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#15.
The goodness of God.
pp. 127 - 130
While it is a mere fancy unsupported by fact, that the English word "God" is derived
from the word "good", there is nevertheless much truth behind the suggestion. For
"God" is essentially "good". To the young man who addressed Him as "Good Master",
the Lord replied, "There is none good but One, that is God" (Matt. 19: 17). And
speaking of man, the apostle says in Romans, "There is none that doeth good, no,
not one" (Rom. 3: 12).
What a wide range of application the word "good" has in our own language. If an
argument is valid, it is called "good". If a claim is legally sound, it is "good". If food is
wholesome, it is "good". If a post is lucrative and pleasant, it is "good". And so we
might go on for scores of instances. When we consult the Scriptures we find that the
goodness of the Lord ramifies through all His ways and acts. When Moses said, "I
beseech Thee, show me Thy glory", the Lord replied:--
"I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the
Lord before thee" (Exod. 33: 18, 19).
"And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God,
merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Ex. 34: 6).
What might not ensue from infinite power and infinite knowledge, without infinite
goodness? It is terrible to contemplate. But we need have no fear; it is impossible for
any act of the Lord to be conceived or accomplished apart from His goodness. Moses
learned that the glory of the Lord was inconceivable apart from His goodness, and that
His very name, The Lord God, implied His goodness. His mercy, His grace and His
longsuffering were but an expression of His "abounding goodness".
The Psalmist, too, in Psa. 145:, realizes that the Lord's greatness and goodness are
inseparable:--
"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable . . . . .
Thy mighty acts . . . . . glorious holiness of Thy majesty . . . . . wondrous works . . . . .
Thy terrible acts . . . . . Thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy
great goodness, and shall sing of Thy righteousness . . . . . The Lord is good to all: and
His tender mercies are over all His works" (Psa. 145: 3-9).
The fact that the Lord is good to all is the teaching of other parts of Scripture also.
The apostle taught this truth to the idolatrous men of Lystra:--
"Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He
left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and
fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14: 16, 17).