Great is Thy Goodness
Today’s Verse:
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 31:19
There are two ways by which we are most appreciative of the goodness of God. The first is by having a spirit of thankfulness at all times. It is the will of God that we give thanks always in all things. The second is seeing His goodness in our life during times of great difficulty, misery, trial, and heartache. David speaks about the greatness of God’s goodness that is laid up for those who fear Him.
We see the grief.
“I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.” This psalm may have been written during the time of the Absalom's rebellion. Absalom and Ahithophel turned the kingdom against David. David felt friendless. David felt forsaken. In vv. 9-13, he laments his plight. His speaks of being consumed with grief and sighing, forgotten, like a broken vessel, and slandered. He said that fear was on every side. David hastily said that God had cut him off. He was in grief over a situation that seemed hopeless.
We see the grip.
“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.” David’s faith was being tested, but he knew it was important that he trusted in the Lord. After lamenting his troubles, he said in v. 14, “But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.” David got a grip on his plight by giving it completely to the Lord and trusting Him for the outcome. Trusting in the Lord is taking our hands off of the problem and letting God have control. It is acknowledging Him in what we see and what we cannot see. It is allowing God to direct us to His desired outcome, and not our desired outcome. When in doubt and darkness, trust in the Lord!
We see the grace.
“My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.” It is when we trust in God that we see His grace at work. David said, “My times are in thy hand.” God’s grace is His strength being made perfect in our weakness. When God’s grace is at work, there is strength, peace, and assurance. We recognize that the power of God is at work in us when we are most powerless and helpless. Difficult times are times when God’s grace is allowed to work through us. Let us remember that God’s grace is sufficient for our needs.
We see the greatness.
“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!” David saw God deal with Absalom, Ahithophel, and Shimei. He saw the hearts of the men of Israel turned back towards him. He spoke of the marvelous kindness that the Lord showed towards him. David lauded the Lord for the outcome. David loved the Lord for preserving him and keeping him faithful. David, as a good leader, encouraged all of God’s people to have courage and strengthen their heart in all circumstances. God’s goodness is always great! He does more for us than we can imagine. Rejoice in the greatness of God’s goodness in every situation.
Have a rejoicing God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 4-7