January 8, 2026 -- Psalm 145:9-10 -- What is God like? He is good.
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
Psalm 145:9-10 ESV
Good. It is such a simple adjective. What does the Bible really mean by it? In an age of hyperbole and exaggeration, good hardly seems to be “good enough". What is the psalm writer getting at when he calls the LORD good?
The LORD is the source of all good. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” James 1:17. The human heart is inclined toward all evil. The human heart is so misaligned to what is good that people often mock whatever is good. By glorious contrast, the Father is the source of all good. Believers rejoice in Him and give thanks to Him.
The LORD is the standard of good. “If then you who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11). How challenging it is for parents to give good gifts to their children. Good discipline. Good presents. Good time and attention. Good preparation for work life. Just the weight of it all can be crushing. Your Father in heaven is the standard of all that is good. The moment a man or woman says, “I am good” (morally, or ethically, or politically or in any other sphere of life) others can spot the faults, the wrong-headed motives and even the background, budding evil intentions. Only God the Father is the standard of all that is good and His goodness reaches all.
The LORD is impartial in His goodness. “For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45). Be honest. Admit how hard it is to sustain a level of goodness, kindness, love and generosity even to those you love the most. Basic selfishness interferes with the impulse to be good to those closest to you, let alone being good to all. Only the Father in heaven is good to all that he has made. This fact means all unbelievers will be without excuse at the judgment seat of God when Jesus returns. Every evidence of His past goodness will be plainly displayed.
Just this simple summary gives ample reason to praise God and thank Him as your Father. No wonder the saints of God bless Him. While His children reflect on His goodness they can't help but thank Him, praise Him, sing to Him and declare His goodness to others.
O LORD, my God and King, You are good to all! With the saints of every generation, and those who acknowledge Your goodness in this generation, we give thanks to You. Forgive us for our long stretches of thanklessness, our envy of the good gifts You give to others, and our grudging unwillingness to celebrate Your goodness in the lives of those who we think are unworthy of Your goodness. Faithful Father, by Your Spirit renew in us a profound awareness of the goodness You have shown us in Jesus Christ and lead us in joy-filled submission to Him as we gratefully receive all You still have in store for us. Amen.
https://youtu.be/CqybaIesbuA?si=a8fA-sDDkRhFjop7 Good Good Father
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