Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Goodness
GOOD, GOODNESS
When was the last time you paused to ponder the goodness of God? Would you consider taking a moment today from your busy schedule, finding a quiet place, turning off your cell phone, and choosing to purposefully set your mind on the things above rather than the things of this earth, which is passing away, and even it's lusts?
Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Ro 2:4-note)
Then Moses said, "I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!" And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion. (Exodus 33:18,19)
Have adverse circumstances caused you to struggle with whether you really believe God is good? Beloved, if this describes you (and it probably describes all of us from time to time if we are honest), then try this exercise over the next few days (cp Ps 27:13, 14,). Ponder (cp Meditate; Primer on Biblical Meditation) the following passages (you will derive the most value by reading them in context) that relate to the goodness of God. Make a list of your observations (observation), as you ask simple questions (interrogate with the 5W'S & H - eg, What must I do to understand God's goodness? Ps Ps 86:5, 34:8 Who can expect to be the beneficiary of God's goodness? Ps 31:19; How long can we expect to bask in His goodness? Ps 23:6 Whenwill the Lord's goodness cease? Ps 100:5 - you get the idea! Simple questions that yield profound answers!)
Praise to the Lord, Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
(Play hymn - cp Ps 135:3)
Ask God to lead you into all the truth about His goodness, yielding yourself to the truth He illuminates (Ps 119:68). The truth of His great goodness can be ignored (cp Ne 9:35). Let the water of His Word wash over you and renew your mind (cp effect on one's heart, our "control center" - 1Ki 8:66). Truth always demands a response. What shall we say to the goodness of God? Trust and obey. Turn the truths you glean into a time of worship, praising and thanksgiving to Him for His infinite, eternal goodness poured out richly through Christ Jesus our Lord (cp David's declaration in Ps 16:2).
Therefore my songs, my Savior,
E’en in this time of woe,
Shall tell of all Thy goodness
To suff’ring man below;
Thy goodness and Thy favor,
Whose presence from above
Rejoice those hearts, my Savior,
That live in Thee and love.
(Play hymn)
Pastor Ray Pritchard says that...
God's goodness is the answer to the question: Is this a friendly universe? The answer is yes; when we come to the end of our thinking we find that behind the vastness of this universe stands a God who cares about what he has made. He is not indifferent (as in stoicism) or undecided (as in dualism) or absent (as in atheism), but he is fully involved for the good of the universe because he himself is a good God. (God is So Good - Recommended Sermon - Dr Pritchard discusses numerous practical ways that God is good to the unsaved and the saved)
Some passages to ponder on God's goodness: For the greatest benefit from the following Scriptures, read the text, not passively but consciously and actively "interrogating" the text (interrogate with the 5W'S & H), making a list in your life journal of what the Spirit of Christ (Ro 8:9-note) teaches you (1Jn 2:27, Jn 14:26, 16:13) about God and about man. Obey any instructions or commands you encounter, as you allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind and to "cultivate faithfulness" (NAS, Ps 37:3-see note). Then offer prayers and praise to your Father for graciously teaching you these profitable truths (cp 2Ti 3:16, 17-notes).
Ex 1:20, 18:9, 33:18, 19, 34:6 Dt 30:9 2Sa 2:6 1Ki 8:66 1Chr 16:34; 2Chr 5:13; 7:3, 7:10 Neh 9:25,35 Ps 16:2, 17:7, 23:6, 25:7, 8, 9, 10, 27:13, 31:19; 33:5, 34:8, 36:7, 52:1,9; 65:4, 68:10,19, 69:16, 73:1, 86:5, 100:5, 106:1, 107:1, 109:21, 118:1,29, 119:64, 68, 135:3, 136:1, 139:17,18; 143:10; 144:3; 145:7, 9, 145:7, 8, 9, Isa 63:7 Je 31:14, 33:11 La 3:25, Ho 3:5, Na 1:7, Mt 19:17, Mk 10:18, Lk 1:53, 18:19, Ro 2:4; 11:22; Titus 3:4; Jas 1:5,17
Father of everlasting grace,
Thy goodness and Thy truth we praise,
Thy goodness and Thy truth we prove;
Thou hast, in honor of Thy Son,
The gift unspeakable sent down,
The Spirit of life, and power and love.
(Play hymn)
Thee will I praise among thine own;
Thee will I to the world extol,
And make Thy truth and goodness known:
Thy goodness, Lord, is over all;
(Play hymn)
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
(Play hymn)
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
(Play hymn)
God is the source of all good and goodness, and He alone defines what is good. All that He is and all that He does is good. This truth transcends the capacity of our minds to fully comprehend, but one day we will see Him in all His supreme, majestic goodness...
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. (1Cor 13:12)
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. (Ps 27:13, 14)
Most of us often mistakenly equate the goodness of God with the “rightness” of our circumstances. We’re like the little girl who, when she got what she wanted, exclaimed, “God must really like me!” Or conversely, when things aren't going our way, we say, “Why is God punishing me like this?”But our circumstances are not an accurate reflection of God’s goodness. Whether life is good or bad, God’s goodness, rooted in His character, is the same. As John Blanchard so ably phrased it...
Nothing good comes except from God and nothing except good comes from God.
Count your many blessings,
Name them one by one,
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology...
God's goodness is a bedrock truth of Scripture. His goodness is praised in the psalms (Ps 25:8; 34:8; 86:5; 100:5; 118:1; 136:1; 145:9). Jesus affirms the Father's goodness when speaking to the rich young ruler (Matt 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19). In 1Peter 2:3 Peter echoes the language of Psalm 34:8: "Taste and see that the Lord is good!"'
Although we might discuss God's goodness in some abstract philosophical sense, in Scripture his goodness appears most clearly in his dealings with people. He is not only good in general, but he is good to us (Ps 23:6-note; Ps 68:10-note; Ps 73:1-note; Ps 119:65-note; Ps 145:9-note; La 3:25; Luke 6:35; Ro 2:4-note; Ro 11:22-note; Eph 2:7-note; Titus 3:4-note). Human goodness is modeled on divine goodness (Mt 5:48-note). For human beings goodness involves right behavior, expresses itself in kindness and other praiseworthy qualities, includes avoiding evil, and springs from the inner person.
It is nearly impossible to think about goodness in the abstract. In Scripture goodness always involves particular ways of behaving. Because God is good, he is good to his people; when people are good they behave decently toward each other, based on God's goodness to them. Moses' invitation to Hobab expresses this emphasis: "Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel" (Nu 10:29). The general biblical words for "good/ goodness" include this idea of right behavior, although the idea is often expressed by means of a more specific term like "upright/uprightness" or "righteous/righteousness." (See full article - Good, goodness)
Edward Carnell (in his book Christian Commitment) rightly reminds us that...
God never urges himself to be good, because He is good.
John Piper comments on Carnell's declaration...
That is His nature always inclines irresistibly toward righteousness. God is never torn by evil motives. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1Jn 1:5). So He does not need to be reminded about the duty of His deity. No one needs to say, "Now today, God, mind Your manners, do what's right, avoid evil, remember the ten commandments." (Walk by the Spirit! Desiring God Christian Resource Library)
EASTON'S BIBLE DICTIONARY: GOODNESS OF GOD
A perfection of His character which He exercises towards His creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps 145:8,9; Ps 103:8; 1Jn 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of His creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favor on the unworthy it is grace.
Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes merciful and sometimes just, but he is eternally infinitely just and merciful."
God is infinitely and unchangeably good (Zeph 3:17), and his goodness is incomprehensible by the finite mind (Ro 11:35, 36-notes).
High in the heavens, eternal God,
Thy goodness in full glory shines;
Thy truth shall break through every cloud
That veils and darkens Thy designs.
--Isaac Watts
><>><>><>
God is good in Himself; that is, He is perfectly holy; but this is not the goodness which comes into consideration here. It is God's goodness in action, which reveals itself in doing well unto others, that is now under contemplation. It may be defined as that perfection of God which prompts Him to deal bounteously and kindly with all His creatures. It is the affection which the Creator feels toward the sentient creatures as such. As manifested towards His rational creatures, it is sometimes called His love of benevolence or His common grace, to designate the fact that its bounties are undeserved. The Bible refers to it in many places, such as Ps 36:6-note; Ps 104:21-note; Ps 145:8, 9, 16-note; Mt. 5:45-note; Mt 6:26-note; Acts 14:17. (Louis Berkhof - Manual of Christian Doctrine)
Good when He gives, supremely good,
Nor less when He denies,
E'en crosses from His sovereign hand
Are blessings in disguise.
--James Hervey
><>><>><>
God's goodness appears in two things, giving and forgiving. When God gives it is a reflection of His goodness and conversely anything that is truly good comes from the hand of the good God. It was Matthew Henry who said that "He who feeds his birds will not starve his babes." And so it is only appropriate as one person has said that God's giving rightfully deserves our thanksgiving.
His love has no limit,
His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!
Annie Johnson Flint
><>><>><>
Ray Stedman commenting on Ps 23:6-note has said that goodness and mercy are God's "sheep dogs"...
In referring to the goodness and mercy of God, he is referring to the sheep dogs that nip at the heels of the flock and keep them in line, driving them into place. "Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life," nipping at my heels, humiliating me, turning me back from that which looks good but is really evil, keeping me from getting what I think I need, and what I think I want. But in the end we must name these what God names them -- goodness and mercy!" (from Love's Disciplines)
Sinclair Ferguson phrased it this way...
God has two sheepdogs: Goodness and Mercy (Ps 23:6-note). He sends them to us from His throne of grace; sometimes to bark at us, to badger us; sometimes to woo us by persuading us that His will is good and perfect for our lives.
God is Good Not Just Powerful from Knowing God Through The Whole Bible by Radio Bible Class Ministries
In our world, absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely. But not with God. Our all-powerful God is full of goodness. His goodness is expressed in everything He does. Even His acts of judgment are part of His goodness. When He created our world, everything He made was good....Because God is good, we conclude that:
(1) We can believe what He says to us.
(2) We can have confidence in waiting for His rescue.
(3) We can entrust our future to His care.
(4) We can rely on His wisdom and guidance.
(5) We can know that what He asks us to do is always the best for us....
(1) What are some examples of God's goodness to all people?
(2) Is God ever against you? How do you know?
(3) How is God's goodness expressed in His justice? In His mercy? In His love? In His anger?
(4) How have you responded to God's goodness in the last week?
(5) Have you personally experienced God's goodness as it is expressed in the salvation offered in Jesus Christ?
The goodness of God is the expression of both His love and righteousness to His creatures in general. It is that aspect of God’s character that promotes the happiness of His creatures. Goodness includes God’s kindness as seen in mercy and grace. God’s goodness includes His benevolence, mercy, and grace.
Scriptures: Ex 34:6; Ps 25:7, 8; 33:5; 68:10; 145:7; Neh 9:25; Ro 2:4; 1Ti 4:4.
Thy goodness, Lord, our souls confess,
Thy goodness we adore:
A spring, whose blessings never fail,
A sea without a shore.
(Play)
For a somewhat more "rousing" song on the goodness of our great God, watch Don Moen sing - God is Good or if you want a bit of country listen to Keith Urban's God is Good or a young child singing God is So Good
TORREY'S TOPIC: GOODNESS:
Is part of His character-Ps 25:8; Nah 1:7; Mt 19:17
Great -Neh 9:35; Zec 9:17
Rich -Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4
Abundant -Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5
Satisfying -Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14
Enduring -Ps 23:6; 52:1
Universal -Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45
MANIFESTED:
To his Church -Ps 31:19; La 3:25
In doing good -Ps 119:68; 145:9
In supplying temporal wants -Acts 14:17
In providing for the poor -Ps 68:10
In forgiving sins -2Chr 30:18; Ps 86:5
Leads to repentance -Ro 2:4
Recognize, in his dealings -Ezra 8:18; Neh 2:18
Pray for the manifestation of -2Th 1:11
Despise not -Ro 2:4
Reverence -Jer 33:9; Hos 3:5
Magnify -Ps 107:8; Jer 33:11
Urge others to confide in -Ps 34:8
The wicked disregard -Neh 9:35
RELATED RESOURCES
GOODNESS
Attributes of God - The Goodness of God and the Existence of Evil - by Dr S Lewis Johnson - Recommended Resource - includes Mp3, Pdf or MS Word document. This is only one study out of over 100 in depth lectures by Dr Johnson on Systematic Theology including studies of the doctrines of God, Christ, the Spirit, Prayer, Salvation, etc. (click for this extensive list)
Note by C H Spurgeon on the Goodness of God
The Goodness of God by A.W. TOZER
Exodus 33:18-23 God's Glory and His Goodness sermon by C H Spurgeon
Good, Goodness in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
God Is So Good! - Psalm 107:1 by Ray Pritchard
Goodness of God by Barry Horner
"Thanks to our 'Always Good' God" - Bethany Bible Church
God is Good - Devotional by Anne Cetas
Joy On The Journey - Vernon C. Grounds
Drifting Away - Devotional by Joe Stowell
God is Good - Devotional by Herbert Vander Lugt
God is Good, God is Great - Devotional by Julie Ackerman Link
Taste And Say! - Devotional by Joanie Yoder
His Good Purpose - Devotional by Joanie Yoder
The Goodness of God Series at Bible.org
Let Me See Thy Glory - A Study of the Attributes of God by Bob Deffinbaugh
The Goodness of God by A. W. Pink
Suffering many messages on this topic by John Piper
Why Would A Good God Allow Suffering? Brief Biblically based booklet on this oft difficult to understand and accept doctrine from Radio Bible Class, Discovery House Publishing
God Is So Good from The Joy of Knowing God by Richard L. Strauss
Excerpt: Sit down with someone close to you and rehearse some of the good things God has done for you through the years. Then respond to Him with thanksgiving and praise. If you are presently facing some trial, think of some of the good things God could be teaching you through it.
O THOU FROM WHOM ALL GOODNESS FLOWS
by Thomas Haweis
(Play Hymn)
O Thou, from Whom all goodness flows,
I lift my heart to Thee;
In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes,
Dear Lord, remember me.
When groaning on my burdened heart
My sins lie heavily,
My pardon speak, new peace impart;
In love remember me.
Temptations sore obstruct my way,
And ills I cannot flee:
O give me strength, Lord, as my day;
For good remember me.
Distressed with pain, disease, and grief,
This feeble body see;
Grant patience, rest, and kind relief:
Hear and remember me.
If on my face, for Thy dear Name,
Shame and reproaches be,
All hail reproach, and welcome shame,
If Thou remember me.
The hour is near; consigned to death,
I own the just decree;
“Savior,” with my last parting breath
I’ll cry, “Remember me.”
When was the last time you paused to ponder the goodness of God? Would you consider taking a moment today from your busy schedule, finding a quiet place, turning off your cell phone, and choosing to purposefully set your mind on the things above rather than the things of this earth, which is passing away, and even it's lusts?
Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Ro 2:4-note)
Then Moses said, "I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!" And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion. (Exodus 33:18,19)
Have adverse circumstances caused you to struggle with whether you really believe God is good? Beloved, if this describes you (and it probably describes all of us from time to time if we are honest), then try this exercise over the next few days (cp Ps 27:13, 14,). Ponder (cp Meditate; Primer on Biblical Meditation) the following passages (you will derive the most value by reading them in context) that relate to the goodness of God. Make a list of your observations (observation), as you ask simple questions (interrogate with the 5W'S & H - eg, What must I do to understand God's goodness? Ps Ps 86:5, 34:8 Who can expect to be the beneficiary of God's goodness? Ps 31:19; How long can we expect to bask in His goodness? Ps 23:6 Whenwill the Lord's goodness cease? Ps 100:5 - you get the idea! Simple questions that yield profound answers!)
Praise to the Lord, Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
(Play hymn - cp Ps 135:3)
Ask God to lead you into all the truth about His goodness, yielding yourself to the truth He illuminates (Ps 119:68). The truth of His great goodness can be ignored (cp Ne 9:35). Let the water of His Word wash over you and renew your mind (cp effect on one's heart, our "control center" - 1Ki 8:66). Truth always demands a response. What shall we say to the goodness of God? Trust and obey. Turn the truths you glean into a time of worship, praising and thanksgiving to Him for His infinite, eternal goodness poured out richly through Christ Jesus our Lord (cp David's declaration in Ps 16:2).
Therefore my songs, my Savior,
E’en in this time of woe,
Shall tell of all Thy goodness
To suff’ring man below;
Thy goodness and Thy favor,
Whose presence from above
Rejoice those hearts, my Savior,
That live in Thee and love.
(Play hymn)
Pastor Ray Pritchard says that...
God's goodness is the answer to the question: Is this a friendly universe? The answer is yes; when we come to the end of our thinking we find that behind the vastness of this universe stands a God who cares about what he has made. He is not indifferent (as in stoicism) or undecided (as in dualism) or absent (as in atheism), but he is fully involved for the good of the universe because he himself is a good God. (God is So Good - Recommended Sermon - Dr Pritchard discusses numerous practical ways that God is good to the unsaved and the saved)
Some passages to ponder on God's goodness: For the greatest benefit from the following Scriptures, read the text, not passively but consciously and actively "interrogating" the text (interrogate with the 5W'S & H), making a list in your life journal of what the Spirit of Christ (Ro 8:9-note) teaches you (1Jn 2:27, Jn 14:26, 16:13) about God and about man. Obey any instructions or commands you encounter, as you allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind and to "cultivate faithfulness" (NAS, Ps 37:3-see note). Then offer prayers and praise to your Father for graciously teaching you these profitable truths (cp 2Ti 3:16, 17-notes).
Ex 1:20, 18:9, 33:18, 19, 34:6 Dt 30:9 2Sa 2:6 1Ki 8:66 1Chr 16:34; 2Chr 5:13; 7:3, 7:10 Neh 9:25,35 Ps 16:2, 17:7, 23:6, 25:7, 8, 9, 10, 27:13, 31:19; 33:5, 34:8, 36:7, 52:1,9; 65:4, 68:10,19, 69:16, 73:1, 86:5, 100:5, 106:1, 107:1, 109:21, 118:1,29, 119:64, 68, 135:3, 136:1, 139:17,18; 143:10; 144:3; 145:7, 9, 145:7, 8, 9, Isa 63:7 Je 31:14, 33:11 La 3:25, Ho 3:5, Na 1:7, Mt 19:17, Mk 10:18, Lk 1:53, 18:19, Ro 2:4; 11:22; Titus 3:4; Jas 1:5,17
Father of everlasting grace,
Thy goodness and Thy truth we praise,
Thy goodness and Thy truth we prove;
Thou hast, in honor of Thy Son,
The gift unspeakable sent down,
The Spirit of life, and power and love.
(Play hymn)
Thee will I praise among thine own;
Thee will I to the world extol,
And make Thy truth and goodness known:
Thy goodness, Lord, is over all;
(Play hymn)
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
(Play hymn)
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
(Play hymn)
God is the source of all good and goodness, and He alone defines what is good. All that He is and all that He does is good. This truth transcends the capacity of our minds to fully comprehend, but one day we will see Him in all His supreme, majestic goodness...
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. (1Cor 13:12)
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. (Ps 27:13, 14)
Most of us often mistakenly equate the goodness of God with the “rightness” of our circumstances. We’re like the little girl who, when she got what she wanted, exclaimed, “God must really like me!” Or conversely, when things aren't going our way, we say, “Why is God punishing me like this?”But our circumstances are not an accurate reflection of God’s goodness. Whether life is good or bad, God’s goodness, rooted in His character, is the same. As John Blanchard so ably phrased it...
Nothing good comes except from God and nothing except good comes from God.
Count your many blessings,
Name them one by one,
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology...
God's goodness is a bedrock truth of Scripture. His goodness is praised in the psalms (Ps 25:8; 34:8; 86:5; 100:5; 118:1; 136:1; 145:9). Jesus affirms the Father's goodness when speaking to the rich young ruler (Matt 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19). In 1Peter 2:3 Peter echoes the language of Psalm 34:8: "Taste and see that the Lord is good!"'
Although we might discuss God's goodness in some abstract philosophical sense, in Scripture his goodness appears most clearly in his dealings with people. He is not only good in general, but he is good to us (Ps 23:6-note; Ps 68:10-note; Ps 73:1-note; Ps 119:65-note; Ps 145:9-note; La 3:25; Luke 6:35; Ro 2:4-note; Ro 11:22-note; Eph 2:7-note; Titus 3:4-note). Human goodness is modeled on divine goodness (Mt 5:48-note). For human beings goodness involves right behavior, expresses itself in kindness and other praiseworthy qualities, includes avoiding evil, and springs from the inner person.
It is nearly impossible to think about goodness in the abstract. In Scripture goodness always involves particular ways of behaving. Because God is good, he is good to his people; when people are good they behave decently toward each other, based on God's goodness to them. Moses' invitation to Hobab expresses this emphasis: "Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel" (Nu 10:29). The general biblical words for "good/ goodness" include this idea of right behavior, although the idea is often expressed by means of a more specific term like "upright/uprightness" or "righteous/righteousness." (See full article - Good, goodness)
Edward Carnell (in his book Christian Commitment) rightly reminds us that...
God never urges himself to be good, because He is good.
John Piper comments on Carnell's declaration...
That is His nature always inclines irresistibly toward righteousness. God is never torn by evil motives. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1Jn 1:5). So He does not need to be reminded about the duty of His deity. No one needs to say, "Now today, God, mind Your manners, do what's right, avoid evil, remember the ten commandments." (Walk by the Spirit! Desiring God Christian Resource Library)
EASTON'S BIBLE DICTIONARY: GOODNESS OF GOD
A perfection of His character which He exercises towards His creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps 145:8,9; Ps 103:8; 1Jn 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of His creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favor on the unworthy it is grace.
Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes merciful and sometimes just, but he is eternally infinitely just and merciful."
God is infinitely and unchangeably good (Zeph 3:17), and his goodness is incomprehensible by the finite mind (Ro 11:35, 36-notes).
High in the heavens, eternal God,
Thy goodness in full glory shines;
Thy truth shall break through every cloud
That veils and darkens Thy designs.
--Isaac Watts
><>><>><>
God is good in Himself; that is, He is perfectly holy; but this is not the goodness which comes into consideration here. It is God's goodness in action, which reveals itself in doing well unto others, that is now under contemplation. It may be defined as that perfection of God which prompts Him to deal bounteously and kindly with all His creatures. It is the affection which the Creator feels toward the sentient creatures as such. As manifested towards His rational creatures, it is sometimes called His love of benevolence or His common grace, to designate the fact that its bounties are undeserved. The Bible refers to it in many places, such as Ps 36:6-note; Ps 104:21-note; Ps 145:8, 9, 16-note; Mt. 5:45-note; Mt 6:26-note; Acts 14:17. (Louis Berkhof - Manual of Christian Doctrine)
Good when He gives, supremely good,
Nor less when He denies,
E'en crosses from His sovereign hand
Are blessings in disguise.
--James Hervey
><>><>><>
God's goodness appears in two things, giving and forgiving. When God gives it is a reflection of His goodness and conversely anything that is truly good comes from the hand of the good God. It was Matthew Henry who said that "He who feeds his birds will not starve his babes." And so it is only appropriate as one person has said that God's giving rightfully deserves our thanksgiving.
His love has no limit,
His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!
Annie Johnson Flint
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Ray Stedman commenting on Ps 23:6-note has said that goodness and mercy are God's "sheep dogs"...
In referring to the goodness and mercy of God, he is referring to the sheep dogs that nip at the heels of the flock and keep them in line, driving them into place. "Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life," nipping at my heels, humiliating me, turning me back from that which looks good but is really evil, keeping me from getting what I think I need, and what I think I want. But in the end we must name these what God names them -- goodness and mercy!" (from Love's Disciplines)
Sinclair Ferguson phrased it this way...
God has two sheepdogs: Goodness and Mercy (Ps 23:6-note). He sends them to us from His throne of grace; sometimes to bark at us, to badger us; sometimes to woo us by persuading us that His will is good and perfect for our lives.
God is Good Not Just Powerful from Knowing God Through The Whole Bible by Radio Bible Class Ministries
In our world, absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely. But not with God. Our all-powerful God is full of goodness. His goodness is expressed in everything He does. Even His acts of judgment are part of His goodness. When He created our world, everything He made was good....Because God is good, we conclude that:
(1) We can believe what He says to us.
(2) We can have confidence in waiting for His rescue.
(3) We can entrust our future to His care.
(4) We can rely on His wisdom and guidance.
(5) We can know that what He asks us to do is always the best for us....
(1) What are some examples of God's goodness to all people?
(2) Is God ever against you? How do you know?
(3) How is God's goodness expressed in His justice? In His mercy? In His love? In His anger?
(4) How have you responded to God's goodness in the last week?
(5) Have you personally experienced God's goodness as it is expressed in the salvation offered in Jesus Christ?
The goodness of God is the expression of both His love and righteousness to His creatures in general. It is that aspect of God’s character that promotes the happiness of His creatures. Goodness includes God’s kindness as seen in mercy and grace. God’s goodness includes His benevolence, mercy, and grace.
Scriptures: Ex 34:6; Ps 25:7, 8; 33:5; 68:10; 145:7; Neh 9:25; Ro 2:4; 1Ti 4:4.
Thy goodness, Lord, our souls confess,
Thy goodness we adore:
A spring, whose blessings never fail,
A sea without a shore.
(Play)
For a somewhat more "rousing" song on the goodness of our great God, watch Don Moen sing - God is Good or if you want a bit of country listen to Keith Urban's God is Good or a young child singing God is So Good
TORREY'S TOPIC: GOODNESS:
Is part of His character-Ps 25:8; Nah 1:7; Mt 19:17
Great -Neh 9:35; Zec 9:17
Rich -Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4
Abundant -Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5
Satisfying -Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14
Enduring -Ps 23:6; 52:1
Universal -Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45
MANIFESTED:
To his Church -Ps 31:19; La 3:25
In doing good -Ps 119:68; 145:9
In supplying temporal wants -Acts 14:17
In providing for the poor -Ps 68:10
In forgiving sins -2Chr 30:18; Ps 86:5
Leads to repentance -Ro 2:4
Recognize, in his dealings -Ezra 8:18; Neh 2:18
Pray for the manifestation of -2Th 1:11
Despise not -Ro 2:4
Reverence -Jer 33:9; Hos 3:5
Magnify -Ps 107:8; Jer 33:11
Urge others to confide in -Ps 34:8
The wicked disregard -Neh 9:35
RELATED RESOURCES
GOODNESS
Attributes of God - The Goodness of God and the Existence of Evil - by Dr S Lewis Johnson - Recommended Resource - includes Mp3, Pdf or MS Word document. This is only one study out of over 100 in depth lectures by Dr Johnson on Systematic Theology including studies of the doctrines of God, Christ, the Spirit, Prayer, Salvation, etc. (click for this extensive list)
Note by C H Spurgeon on the Goodness of God
The Goodness of God by A.W. TOZER
Exodus 33:18-23 God's Glory and His Goodness sermon by C H Spurgeon
Good, Goodness in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
God Is So Good! - Psalm 107:1 by Ray Pritchard
Goodness of God by Barry Horner
"Thanks to our 'Always Good' God" - Bethany Bible Church
God is Good - Devotional by Anne Cetas
Joy On The Journey - Vernon C. Grounds
Drifting Away - Devotional by Joe Stowell
God is Good - Devotional by Herbert Vander Lugt
God is Good, God is Great - Devotional by Julie Ackerman Link
Taste And Say! - Devotional by Joanie Yoder
His Good Purpose - Devotional by Joanie Yoder
The Goodness of God Series at Bible.org
Let Me See Thy Glory - A Study of the Attributes of God by Bob Deffinbaugh
The Goodness of God by A. W. Pink
Suffering many messages on this topic by John Piper
Why Would A Good God Allow Suffering? Brief Biblically based booklet on this oft difficult to understand and accept doctrine from Radio Bible Class, Discovery House Publishing
God Is So Good from The Joy of Knowing God by Richard L. Strauss
Excerpt: Sit down with someone close to you and rehearse some of the good things God has done for you through the years. Then respond to Him with thanksgiving and praise. If you are presently facing some trial, think of some of the good things God could be teaching you through it.
O THOU FROM WHOM ALL GOODNESS FLOWS
by Thomas Haweis
(Play Hymn)
O Thou, from Whom all goodness flows,
I lift my heart to Thee;
In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes,
Dear Lord, remember me.
When groaning on my burdened heart
My sins lie heavily,
My pardon speak, new peace impart;
In love remember me.
Temptations sore obstruct my way,
And ills I cannot flee:
O give me strength, Lord, as my day;
For good remember me.
Distressed with pain, disease, and grief,
This feeble body see;
Grant patience, rest, and kind relief:
Hear and remember me.
If on my face, for Thy dear Name,
Shame and reproaches be,
All hail reproach, and welcome shame,
If Thou remember me.
The hour is near; consigned to death,
I own the just decree;
“Savior,” with my last parting breath
I’ll cry, “Remember me.”
Posted by
Morgan
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