“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” Psalm 34:8
From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion, there is the revelation of His goodness. In the creation we see where God declares all that He had made, especially man, to be good, the very reflection of who and what He is. This “goodness” speaks of His perfection, His wisdom, His love, and His power. From the motive for creating all things, to the fashioning of them, the intent and will of God was never at any moment, nor in any degree, lacking in the perfection of His blessing, and the whole-hearted giving of Himself. The only limitation to the revelation of His goodness in creation was the degree to which, according to sovereign His wisdom and power, He chose to manifest that goodness. Up until the moment when Adam and Eve sinned, there was nothing good was withheld from them. They lived in the fulness of that goodness, in every way experiencing the wonder of God’s blessed Life in Christ by the Spirit. Man was complete, satisfied, and fulfilled in every conceivable way.
After the fall, the constant awareness and manifestation of the goodness of God was more limited, and this because of the divided, sinful heart of man. It was not that God ceased to be good, in motive and action towards man, but that man was not in a position spiritually to recognize and receive it. And yet, throughout history God would reveal His goodness in the context of a sinful world in many very recognizable ways. For example, there came a day when Moses asked God not only to reveal to him His ways, so that he could know Him, but to see His glory. God’s response to Moses was that He would make all of His “goodness” pass before him. The problem with Mose being able to fully grasp something of the infinite goodness of God, was that as a sinner, he could not fathom such beauty, power, wonder, and the overwhelming holiness and glory of God. Moses would only be able to see a measured portion of the glory of God, revealed as His goodness.
Then there came a day when David was trapped in a very desperate situation, where apart from the intervention of God, he would almost certainly lose his life. It was concerning this situation that he wrote: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.” (Ps. 34:3) God literally intervened and saved David, as he put it, “…out of all his troubles.” It was then, and this time of deliverance and help, that David would declare: “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” (v.8) So real to David was the revelation of the goodness of God to him, that his invitation to all men would be to “taste” and “see” that the Lord is good. In other words, prove His goodness in a very real and tangible manner. The condition would be that of seeking Him, trusting Him fully.
It was also the Apostle Paul who would write concerning the goodness of God when he said: “…knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” (Rom. 2:4) Not only is the goodness of God seen in the beauty and majesty of His creation, and in His intervention in the circumstances and lives of men, but God deals with men in such a way that He is willing to intervene in the hearts and lives of those who will truly seek Him. Jesus said: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out.” (Jn. 6:37) Herein is the goodness of God revealed. God by His Spirit draws out the heart to Himself, to Christ, in order to reveal the saving goodness of HIs love and power, this by giving HIs abundant grace to turn from sin, surrendering to Christ to be saved.
Dear Father, Show us You goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.