For the LORD is Good
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:5
I am amazed at how much God-ward rejoicing there is in God’s Word. It truly sets our faith apart from all others.
Christianity has something in common with most of the other theistic religions in the world: we believe there is a higher being who created us and who (therefore) is in authority over us. In fact, the vast majority of peoples and cultures across history have believed in a powerful, creating god who rules over his creation (atheism is a relatively new idea). This shouldn’t be surprising since, according to Romans 1, all faiths and all peoples have been immersed in a world that clearly reveals the invisible attributes of God – namely, his power and Godhead (or authority). Nature reveals both the power and authority of God and the origin and submission of man. But is this enough? Is mere power or authority sufficient cause for all the rejoicing we find in the psalms? I don’t think so.
Neither power nor authority are good or evil in themselves; that is, they are amoral. Power (much like hatred, tolerance, or rejection) earns a moral quality when it is exerted or expressed toward something good or evil. For example, if power is exerted toward something good, that power is virtuous (morally good). On the other hand, if that power is exerted toward something evil, that power is vicious (vice-ous, or morally evil). The same goes for authority. Pharaoh had quite a bit of (earthly) power and authority, and yet the Israelites weren’t doing a whole lot of rejoicing. And other “gods” put people in terrible bondage to fear and oppression. This is not joy-inducing!
What sets Christianity apart is the sheer goodness of God. “For the Lord is good…” We rejoice because when we see the absolute power and authority of our Creator displayed in his creation, we know that the one wielding that power and authority is absolutely, incorruptibly, eternally, unchangingly good! “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all…” [1 John 1:5] and “…every good an perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change,” [James 1:17] He “is good, and does good.” [Psalm 119:68] And there are so many, many more! [Exodus 34:5-7, Psalm 23, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 41:10, Lamentations 3:22-33, and John 10:1-17 to name just a few!]
The psalm above (the whole thing) seems to follow this understanding: verses 1 and 2 are an exhortation to rejoice in the Lord. Verse 3 is a reminder that 1) He is God (authority), 2) He made us (power), 3) we belong to him (authority). Verse 4 is further exhortation to praise him: but only in verse 5 do we get a “because”—an ultimate cause for rejoicing in him: “For [or because] the LORD [our Maker and Master who wields all power and authority over everything] is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations!” We could reverse verses 4 and 5 and get, basically: “The LORD is good, all that power and authority is in the hands of a good and loving God, therefore rejoice in him!” This is cause for never-ending joy, and this is what sets us apart!
Nature is enough to reveal God’s absolute power and ultimate authority. But if we would learn the full extent of God’s goodness, and his grace, and—unthinkably—his personal visitation among his creation, then we must turn to the Bible. It is his ‘special revelation’ in a book that compliments his ‘general revelation’ in nature, and it testifies of the goodness of God; especially as revealed in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord [2 Corinthians 2:6]. Nature reveals enough about God to leave us “without excuse;” but the Word (illuminated by the Holy Spirit) reveals everything we need to know to be eternally joyful in God, and (therefore) to be saved “to the uttermost.”
The LORD is good…, so take up your Bible today and learn of him, fill your soul with wonder at his power, authority, and his unstoppable goodness—and begin an eternity of rejoicing in him!
Recommendations
The Psalms. (I recommend the “essentially literal” ESV translation for its accuracy as well as its readability.)
Chapter 3 of John Piper’s book, Desiring God, on Worship
I hope and pray that you’ve been encouraged, and built up in your faith through this little message. And I pray that both of us would turn to God’s Word more frequently and more fervently, in order that the rising tide of worldly desires would be displaced by the growing pressure of a hunger for God himself.
PS – On a personal note, I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful feedback and encouragement as I begin my next chapter. I can already see the Lord moving in amazing ways. I am also humbled—greatly—at the generosity of this group of people; I was able to replace my limping, screen-less laptop yesterday with a new Dell notebook (debt-free). I have no other words but “thank you, and thank God.”
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:5
I am amazed at how much God-ward rejoicing there is in God’s Word. It truly sets our faith apart from all others.
Christianity has something in common with most of the other theistic religions in the world: we believe there is a higher being who created us and who (therefore) is in authority over us. In fact, the vast majority of peoples and cultures across history have believed in a powerful, creating god who rules over his creation (atheism is a relatively new idea). This shouldn’t be surprising since, according to Romans 1, all faiths and all peoples have been immersed in a world that clearly reveals the invisible attributes of God – namely, his power and Godhead (or authority). Nature reveals both the power and authority of God and the origin and submission of man. But is this enough? Is mere power or authority sufficient cause for all the rejoicing we find in the psalms? I don’t think so.
Neither power nor authority are good or evil in themselves; that is, they are amoral. Power (much like hatred, tolerance, or rejection) earns a moral quality when it is exerted or expressed toward something good or evil. For example, if power is exerted toward something good, that power is virtuous (morally good). On the other hand, if that power is exerted toward something evil, that power is vicious (vice-ous, or morally evil). The same goes for authority. Pharaoh had quite a bit of (earthly) power and authority, and yet the Israelites weren’t doing a whole lot of rejoicing. And other “gods” put people in terrible bondage to fear and oppression. This is not joy-inducing!
What sets Christianity apart is the sheer goodness of God. “For the Lord is good…” We rejoice because when we see the absolute power and authority of our Creator displayed in his creation, we know that the one wielding that power and authority is absolutely, incorruptibly, eternally, unchangingly good! “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all…” [1 John 1:5] and “…every good an perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change,” [James 1:17] He “is good, and does good.” [Psalm 119:68] And there are so many, many more! [Exodus 34:5-7, Psalm 23, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 41:10, Lamentations 3:22-33, and John 10:1-17 to name just a few!]
The psalm above (the whole thing) seems to follow this understanding: verses 1 and 2 are an exhortation to rejoice in the Lord. Verse 3 is a reminder that 1) He is God (authority), 2) He made us (power), 3) we belong to him (authority). Verse 4 is further exhortation to praise him: but only in verse 5 do we get a “because”—an ultimate cause for rejoicing in him: “For [or because] the LORD [our Maker and Master who wields all power and authority over everything] is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations!” We could reverse verses 4 and 5 and get, basically: “The LORD is good, all that power and authority is in the hands of a good and loving God, therefore rejoice in him!” This is cause for never-ending joy, and this is what sets us apart!
Nature is enough to reveal God’s absolute power and ultimate authority. But if we would learn the full extent of God’s goodness, and his grace, and—unthinkably—his personal visitation among his creation, then we must turn to the Bible. It is his ‘special revelation’ in a book that compliments his ‘general revelation’ in nature, and it testifies of the goodness of God; especially as revealed in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord [2 Corinthians 2:6]. Nature reveals enough about God to leave us “without excuse;” but the Word (illuminated by the Holy Spirit) reveals everything we need to know to be eternally joyful in God, and (therefore) to be saved “to the uttermost.”
The LORD is good…, so take up your Bible today and learn of him, fill your soul with wonder at his power, authority, and his unstoppable goodness—and begin an eternity of rejoicing in him!
Recommendations
The Psalms. (I recommend the “essentially literal” ESV translation for its accuracy as well as its readability.)
Chapter 3 of John Piper’s book, Desiring God, on Worship
I hope and pray that you’ve been encouraged, and built up in your faith through this little message. And I pray that both of us would turn to God’s Word more frequently and more fervently, in order that the rising tide of worldly desires would be displaced by the growing pressure of a hunger for God himself.
PS – On a personal note, I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful feedback and encouragement as I begin my next chapter. I can already see the Lord moving in amazing ways. I am also humbled—greatly—at the generosity of this group of people; I was able to replace my limping, screen-less laptop yesterday with a new Dell notebook (debt-free). I have no other words but “thank you, and thank God.”
posted by Unknown at 10/07/2004 04:27:00 PM
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