Meditating on God's Goodness, Love, and Sovereignty

Meditation on God's attributes, such as His goodness, love, and sovereignty, is a recurring theme in biblical texts and theological reflection. The very act of meditation, or "Higgaion" in some biblical contexts, implies a deep consideration or contemplation ^[5]. Another term, "Jeshohaia," can be interpreted as "the meditation of God," further emphasizing this practice ^[7]. The Psalms frequently invite believers to engage in such contemplation, as seen in Psalm 145:5, "Of the glorious majesty of your honor, of your wondrous works, I will meditate" ^[1].

Meditating on God's Goodness

The goodness of God is a fundamental aspect of His character, consistently highlighted throughout Scripture. It is described as a perfection that God exercises toward His creatures, adapting to their various circumstances ^[2]. This goodness manifests in several ways: as benevolence generally, as mercy and compassion when addressing the miseries of His creatures, and as long-suffering patience toward impenitent sinners. When God communicates favor to the unworthy, His goodness is expressed as grace ^[2]. The psalmist often reflects on this attribute, declaring, "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is not only good in himself, but his mercy endureth for ever" (Psalm 118:1) ^[12].

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Psalm 36:5, observes that contemplating God's goodness provides comfort, especially when confronted with the wickedness of the world. one tradition notes that David, after lamenting the transgressions of the wicked, turns his attention to God's goodness, acknowledging the "transcendent perfections of the divine nature" ^[13]. This goodness is not merely an abstract concept but is demonstrated through God's works of creation and providence. John Gill, commenting on Psalm 104:34, suggests that meditating on God's works of creation, providence, and redemption, as well as His word and dealings with His people, can be "sweet, delightful, and comfortable" ^[8]. All blessings are considered gifts from God, dispensed according to His will, freely and abundantly ^[6].

Meditating on God's Love and Loving-Kindness

God's love is an intrinsic part of His character, as stated in 1 John 4:8, "God is love" ^[4]. This love is described as sovereign, great, abiding, unfailing, unalienable, constraining, and everlasting ^[4]. It is not contingent on human merit, as Deuteronomy 7:7 and Job 7:17 suggest, but is freely given ^[4]. The manifestation of God's love is particularly evident towards perishing sinners (John 3:16), His saints (John 16:27), and the destitute (Deuteronomy 10:18) ^[4]. The ultimate expression of this love is seen in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16) ^[4].

Closely related to God's love is His loving-kindness, often translated as "steadfast love" or "mercy." This attribute is consistently portrayed as "great" (Nehemiah 9:17), "excellent" (Psalm 36:7), "good" (Psalm 69:16), "marvellous" (Psalm 17:7), "multitudinous" (Isaiah 63:7), and "everlasting" (Isaiah 54:8) ^[3]. It is also described as "better than life" (Psalm 63:3) ^[3]. The New Testament emphasizes that God's loving-kindness is extended through Christ (Ephesians 2:7; Titus 3:4-6) ^[3]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalm 69:16, connects God's loving-kindness to Christ, noting that it is a love of "complacency and delight" that is eternal and demonstrated through God's actions, such as appointing Christ as Savior ^[15]. Matthew Henry highlights the importance of "holy love to God as the chief good," describing it as "the power of godliness, the very life and soul of religion" ^[10]. one tradition notes that David's "soul panteth, thirsteth, for God, for nothing more than God, but still for more and more of him" ^[10].

Meditating on God's Sovereignty

God's sovereignty refers to His supreme authority and control over all things. This attribute is implicitly understood in the biblical descriptions of God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. The gifts of God, including all blessings, are dispensed "according to his will" (Ecclesiastes 2:26; Daniel 2:21) ^[6]. This extends to spiritual gifts as well, such as grace, wisdom, repentance, faith, righteousness, strength, a new heart, peace, and rest, all of which are given by God ^[6].

The concept of God's sovereignty is intertwined with His other attributes. His goodness and justice are seen as "several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection" ^[2]. Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Ephesians 1:3, begins his discussion of spiritual blessings by giving thanks and praise to God, whom he calls "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." He emphasizes that the "great privileges of our religion are very aptly recounted and enlarged upon in our praises to God" ^[11]. This praise acknowledges God's ultimate authority and His gracious provision through Christ. The psalmist concludes a meditation on God's works by praising Him as a great God of "matchless perfection," whose glory "shall endure for ever" (Psalm 104:31) ^[14]. This enduring glory speaks to His unchanging and sovereign nature. John Gill encourages believers to "delight thyself also in the Lord," contemplating His perfections, works of creation, providence, and redemption, as well as His word and His people ^[9]. This delight is rooted in the understanding of God's sovereign control and benevolent rule over all things.

Sources

Psalms “Of the glorious majesty of your honor, of your wondrous works, I will meditate. -- Psalms 145:5”
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: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Higgaion — meditation; consideration”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gifts of God, The — All blessings are -- Jas 1:17; 2Pe 1:3. Are dispensed according to his will -- Ec 2:26; Da 2:21; Ro 12:6; 1Co 7:7. Are free and abundant -- Nu 14:8; Ro 8:32. Spiritual Christ the chief of. -- Isa 42:6; 55:4; Joh 3:16; 4:10; 6:32,33. Are through Christ. -- Ps 68:18; Eph 4:7,8; Joh 6:27. The Holy Spirit. -- Lu 11:13; Ac 8:20. Grace. -- Ps 84:11; Jas 4:6. Wisdom. -- Pr 2:6; Jas 1:5. Repentance. -- Ac 11:18. Faith. -- Eph 2:8; Php 1:29. Righteousness. -- Ro 5:16,17. Strength and power. -- Ps 68:35. A new heart. -- Eze 11:19. Peace. -- Ps 29:11. Rest. ”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jeshohaia — the Lord pressing; the meditation of God”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 104:34: My meditation of him shall be sweet,.... Of the glories, excellencies, and perfections of his person; of his offices, as Mediator, King, Priest, and Prophet, the Saviour and Redeemer; of his works of creation, providence, and redemption; of his word, the blessed truths and comfortable doctrines of it; of his providential dispensations, and gracious dealings with his people in the present state; which to meditate upon, when grace is in exercise, is very sweet, delightful, and comfortable. The Targum renders it as a petition, "let my meditation be sweet before him;'”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 37:3: Delight thyself also in the Lord,.... In the persons in God, Father, Son, and Spirit; in the perfections of God, his power, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, love, grace, and mercy; in his works of creation, providence, and redemption; in his word, his Gospel, the truths and ordinances of it; in his house, and the worship of it; and in his people, the excellent in the earth, in whom was all the delight of the psalmist; and each of these afford a field of delight and pleasure, to attend unto, contemplate, and meditate upon; and he shall give thee the desires of thine h”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 42:1: Holy love to God as the chief good and our felicity is the power of godliness, the very life and soul of religion, without which all external professions and performances are but a shell and carcase: now here we have some of the expressions of that love. Here is, I. Holy love thirsting, love upon the wing, soaring upwards in holy desires towards the Lord and towards the remembrance of his name (Psa 42:1, Psa 42:2): "My soul panteth, thirsteth, for God, for nothing more than God, but still for more and more of him." Now observe, 1. When it was that David thus expre”
Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 1:3: He begins with thanksgivings and praise, and enlarges with a great deal of fluency and copiousness of affection upon the exceedingly great and precious benefits which we enjoy by Jesus Christ. For the great privileges of our religion are very aptly recounted and enlarged upon in our praises to God. I. In general he blesses God for spiritual blessings, Eph 1:3, where he styles him the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for, as Mediator, the Father was his God; as God, and the second person in the blessed Trinity, God was his Father. It bespeaks the mystical”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 118:1: It appears here, as often as elsewhere, that David had his heart full of the goodness of God. He loved to think of it, loved to speak of it, and was very solicitous that God might have the praise of it and others the comfort of it. The more our hearts are impressed with a sense of God's goodness the more they will be enlarged in all manner of obedience. In these verses, I. He celebrates God's mercy in general, and calls upon others to acknowledge it, from their own experience of it (Psa 118:1): O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is not only good in himself, but ”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 36:5: David, having looked round with grief upon the wickedness of the wicked, here looks up with comfort upon the goodness of God, a subject as delightful as the former was distasteful and very proper to be set in the balance against it. Observe, I. His meditations upon the grace of God. He sees the world polluted, himself endangered, and God dishonoured, by the transgressions of the wicked; but, of a sudden, he turns his eye, and heart, and speech, to God "However it be, yet thou art good." He here acknowledges, 1. The transcendent perfections of the divine nature. Am”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 104:31: The psalmist concludes this meditation with speaking, I. Praise to God, which is chiefly intended in the psalm. 1. He is to be praised, (1.) As a great God, and a God of matchless perfection: The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever, Psa 104:31. It shall endure to the end of time in his works of creation and providence; it shall endure to eternity in the felicity and adorations of saints and angels. Man's glory is fading; God's glory is everlasting. Creatures change, but with the Creator there is no variableness. (2.) As a gracious God: The Lord shall rejoice”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 69:16: Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good,.... His lovingkindness to him, not only as his Son, but as Mediator; and which is a love of complacency and delight, and was from eternity, and will be to eternity: and this is "good", as appears by the effects and evidences of it; such as putting all things into his hands, showing him all that he does, concealing and keeping nothing from him, appointing him to be the Saviour of his people, the Head of the church, and the Judge of the world; and this lovingkindness shown to him is a reason why he might expect to be hea”

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