We all know some good people. They are nice and helpful to their neighbors. They always speak a kind word to and about others. Most of us would hope to be known as a good person in our neighborhood. What about God? Would we consider Him good? Good to us, to the world, and creation? I have heard some people question whether He is, with the many things that are happening in the world today, especially just in this past calendar year, with the pandemic, riots, wildfires, hurricanes, etc. In our psalm today, written by King David, we read a hymn of praise to God for His goodness, majesty and love. David had many trials and troubles throughout his life. Some were of his own making, and others that came upon him through others, yet he could still say that God is good. Let’s read through and briefly study this psalm together.
One of Satan’s tactics that he often uses against people is to try and get them to question God’s goodness. In the Garden of Eden, Satan came to Eve in the form of a serpent, and enticed her to sin by getting her to question God’s goodness (Genesis 3:1-6). He told her that if God was really good He wouldn’t keep the tree of knowledge of good and evil from her and Adam. Satan is using the same tactics today. He whispers in people’s ears that if God was really good, why wouldn’t He stop such terrible things from happening. David could have wondered the same thing. He could have thought that if God was good, if He really loved him, why was he always having to run for his life from his enemies. In all of his difficulties, David never doubted God’s goodness or mercy (vs. 9).
In today’s psalm David celebrates the King of Eternity for who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised, all of it good. Every day God showers His compassion on all of us. All we have to do is look around and see all of creation, and see the goodness of God. David gives four key reasons to praise the Lord: the Lord is great (vs. 3), He is gracious and merciful (vs. 8-9), He sustains all who fall (vs. 14), and He is righteous in His ways and kind in His deeds (vs. 17).
David found that the best way for meeting troubles and perilous times was to meditate on God's sufficiency and His will for us. When we focus our mind and spirit on the Lord, we see all He has done for us and others in the past, and that will give us strength and hope. Focusing on praising God will put our problems in perspective. God is always at work, bringing joy into our difficult situations. The Bible calls us to meditate on God and His majesty. To do that, we should recall the victories He has given us. We should ponder God’s attributes, and see His glory in nature. Most importantly, we can focus on His Son, Jesus Christ.
God is a good God. For one thing, He is our provider. Because of His great love for us, He gives us all that we need (vs. 15). The Lord is kind in all of His works, especially as He knows our every step, word, and deed, and He forgives us all our sins when we come to Him through His Son, Jesus. His fatherly divine provision extends throughout our life, and into eternity.
God is a good God because He is near to all who call upon Him (vs. 18). No one is given preferential treatment. God has no favorites. All of His children have equal access. Because of that we can come boldly to His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). When God does provide for us, especially in a special way, and when we know He hears us, we need to speak up in praise and thanksgiving, and tell others (vs. 21).
When our troubles, and the events in the world seem more than we can bear, David tells us in this, and so many of his psalms, that we can go to a very good and loving God. God lifts us up because His greatness is unsearchable (vs. 3). God is good because He has done great and awesome works throughout every generation (vs. 4-6). He is good, because He is righteous, gracious, compassionate, and patient with us (vs. 7-9). God is a good God because He is the source of all of our needs (vs. 15-16). He is good because He is close to those who call on Him (vs. 18), and He hears our cries and saves us (vs. 19-20).
Troubles may mount, days may be dark, and Satan may try to tell us otherwise, but we can trust that our God is a good God. He will take care of His children until He brings us to our eternal home with Him in heaven.
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