God's Goodness in the Midst of Affliction and Suffering
God's Goodness in Affliction
The biblical concept of God's goodness is intricately linked with His character, particularly in the context of human suffering and affliction. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's goodness encompasses benevolence, mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience, exercised towards His creatures according to their various circumstances and relations [4].
In times of affliction, believers find solace in the biblical assurance that God is with them, comforts them, and preserves them. Torrey's Topical Textbook cites numerous scriptures that affirm God's presence and support for afflicted saints, including Psalms 46:5, 7 and Isaiah 43:2 [6]. The Psalmist expresses gratitude for God's loving-kindness, stating, "I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities" (Psalms 31:7) [1].
The apostle Paul also testifies to God's merciful intervention in times of affliction, as seen in his reference to Epaphroditus's illness, where he writes, "For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him" (Philippians 2:27) [2]. This mercy is not limited to deliverance from affliction but also includes the grace to endure it. The writer of Lamentations notes, "Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion" (Lamentations 3:32) [3].
The New Testament encourages believers not to be surprised by trials but to rejoice, knowing that they participate in Christ's sufferings. The Tyndale House commentary on 1 Peter 4:12 explains that Christians can expect to face hostility from a sinful world, but they are to endure it with the knowledge that they are following in Christ's footsteps [7].
In the midst of affliction, God's goodness is manifested through His comfort and preservation. According to John Gill's commentary on Job 36:15, God delivers the poor in their affliction by supporting them, supplying them with grace to bear their trials patiently, and granting them His gracious presence for their comfort [8]. This understanding is echoed in the Psalms, where it is written that "unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness" (Psalms 112:4), signifying the hope and comfort that arise in times of affliction [9].
The biblical narrative thus presents a complex and multifaceted view of God's goodness in the midst of suffering, emphasizing both His sovereign control over all circumstances and His loving care for His people. As Torrey's Topical Textbook notes, God's loving-kindness is described as great, excellent, and everlasting, providing a foundation for trust and hope in times of affliction [5].
Sources
- Psalms “I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities. -- Psalms 31:7”
- Philippians “For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. -- Philippians 2:27”
- Lamentations “Lamentations 3:32 (BSB) — Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:12: 4:12-19 Peter instructs Christians one last time about the way to face the trials that will inevitably come. 4:12 don’t be surprised: Christians, especially those seeking to lead godly lives, can expect to face the hostility of a sinful world (see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom 8:17; Phil 1:29).”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 36:15: He delivereth the poor in his affliction,.... The righteous or godly poor; who are not only poor in worldly things, but poor in spirit; who are humbled, brought low, and made contrite, through the afflicting hand of God: these, though the Lord does sooner or later deliver "out" of their afflictions, yet that is not intended here, but a deliverance "in" them; which is done by supporting them under them, by supplying them with his grace to bear them patiently, by granting them his gracious presence for their comfort in them, by stilling the enemy and the avenger, keeping ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 112:4: Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness,.... Upright ones are sometimes in the darkness of affliction, under divine desertions, without spiritual joy, and in an uncomfortable condition; when on a sudden light arises to them, like break of day, or the morning light: they have deliverance from affliction, and enjoy prosperity; the light of God's countenance is lifted up on them; the sun of righteousness arises upon them with healing in his wings; and spiritual joy and comfort are communicated unto them. It may denote the comforts the people of God have ami”