STUDY 13: GOD’S GOODNESS IN THE PSALMS – 1
©Rosemary Bardsley 2023
[Note: In each of the Bible study tasks below, it is helpful to read the whole Psalm, not just the verses referenced.]
The Psalm writers celebrated the abundant goodness of God (145:7). They knew that God himself was good; they knew that his historic actions towards Israel demonstrated his goodness towards them; and they were therefore confident that, although often their present circumstances seemed to hide or even deny his goodness, he was good, and that his goodness was powerfully active for them. Quite a number of Psalms begin negatively because of the circumstances of the writer, but after reflection on the powerful goodness of God, end with an expression of praise and trust. In the previous study we saw the on-going unbelief of the nation, Israel; here in the Psalms we see the faith of individuals within the idolatrous nation.
Because there are so many Psalms, and because there is so much said in the Psalms that reveals and affirms the goodness of God, it is not possible to include everything in these studies. This study looks at the goodness of God himself – those qualities and attributes that make him ‘good’. The next study looks at the good things that God does. Sometimes it is difficult to separate the two, because what God is, is what God does.
A. GOD IS THE KING, THE SOVEREIGN LORD OF ALL
Repeatedly the Psalm writers refer to God as the sovereign Lord of all: he is ‘King’, ‘the Most High’, ‘the Sovereign Lord’, ‘the Almighty’; he is ‘enthroned in heaven’ and ‘exalted over the nations’. This supreme and everlasting authority is an essential part of his goodness. As you read the verses below, note that the Psalmists do not see this Sovereign God as someone far distant from them: he is for them ‘my King’, whose power and love is active for ‘me’. God is not just the King with no relationship with me as an individual. And it is because they know that he is the Almighty God that they have the confidence to come to him with their fears and petitions. Note that the fact that God is the Creator of all is part of his powerful sovereignty.
Bible study: What do you learn about God’s unlimited sovereign power and authority in these verses?
5:2
9:2
10:16
24:10
29:10
33:8 – 11
47:1 – 9
80:4, 14, 19
93:1, 2
95:3 – 5
97:1
98:4 – 6
113:1 – 6
115:3, 15
121:2
146:5, 6
150:2
B. GOD IS A PLACE OF REFUGE, SECURITY AND SAFETY
Because of his great power and authority God is a place of refuge and protection. While David expresses this in terms of physical protection from his enemies, it is also true, more importantly, in a spiritual sense: that God himself is our place of spiritual safety and security. This truth that God is our refuge is expressed many times in the Psalms.
Bible study: What do you learn from these verses about God being our safe place?
9:9
18:1, 2, 30
31:1 – 3
32:7
37:39, 40
46:1 – 7
59:9, 17
62:1, 2, 7, 8
71:1 – 8
91:1, 2, 9
94:22
144:1, 2
C. GOD IS A GOD OF LOVE, COMPASSION AND MERCY
An ever-present theme of the Psalms is the everlasting, unfailing love of God for his people; sometimes this is expressed as compassion, sometimes as mercy. This love also is an essential component of God’s goodness. The Psalm writers, aware of God’s love shown in the past, are confident that his love is there for them in the present, and will also be there, active on their behalf, forgiving their sins, in the future.
Bible study: How is the love and mercy of God expressed and described in these verses?
5:7
6:1 – 4, 9
21:7
31:19 – 22
33:5, 22
36:5
40:11
51:1
86:3 – 7, 13, 15 – 16
89:1, 2, 14
103:1 – 18
107: 1, 15, 21, 43
109:21, 26
116:1 – 5
118
119:64, 132
130
136
145:8, 9
D. GOD IS FAITHFUL
Hand in hand with the unfailing love of God is his faithfulness. He is faithful to the covenants. He is faithful to his word. He is faithful to himself: he will never be other than what he is. He will never act contrary to his nature. As with all of his attributes, this faithfulness of God is an essential part of his goodness.
Check these verses from the Psalms. What do they have to say about the faithfulness of God?
25:10
33:4
57:3, 10
71:19 – 24
86:15
91:4
98:3
100:1 – 5
108:1 – 5
111:7, 8
115:1
117:1, 2
119:90
145:13
146:5, 6
E. GOD IS A GOD OF GLORY, MAJESTY AND SPLENDOUR – HE IS AN AWESOME GOD
God is not mediocre; he is not commonplace. If he was visible there is no way we would miss seeing him. Even his appearances in vision form were so splendid that they were over-powering. The Psalm writers knew that God was glorious, and they saw this majesty and splendour of his being as part of his overwhelming goodness.
What do these verses from the Psalms say about this glory of God?
8:1
19:1
24:7 – 10
29:1 – 9
63:2
66:1 – 4
72:18, 19
93:1
96:1 – 3, 8, 9
104:1
113:4 – 6
145:1 – 13
148:13
F. A GOD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS/JUSTICE
To be ‘righteous’ is to be and to do what is legally right or just. ‘Righteousness’ is the quality of legal rightness or innocence which is part of God’s essential nature. In addition, ‘righteousness’, when applied to human beings, is God’s gift, credited to those who believe; as such it is an aspect of salvation. In this section we are looking at just a few of the many references to God as personally righteous, and personally just.
What do these verses say about God’s personal righteousness and justice?
7:9 – 11
9:4, 8
11:7
36:6, 10
48:10, 11
50:3 – 6
71:16 – 19, 24
85:10 – 13
89:14, 16
96:13
97:2,6,8
103:6, 17
111:3
116:5, 6
119:137, 138, 144
143:1, 11
145:7, 17
REVIEW
In looking at these aspects of God’s nature in the Psalms we have only scratched the surface, particularly if you have just read the verses listed, and not the wider context. But even so, it is evident that the Psalm writers were convinced of the sheer goodness of God. Even when they could not see how that goodness was working out at the moment, they still rejoiced in his goodness.
How have the Psalm writers enlarged your understanding of the goodness of God?
What impact does this have on your confidence/trust in God?