“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 106:1 ESV
Reflection: what do you consider “good”?
It sounds like such a simple question. But when you spend just a few minutes thinking about it, you will probably find that it is actually complicated, and that we might have a pretty messed up understanding of what good is. Let’s take a very simple example. How would you define “good” food? For some, perhaps for many, it might be a steak dinner. Or pizza loaded with cheese. Perhaps you have a sweet tooth and are a dessert person, and like ice cream. Or cakes. Or whatever. But, we know that if you eat too much of just that, this food will actually harm you. Perhaps here we mix what is “good” with what is “pleasurable” in taste.
Ok, let’s think of another example. What makes a parent a “good” parent? There are some parents who never teach their children right from wrong, nor discipline their kids, but instead give them whatever they ask for. So from a child’s perspective, in the moment, they seem to be very good parents. But we all know the results of such children, which we call “spoiled” for a reason, how difficult they are to deal with as adults. Some end up making very poor life choices, as they don’t understand the cause and effect of their poor decisions. So I think we can agree that a good parent is not just giving what the child asks for or wants, but what they actually need. Including saying no, and at times with tough conversations and discipline. And even if it is a lot of work to raise a child in such a way, it is for the long term good of the child. And a good parent is willing to make that sacrifice because of love for the child.
Ok, wasn’t planning to get into parenting tips here, but there is a strong parallel to our relationship with God that is essential to understand. So, let me ask you to spend a few minutes to describe to yourself, what makes God “good”? List a few examples.
Psalms 106 is an interesting read, as we first notice the psalmist starting out by declaring ““Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,” Psalm 106:1a ESV. And then notice that he points out a second aspect of God, in a way explaining why God is good, “for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 106:1 ESV. In other words, it is His steadfast, enduring love that is the cause of God’s goodness. Like a loving parent who is willing to not always give their child what they ask for, God doesn’t do that either. In fact, we read with multiple references that looks at us as “sons”, “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.””Hebrews 12:5-6 ESV. So, God’s goodness is also disciplining and chastising, which can be hard for us to understand and accept.
The psalmist confesses their sin before the Lord and before the people, “Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.” Psalm 106:6 ESV. And then he goes on explaining in many detailed examples of how the people were rebelling against God, choosing wickedness and evil. And yet, God showed His enduring love for them, by rescuing them, punishing them, disciplining them, and even having to destroy some of them. Now we question how can such extreme action be seen as “good”? We clearly have a very limited understanding and perspective compared to God. But if we just think for a minute about our current world issues, if we let evil run amok, what damage that would have on humanity? We can see examples of that throughout history, and even around us. The goodness of God is not just giving us good health, a better job, prosperity, etc, but it is also dealing with evil among us; even evil we have allowed in us, keeping us away from, protecting us from what we may not realize or see.
Take some time today to read and reflect on psalm 106. It is very powerful to help us understand and learn from history, and the goodness of God in its many forms. But it should also drive us be honest with ourselves, and with God, realizing that He might take us through difficult things for our own good. Submit to Him. Trust Him. And then say with the psalmist “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 106:1 ESV