them to be worthy of our love; things to be believed before we can understand them to be worthy of belief. And even after this -- after we are conscious of a distinct apprehension of some spiritual truth, we can only, perhaps, answer, if required to explain it, in the words of the philosopher to who the question was put, "What is God?" "I know, if I am not asked." - Thomas Binney's "Sermons," 1869. Be unwilling that all the good gifts of God should be swallowed without taste, or maliciously forgotten, but use your palate, know them, and consider them. - D. H. Mollerus. Our senses help our understandings; we cannot by the most rational discourse perceive what the sweetness of honey is; taste it and you shall perceive it. "His fruit was sweet to my taste." Dwell in the light of the Lord, and let thy soul be always ravished with His love. Get out the marrow and the fatness that thy portion yields thee. Let fools learn by beholding thy face how dim their blazes are to the brightness of thy day. Richard Alleine (See "Desire" on page 20 of Heaven Opened or a Brief and Plain Discovery of The Riches of God's Covenant of Grace) (1665) Tasted (1089) (geuomai; Latin - gusto) literally means to taste with the mouth, to try or test the flavor of (Mt 27:34). Figuratively geuomai (as used in secular Greek) meaning to "come to know" or to experience something. (Mt 16:28, Mk 9:1, Lk 9:27, Jn 8:52, He 2:9, 1Pe 2:3). BDAG - (1) to partake of something by mouth = to taste, partake of (2) to experience something cognitively or emotionally = to come to know. Geuomai - 15x in 15v in NAS - eat(1), eaten(1), taste(8), tasted(4), tasting(1). Matthew 16:28 "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." Matthew 27:34 they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. Mark 9:1 And Jesus was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power." Luke 9:27 "But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." Luke 14:24 'For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.'" John 2:9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, John 8:52 The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.' Acts 10:10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; Acts 20:11 When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. Acts 23:14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Colossians 2:21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" Hebrews 2:9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, Hebrews 6:5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 1 Peter 2:3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Geuomai - 12 x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Most refer to literal tasting. Ge 25:30; 1Sa 14:24, 29, 43; 2Sa 3:35; 2Sa 19:35; Job 12:11; Job 20:18; Job 34:3; Ps 34:8; Pr 31:18 ("senses" - Lxx "tastes"); Jonah 3:7 Job 12:11 (cp Job 34:3)“Does not the ear test words, as the palate tastes its food? The aorist tense of geuomai suggests that an initial act of tasting is referred to. Since this taste has proved satisfactory, the believers are urged to long for additional spiritual food (cp Mt 4:4, Lk 4:4, Dt 8:2, 3 Isa 8:20NLT, Dt 32:47, Job 23:12, Ps 19:10, Ps 119:11, Ps 119:103, Ps 119:127). The writer of Hebrews uses geuomai in his description of our Great High Priest… "we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste (geuomai) death for everyone." (see note Hebrews 2:9) ILLUSTRATION - A powerful illustration of someone "tasting" the Word of God:A beautiful and touching story is told of a young French girl who had been born blind. After she learned to read by touch, a friend gave her a Braille copy of Mark’s gospel. She read it so much that her fingers became calloused and insensitive. In an effort to regain her feeling, she cut the skin from the ends of her fingers. Tragically, however, her calluses were replaced by permanent and even more insensitive scars. She sobbingly gave the book a goodbye kiss, saying, "FAREWELL, FAREWELL, SWEET WORD OF MY HEAVENLY FATHER." In doing so, she discovered that her lips were even more sensitive than her fingers had been, and she spent the rest of her life reading her great treasure with her lips. Would that every Christian had such an appetite for the Word of God! (As told by Dr John MacArthur) Similar phrase "Kindness of God" - 2Sa 9:3, Ro 2:4, Titus 3:4-note Kindness (5543) (chrestos from chraomai = to use or from chresteuomai = to act kindly) has the basic meaning being well adapted to fulfill a purpose, i.e. useful, suitable, excellent, serviceable. It means goodness with a nuance of ‘serviceableness.' (as in Luke 5:39 where the old wine is fine or superior for use). Chrestos refers to morals in 1Cor 15:33 as those which are useful or benevolent. In several NT verses (Lk 6:35, Ro 2:4-note;Eph 4:32-note 1Pe 2:3) the main idea of chrestos is kind which conveys the sense of possessing attributes such as loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness. Kindness is a quality shown in the way a person speaks and acts. It is more volitional than emotional. Vine writes that chrestos… primarily signifies “fit for use, able to be used” (akin to chraomai, “to use”), hence, “good, virtuous, mild, pleasant” (in contrast to what is hard, harsh, sharp, bitter). (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words) Chrestos is used 7 times in the NT… Matthew 11:30 "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." Comment: Here chrestos refers to that which causes no discomfort. It is that which is well-fitting. In Palestine ox-yokes were made of wood; the ox was brought, and the measurements were taken. The yoke was then roughed out, and the ox was brought back to have the yoke tried on. The yoke was carefully adjusted, so that it would fit well, and not gall the neck of the patient beast. The yoke was tailor-made to fit the ox. Ponder that thought for a moment! Christ’s yoke is wholesome, serviceable, kindly. “Christ’s yoke is like feathers to a bird; not loads, but helps to motion” -- Jeremy Taylor) Luke 5:39 "And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good enough.'" Comment: Here chrestos refers to that which meets a relatively high standard of value) Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Romans 2:4 (note) Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Comment: Here chrestos refers to the beneficent nature of God, His desire to perform acts of kindness and charity. This meaning also applies to His children in Ephesians 4:32 who perform acts of charity because of His life in them and flowing through them). 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived (stop being deceived): "Bad company corrupts good morals." Comment: Here chrestos refers to that which morally good and thus which is reputable) Ephesians 4:32 (note) And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Comment: In experiencing the kindness of the Lord, men are to be like him in showing kindness towards others) 1 Peter 2:3 (note) if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Comment: Plato used chrestos for food. There also may be a play on words between “kindness” (chrestos) and “Christ” (Christos), two words which were probably pronounced the same at that time. The believers have therefore tasted chrestos, that is, Christ Himself, the Living Word.)