Week Six - Day Five: Good

God is all-knowing, all-powerful and He is good. Frankly, this will be an important truth for us to remember next week (and for the rest of our lives) as we look at God’s sovereignty because we’re going to bump up against evil and suffering. But for now, let’s let His goodness settle into our hearts and minds.

“God is essentially good; not only good, but goodness itself: the creature’s good is a superadded quality, in God it is His essence. He is infinitely good; the creature’s good is but a drop, but in God there is an infinite ocean or gathering together of good. He is eternally and immutably good, for He cannot be less good than He is; as there can be no addition made to Him so no subtraction from Him.” – Thomas Manton

When we say God is good, we mean that He is kind; He is benevolent; He is generous and compassionate. And we have the good things we have and experience the good that we experience because of the goodness of God. He is under no obligation nor can we place anything like a demand on Him.

“The cause of His goodness is Himself; the recipients of His goodness are all His beneficiaries without merit and without recompense … Repentance, though necessary, is not meritorious but a condition for receiving the gracious gift of pardon which God gives of His goodness. Prayer is not in itself meritorious. It lays God under no obligation nor puts Him in debt to any. He hears prayer because He is good, and for no other reason. Nor is faith meritorious; it is simply confidence in the goodness of God, and the lack of it is not a reflection upon God’s holy character.” – A. W. Tozer

Still, any discussion of the goodness of God must be accompanied by a discussion of his sternness. Just as with any good parent, God’s goodness sometimes includes acts of sternness – both in what He Himself does and in what He allows. This is precisely Paul’s point in Romans 11. After a discussion of belief and unbelief among Jews and Gentiles, Paul says “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.” (11:22) About this passage J. I. Packer was right to say, “The Christians at Rome are not to dwell on God’s goodness alone, nor His severity alone, but to contemplate both together … Both must be acknowledged together if God is to be truly known.”

Before You Start Your Day

1. Before we start our day, let’s look at Psalm 119:65-71.

   Psalm 119:65-71

   (65) Do good to your servant
         according to your word, O LORD.

   (66) Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
         for I believe in your commands.

   (67) Before I was afflicted I went astray,
         but now I obey your word.

   (68) You are good, and what you do is good;
         teach me your decrees.

   (69) Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
         I keep your precepts with all my heart.

   (70) Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
         but I delight in your law.

   (71) It was good for me to be afflicted
         so that I might learn your decrees.

   1. According to the Psalmist, how are the goodness of God and affliction related?
   2. Why do you think the Psalmist’s declaration of God’s goodness in the first part of verse 68 leads him to the request in the second part of verse 68?
2. Begin your day by thanking God for His goodness. Recognize specific acts of goodness toward you as a way of inspiring your gratitude.