This is a series on the attributes of God.
The Goodness of God Part 1: God’s Goodness in the Old Testament
Purpose: In this session we shall explore the attribute of the goodness of God as taught in the Old Testament and also draw implication for the Christian life as a result of our study.
What is the goodness of God? The words in the Old Testament:
- Tob, Tub
- Most common word translated as “good.”
- Many aspect to the meaning of this word: “They are: 1) practical, economic, or material good, 2) abstract goodness such as desirability, pleasantness and beauty, 3) quality or expense, 4) moral goodness, and 5) technical philosophical goodness. In the last sense, it refers to the highest good…”[1]
- Hebrew verb: yatab
- Rason: Three major meaning with “the main sense is God’s ‘favor’ or ‘good will. The second sense focuses on the ‘delight’ or ‘acceptance’ of an individual. The third is ‘desire’ or ‘pleasure’ in the specific sense of God’s will.” [4]
- Summarizing definition:
- John Frame: “But by far the most common meaning of goodness in Scripture is ‘benevolence.’ A good person is one who acts to benefit others.”[5]
- John Feinberg: “When we look at the biblical concept of divine goodness, one major idea stands out. It is that God is concerned about the well-being of his creatures and does things to promote it.”[6]
What does the Bible in the Old Testament teaches about the goodness of God?
- God’s being is described as Good
- “Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.” (Psalm 135:3)
- We are not surprised to find that in the book of Psalms, which is a book of songs to worship God, we would find God’s attributes listed.
- Thus we see one of God’s attributes mentioned Here is the fac the fact that the Lord is good.
- Because He is good, that should drive us to worship Him: “Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely” (3b)
- “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (Psalm 136:1)
- States clearly that God is good: “for He is good”
- God’s goodness is the reason and basis for why believers “Give thanks to the Lord.”
- “All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, ‘Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.’” (2 Chronicles 7:3)
- The context is Solomon dedicating the Temple He has built to God and the Shekinah Glory of God has just descended.
- The response of the people is captured beginning in verse 3 and the first thing they confessed in worship is “Truly He is good.”
- Note that in experiencing God they knew He was good.
- “Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.” (Psalm 135:3)
- Since God is good therefore His actions are good
- Because God is Good, when He created the World God declared His creation as good (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25)
- “If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.’” (Joshua 24:20)
- The context is Joshua’s speech to Israel before He was going to pass away.
- Note Joshua stating “He has done good to you.”
- What are the things “He has done good to you?” That’s described 2-13.
- The goodness of God towards them begins with the history of Abraham.
- The goodness of God towards them as told by Joshua ended with the present state of Israel’s blessing in the promise land and the victories God gave them.
- The blessing of God’s goodness should not be taken as a license to sin according to this verse.
- “Now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.” (2 Samuel 7:28)
- The context is David’s response to God decreeing the Davidic Covenant.
- Earlier in the other verses we have seen, we have seen God’s goodness as told from the past tense. Here is David’s acknowledgment of God’s promise is God’s goodness in the future!
- We must add that the Davidic Covenant’s goodness is also part of the Covenant that the Messianic King of David would come from, so God’s goodness is for our salvation as well!
- “For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.” (Jeremiah 24:6)
- The context is Jeremiah’s predication of the Babylonian captivity and yet how God will still be good to the exiles.
- Again this is a prediction and a promise of God’s goodness into the future from the time of when the author spoke.
- Part of that goodness is that some will continue to know God even captivity (7)
- We must not forget that knowing God is a display of God’s goodness.
- Recipients of God’s goodness
- We often think of God’s people (the nation of Israel and the church).
- But also: “Your creatures settled in it; You provided in Your goodness for the poor, O God.” (Psalm 68:10)
- “The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.” (Psalm 145:6)
Implications
- When was the last time you thought about God’s goodness? Have you ever mediated on this truth of God’s attribute?
- Do you worship God because He is good? Remember what we saw earlier:
- Sing to Him because He is Good (Psalm 135:3)
- Give thanks to Him because He is Good (Psalm 136:1)
- We can pray to Him because He is good, so do you regularly pray to Him?
- Do you take advantage of God’s goodness to sin? That ought not be!
- Just as God is good, we too strive to do good by God’s grace.
[1] John Feinberg, No One Like Him (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 365.
[2] Ibid, 366.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] John Frame, Doctrine of God (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 2002), 410.
[6] John Feinberg, No One Like Him (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 366.
By the grace of God, I shall prevail.
Amen! Anything I can pray for you BG?
You can pray for me anytime! I was affirming the grace of God in my life. I knew a lady that always replied, by the grace of God, I will. I learned this from a former associate pastor’s wife. She had such a positive attitude!
[…] It is that God is concerned about the well-being of his creatures and does things to promote it.https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/gods-attribute-the-goodness-of-god-part-1/More to follow!Thank you Pastor Jim!Worthy is the Lamb! […]
Love this attribute of God. God is good and in a good mood.
Thanks for the insight.
Thank you for this valuable reminder of an important aspect of our Father God, although I feel that we could write volumes on God’s Goodness and never be finished. For me His Goodness is a continuous mystery that I cannot fathom, no matter how much I try. My only option is to surrender to His Goodness, and serve Him the best that I can.
Your comment made me think of how I suspect in heaven God would reveal more of what He was doing in our lives, things we never realized and we be more amaze at how He is Good. I can’t wait for that…praying for God to sustain your health this week brother Alan
That will be a wondeful time in His presence indeed. I hope also we will meet folk who came to salvation through our witness, a word or even a blog. Thank you brother.
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Thanks for sharing brother! I like John Frame’s definition of the goodness of God: ““But by far the most common meaning of goodness in Scripture is ‘benevolence.’ A good person is one who acts to benefit others.” That’s exactly right. God works together for good to those who are called according to His purposes. Blessings!
I thought John Frame summarized the definition of “goodness” well, and consistent with the Hebrew terms as for this session I was focused on Old Testament teaching of the Goodness of God. At Southern seminary did you guys have any required reading from works by John Frame?
Yes. The Doctrine of God by John Frame for my systematic theology class with Dr. Chad Brand.
That’s a good definition
Hallelujah and Amen! Knowing that God is good takes the burden out…may not always understand what He is doing or the way BUT I always know that God is always good and He is always working for good. He does not go against Himself…my, my, my how He sustains the believer with the knowledge of His attributes. God is good…always!
He is worthy of our praise since He is God and God is good
Very good points here, especially the probing end questions. I personally don’t favor popular mantras like, “God is good, all the time – all the time God is good!” Such an attribute cannot be trivialized. God is good, and He is just, some of His ways may be painful but His purposes for our suffering are good.
Thank you, Pastor Slimjim, for important truths to meditate upon and deepen times of worship.
Indeed we must not have a simplistic view of goodness. Having just finished teaching my daughters the book of Genesis I felt early on in the Bible it teaches us God is good but that doesn’t mean we don’t see the result of the Fall and sinners being not good to people. Genesis 1 begins with God creation is good but by the end in chapter 50 we learn what man meant for evil God intent for good; that is our hope amen???
Yes, amen brother. But besides God’s greatness in turning around man’s evil intent, His sovereign will can bring/allow utter heartbreak in our lives. We may never see the purpose but must stand on faith alone, believing He is good.
How fortunate your daughters are to have such a Bible teacher!
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
The Goodness of God is something we would all be wise to meditate upon in these challenging times. Hope it’s ok to include this https://bluecollartheologian.blog/2020/10/26/greatness-or-goodness/
Just finished with meeting three individuals today and just saw this! Aww thanks for your comment and also it’s always welcome when you share the link to your blog, which post I still remember and enjoyed and think it is helpful and relevant!!!! How is your Wednesday???
How did it go with your meeting?!?! It’s been a hectic couple days hence why I missed last night 😭 Thanks for allowing me to share!!!!
Great reminder! Especially the one point on God’s goodness leading to our salvation. I am wicked, born in sin, but God, in His goodness, redeemed me from darkness and placed me in His marvelous light!
His nature is good. His will is good. His Word is good. His salvation is good.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good” (psalm 34:8).
I love this: “ His nature is good. His will is good. His Word is good. His salvation is good”
That would make a good Homiletical outline with four points for a topical Systematic Theology message! Hope your day is blessed with enjoying the Goodness of God
Your’s as well.
Thanks for this good outline on God’s goodness! I appreciate the implications and will meditate on them today.
Thanks for reading this! What’s the weather like at AOC today?
It was raining all morning but the sun just came out and 64F. What’s it doing in SoCal today?
Reblogged this on My Logos Word.
Just reflecting on the word “Goodness” brings such strength. Thanks for this reassuring post.
God is good. He is….although many times we don’t understand how He is good when we are going through pain and suffering . But knowing the He is good brings us comfort and peace because He is good.
Thank you for this great study o. God’s goodness.
Well laid Pastor Jim. I will give these verses additional study. Thanks for sharing.