The Fruit of God's Goodness

 

The Fruit of God's Goodness

Psalm 34:8, O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

When the sweet Psalmist of Israel says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” David is not speaking of putting God through our examination merely or 'testing God. ' But he is talking about “relishing God's goodness.” To perceive how good He really is by experiencing that goodness firsthand. This incredible invitation to engage with God in a personal and experiential manner, is like trying a new dish or experiencing a new location – you don't know how good it is until you try it. 

The reverse of experiencing God’s goodness is to be anxious or prone to worry.  Worrying is to give way to anxiety, distress, disturbance, or unease, allowing one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. It is a state of uncertainty over actual or potential problems. Vance Havner said, “Worry, like a rocking chair, will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.” Another person said, “Worry is the advance interest you pay on troubles that seldom come.” Clearly, we must prioritize experiencing God through deliberately trusting Him.

Experiencing God Personally:

"Taste and see that the Lord is good" encourages believers to personally experience God's goodness to actively seek and experience God's presence and blessings through faith and trust, rather than simply accepting claims about His goodness. 

We may reason, argue, resort to logic and marshal Christian evidences, but when all is said and done, a man must taste and see for himself.^[1]

The thought emphasizes God's goodness, His inherent kindness, mercy, and graciousness, as something to be discovered and enjoyed, not merely believing someone else’s testimony. We will know happiness and blessings when we do. 

Psalm 34:8, O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him

The verse also suggests that God's goodness is not just a nonconcrete notion, but something that can be experienced through faith and trust. It's about actively seeking God's presence and guidance in your life and recognizing His blessings. It's more than intellectual understanding, but an active, personal encounter with God's grace and mercy. Again, emphasizing the exquisiteness of His nature and the abundance of His provision. 

Trusting God is also Highlighted:

Additionally, God says, "blessed is the man that trusteth in him," highlighting the connection between experiencing God's goodness and trusting Him. When you trust God, you open yourself up to experiencing His goodness in very tangible ways. 

Note the phrase, "blessed is the man that trusteth in him". This pinpoints how connection with God implies trust, reliance, and finding protection in His care. As a blessed outcome we are happier and sense divine advantages and compensations. 

In military imagery David envisioned divine protection (cf. Gen. 32:2; 2 Kings 6:16).^[2]

It is the call to the life of faith. The saints are invited to walk by faith and not by sight, and to experience God’s marvelous, miraculous, and abundant provision. ^[3]

David's Testimony is Our Invitation:

David had experienced both serious adversity and God's fantastic rescues. He knew personally how good God can be to those who trust Him. He invites you and me to experience God's goodness in the same ways he had. We must actively engage our faith seeking God's inherent goodness and global generosity to find His protection, holy deliverance, promising blessings, and God-given happiness as a result. Instead of worrying, God prescribes,

Matthew 6:33, which says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

This concern with God…knowing and experiencing God should mark us as genuine disciples of our Lord Jesus. Blessings belong to God’s people who trust Him instead of worrying.

Therefore an individual need not be anxious about his existence (Matt. 6:31), for by worrying he can never add any amount of time, not even a single hour, to his life. Rather than being like the pagans who are concerned about physical needs, the Lord’s disciples should be concerned about the things of God, His kingdom and His righteousness. Then all these needs will be supplied in God’s timing. This is the life of daily faith. It does no good to worry^[4]

Conclusion:

The Bible conveys how God is inherently good in and of Himself, His goodness is accessible to those who trust Him, and His goodness extends to all facets His creation. 

We too can experience God's goodness by recognizing His blessings, both big and small, in daily life. This can include tangible things like provision, protection, and love, as well as intangible things like peace, joy, and hope. 

Believing in the goodness of the Lord often leads to expressions of gratitude, praise, and a desire to reflect His goodness in our own lives. This may involve our acts of kindness, compassion, and service to our fellowman also. Certainly, we will be more convinced than ever of the goodness of God.

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 598.

^[2] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 819.

^[3] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 598.

^[4] Louis A. Barbieri Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 33.

God is Good

 

God is Good

Psalm 145:9; 107:9; 34:8

This concept is a fundamental theme in the Christian Faith; it is often expressed through praise, worship, and acts of service to others. 

Notice a more in-depth description:

Regarding God's Character:

God is inherently good, meaning that He is incapable of evil or wrongdoing. His very nature is described as perfectly good, righteous, and full of integrity. 

The Bible repeatedly highlights the goodness of the God. Psalm 145:9 states, "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." A declarative statement highlighting His essential generosity to all creation. Psalm 107:9 asserts, "For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness," demonstrating His faithful provisions. He is always true to His promises. This faithfulness provides security and stability for us, knowing that God will never abandon us. Additionally, Psalm 34:8 encourages, "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Yes, God is ‘good’ and in ultimate control of all things, yet He allows for human choice and responsibility by extending this warm invitation. This sovereignty does not negate His goodness but demonstrates His power, wisdom, and our opportunity. 

God is good! We are encouraged to correctly perceive Him as ‘good’ and free of all and any bad. God's good character encompasses attributes like love, justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Again, not merely an attribute, but His ‘goodness’ is the very essence of His being, prompting His activities and exchanges with people. This goodness is seen in His providing, His willingness to offer forgiveness, and His desire for the welfare of all creation. Summarily, God's good character is the groundwork for His relationship with people, offering love, affording forgiveness, and providing hope. 

The Bible painstakingly emphasizes God's goodness:

• Psalm 23:6: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." 
• Psalm 31:19: "Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" 
• Psalm 107:1: "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." 
• Nahum 1:7: "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." 
• Lamentations 3:25: "The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him." 
• Romans 2:4: "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" 
• Ephesians 2:7: "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." 
• Titus 3:4-5: "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." 

God really wanted us to grasp this fundamental truth about Himself: He is good! He said this, demonstrated it, illustrated it, punctuated it repeatedly throughout the Bible so that we would not miss the fact that He is good. Goodness is not merely an abstract concept but also a reflection of God's activities and interactions with the world. This includes His acts of creation, provision, and salvation. Whether its formation, redemption, or consummation God is always good, doing good, and bringing about good. He even works all things together for our good because we love God deeply, are brothers and sisters of His Son, the Lord Jesus, and he has a brilliant purpose for us in Christ. So many other doctrines are correctly expressed and explain, but this idea must not be forgotten by us who claim to believe God’s Word. He is good; God is good! The devil is evil, sin is evil, the World system is bad, the flesh is bad, but God is good all the time!

The Bible is filled with examples of God's goodness, from the creation account where God declares everything He made to be "very good" to the explanations of His faithfulness and provision throughout history. Specific statements like Psalm 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" and Psalm 34:8, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good" highlight this beautiful truth. 

Really embracing this idea of God can be challenging when life goes sideways and crazy. In fact, our circumstances can cause us to spin out of control if we do not have a correct view of God. Part of the problem is we tend to interpret God through the lends of our problems and struggles. We are inclined to classify Him as good if He is ‘blessing’ us and those we love. We also see Him as bad when unexpected things pop up and we are obviously not in control. But the character and nature of God remains static and uninfluenced by the changes we are registering. When every day hurts expressively, we fail to see God in and of Himself is still ‘good’ and unchanged. This world is broken by sin and often those consequences touch even the lives of righteous people who do right and are obedient to God. It is not that God is in less control or subject to the problems; in His sovereignty He permits the ugly, painful, and unimaginable in even the most godly saints lives for His own good purposes. Study carefully the first message of the Bible in the book of Job to see this for yourself. Even if God came down to us and personally answered our questions of ‘why the bad’ we may not appreciate the answers, or we will have to confess our ignorance in the brilliant light of His goodness!

The Lord is Good

 

The Lord is Good

Psalm 34:8

The phrase "the Lord is good" refers to the belief in God's inherent kindness, generosity, and benevolence towards people and all of creation. 

This expression "The Lord is good" appears often emphasizing God's goodness, mercy, and faithfulness, encouraging believers to trust in Him and praise His name. The point is that God's actions and character are fundamentally good, just, and merciful. 

• Psalm 34:8: "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him".  Encourages our personal experience and faith in God's goodness, promising blessings to us as we trust in Him. 
• Psalm 100:5: "For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations". Highlights the enduring nature of God's goodness and mercy, extending throughout all generations. We can unflinchingly count on the Lord to constantly and repeatedly deal with us in mercy and truth according to our reoccurring needs.
• Psalm 145:9: "The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works". Emphasizes God's universal goodness and the encompassing nature of His tender mercies. Again, we are invited to behave favorably toward God knowing He is good, affectionate, and compassionate in character.

Consider the thoughts of Dr. Ross, “David then wrote of the marvelous nature of God, affirming that He is gracious and compassionate (cf. 111:4), slow to anger, and full of loyal love (the identical statement, in Heb., is given in Ex. 34:6; Neh. 9:17; Pss. 86:15; 103:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). Because God is good and compassionate to all, all His works and His saints praise Him.”^[1]

• Nahum 1:7: "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him". Places interest on God's protective nature and His awareness of us as we trust in Him. 

Such a truth is clearly brought out in the following quote: “Though the Lord is wrathful and powerful against those who oppose Him, He is good (cf. Ex. 34:6; Pss. 106:1; 107:1; 136:1; Jer. 33:11) to those who trust in Him. He is good in the sense that He is faithful and merciful, protecting (a refuge in times of trouble), helpful, and caring. The Hebrew word for “refuge” is mā‘ôz. Translated “stronghold” in Psalms 27:1; 37:39; 43:2; 52:7, it means a strong, fortified place. The people of Nineveh thought they were safe in their fortifications, but their security was short-lived compared with the comfort and safety God provides for His people.”^[2]

Is this idea still relevant today? These considerations continue to be relevant for us currently, encouraging us to seek God and experience His goodness firsthand. This emphasis on God’s goodness and kindness is very healthy. It's a reminder that God is not distant, but a present and active force in the lives of those of us who trust in Him. This truth encourages and supports our relationship with Him, fellowship, and our prayers towards Him.

It is important to remember that God’s characteristic of goodness is balanced by His severity. He should not be perceived as ‘good’ from a mere human perspective, but to remember that God is ‘good’ according to His standpoint. This includes a ‘goodness’ that accounts for his severity, justice, righteousness, and chastening. Frankly, God can only be ‘good’ if He is severe also. Yes, God has a strict capacity as well…He is also stern, demanding, and firm to go alone with His goodness, mercy, generosity, and kindness. We must not imagine God or emphasize this quality separated of the other realities as only merciful, kind, or giving. No, we must also notice Him as severe and strict regarding sin, disobedience, and rebellion. If we ever wonder, God is tremendously balanced in His character.

The notion of the severity, strictness, and judgment of God can be seen clearly from the following verses:

Romans 11:22, Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Exodus 34:6-7, And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ⁷ Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Matthew 7:23, And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

John 3:36, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

We must always cherish both aspects of God’s character because they belong together in the Word of God…. His goodness and severity go together. It is only when we truly appreciate His goodness that we adequately consider His severity and vice versa.

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^[1] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 896.

^[2] Elliott E. Johnson, “Nahum,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1498.