God Is Good

God Is Good

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

You shouldn’t read the words good and love in a dispassionate way. Don’t skim over these words. Don’t say them too quickly or irreverently in church. Instead, remember that these are vibrant, relevant, and meaningful words that emphasize the goodness of God.

God is good—much better than humans. God, from the very bottom of his heart, is inclined to help people and continually do what is good. He doesn’t like to get angry or punish people. He does so only when it’s necessary—when he’s forced into it by a person’s wickedness and stubborn refusal to change. People could never be as patient as God is. They would punish a hundred thousand times sooner and more severely than God does.

God proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is good and loving. His daily and continual goodness shows this in rich and powerful ways. This psalm says, “His love endures forever.” In other words, God continually does what is best for us. He provides for our bodies and souls and protects us day and night. He continues to preserve our lives. He lets the sun and moon shine for us and allows the sky, fire, air, and water to serve us. The Lord causes the earth to give us everything we need—grain, food, cattle feed, wood, and the resources for making wine and clothes. He gives us gold and silver, homes and families, spouses and children, animals, birds, and fish. Who can count all the Lord’s blessings?