The Goodness of God
We know there are many different attributes of God. Some divide these into two categories:
Divine Attributes: such as His holiness, self-existence, eternality, transcendence, infinity, immutability, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, and sovereignty.
Moral Attributes: such as His faithfulness, longsuffering, righteousness, goodness, grace, mercy, love, and wisdom.
But can we really separate these attributes? He is all of them, all the time! Who are we to define Him?
Yet there is great encouragement in looking at who our God is—not only to see the things about Him that we may never fully understand but also to grasp what He has revealed in His Word. In our present day, surrounded by evil and immorality, I’ve been occupied with just how good our God truly is.
When we think of the word “good,” it probably means different things to each of us. So a good place to start is with a definition. A.W. Tozer defines God’s goodness as:
“That which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of goodwill toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature, He is inclined to bestow blessedness, and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people.”
Let’s begin by turning to Psalm 34. This psalm was written by David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and David departed. It begins with a heartfelt praise to God (vv. 1–3), then moves to God’s protection (vv. 4–7), His provision (vv. 8–10), His support (vv. 11–19), and finally His security (vv. 20–22). But right in the middle of this psalm, we see God’s goodness—one of the key blessings He supplies us! Let’s take a closer look at verses 8–10.
Taste and See That the Lord Is Good
Psalm 34:8 invites us:
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
The sequence here makes tasting the action and seeing the result. The Lord wants us to engage all our senses to discover His goodness. Three things are highlighted in these verses:
We are to take refuge in Him and be blessed.
We are to fear the Lord and lack nothing.
We are to seek the Lord and not lack any good thing.
Taking refuge, fearing the Lord, and seeking Him are ways of tasting His goodness. The more we engage with Him, the more we come to know His goodness. He urges us to experience it! His goodness is the foundation for everything good—and a foundational truth for how we think about Him.
Goodness in Creation
God’s goodness is evident throughout His creation.
Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”
Psalm 145:9 reminds us, “The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.”
Psalm 33:5 says, “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”
Matthew 5:45 tells us, “…He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.”
James 1:17 proclaims, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
Some may ask, “How can a good and loving God allow suffering?” That’s a hard question, and sometimes God is not quick to answer it. But His mercy and kindness are over all He has made. As Romans 8:28 reminds us:
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Think of Joseph, who went through deep suffering. Yet later, he could say to his brothers—who caused much of his pain—“You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”
God’s Goodness in the Fall of Man
When Adam and Eve sinned, God could have wiped out humanity. He could have withheld every blessing, comfort, and pleasure. But instead, He continued to pour out His goodness.
James 2:13 reminds us, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Despite the evil that sin brought into the world, God’s goodness still outweighs it. Even in a fallen world, His goodness allows us to grow in understanding and find healing—such as the development of medicine in response to disease.
Even when humanity turns away from Him, His goodness cannot be denied. Paul writes:
“Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).
If people reject God’s goodness, they have no one to blame but themselves.
God’s Goodness in the Coming of His Son
Luke 2:14 records the angelic announcement:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
This great act of God’s goodness revealed His loving heart toward us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). We echo the psalmist in saying:
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8)
Acts 10:38 tells us that Jesus, anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, “went about doing good.” People who encountered Him saw His goodness firsthand.
When a ruler once asked, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18), Jesus replied, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11,14).
Later, He said, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” (John 10:32)
The Goodness of God
In Luke 18:19, Jesus declared, “No one is good but One, that is, God.” Let’s reflect on what this means:
God is originally good: All goodness originates in Him. James 1:17 confirms this truth.
God is essentially good: He is not just good—He is goodness. Psalm 119:68 says, “You are good, and what You do is good.”
God is infinitely good: His goodness knows no limits. Psalm 52:1 tells us, “The goodness of God endures continually.”
God is immutably good: His goodness never changes, because He never changes.
Encouraged by His Goodness
We should take great encouragement in God’s goodness. Even in dark times, we find hope.
Nahum 1:7 declares, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”
Psalm 84:11 assures us, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Display His Goodness
As Christians, we are called to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1). While we can never fully match His goodness, it should be seen in the lives of those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.
Galatians 5:22–23 tells us that one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is goodness:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
This goodness is love in action. Hebrews 13:15–16 reminds us:
“Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Romans 15:14 teaches that we are to be “full of goodness” to be effective servants, just like our Master.
We are to show this goodness not only to our fellow believers but also to the lost—even those who oppose us.
Paul writes in Romans 12:20–21:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
And in Galatians 6:9–10:
“Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
May we be those who continually taste and see that the Lord is good. And may His goodness so fill and transform us that it spills over into the lives of others—for His glory!
