The Goodness of God in Adversity and Blessing

The goodness of God is a fundamental aspect of His character, defined as a perfection He exercises toward His creatures according to their various circumstances and relations ^[1]. This goodness is not merely a passive quality but an active benevolence ^[1], described in scripture as great, rich, abundant, satisfying, enduring, and universal ^[6]. It is closely linked with His mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience, especially towards those who are undeserving ^[1].

Scripture frequently highlights God's goodness. Psalm 145:8-9 states, "The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all His works" ^[1]. Similarly, Psalm 103:8 declares, "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness" ^[1]. The Geneva Bible translation of Psalm 117:2 emphasizes, "For his louing kindnes is great toward vs, and the trueth of the Lord endureth for euer" ^[5]. This loving-kindness is described as excellent, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting ^[7].

God's goodness is evident in both blessing and adversity. In times of blessing, His goodness is manifested in providing for the temporal wants of His creation ^[6], such as supplying food and rain (Acts 14:17) ^[6]. It is also seen in His provision for the poor (Psalm 68:10) and in forgiving sins (2 Chronicles 30:18, Psalm 86:5) ^[6]. The mercy of God is particularly beautiful in times of affliction, likened to a cloud of rain in a drought ^[4].

However, God's goodness is also intertwined with His severity, as articulated in Romans 11:22: "See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off" ^[2]. This passage indicates that while God extends goodness, there is also a consequence for those who do not continue in it ^[14]. The "severity" mentioned refers to God's judgment upon those who reject Him, such as the rejection of the chosen seed ^[14]. This is not an arbitrary act but a necessary response of a holy God to sin ^[9].

The concept of God's goodness leading to repentance is also significant (Romans 2:4) ^[6]. His patience and kindness are meant to draw people to a change of heart. The goodness of God is a consistent theme throughout the Old Testament, where it is often depicted as a source of comfort and preservation for His people ^[7]. For instance, Psalm 23:6 expresses confidence that "goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" ^[12]. This implies that God's favor and compassion are constant companions for believers ^[12].

The goodness of God is not to be confused with a lack of justice; rather, goodness and justice are seen as different aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection ^[1]. God's providential government sustains the righteous and brings consequences for the wicked ^{[11, 13]}. While all human beings are born with a sinful nature ^[8], God's goodness offers grace and understanding ^[3]. The ultimate claim of believers is by God through Christ, demonstrating His goodness ^[10].

Sources

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 ”
Romans “See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off. -- Romans 11:22”
Proverbs “Proverbs 3:4 (YLT) — And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.”
Sirach “Sirach 35:26 (DRC) — The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction, as a cloud of rain in the time of drought.”
Psalms “Psalms 117:2 (Geneva1599) — For his louing kindnes is great toward vs, and the trueth of the Lord endureth for euer. Praise yee the Lord.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Goodness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 25:8; Na 1:7; Mt 19:17. Declared to be Great. -- Ne 9:35; Zec 9:17. Rich. -- Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4. Abundant. -- Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5. Satisfying. -- Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14. Enduring. -- Ps 23:6; 52:1. Universal. -- Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45. Manifested To his Church. -- Ps 31:19; La 3:25. In doing good. -- Ps 119:68; 145:9. In supplying temporal wants. -- Ac 14:17. In providing for the poor. -- Ps 68:10. In forgiving sins. -- 2Ch 30:18; Ps 86:5. Leads to repentance. -- Ro 2:4. Recognise, in his dealings. -- Ezr 8:18; Ne 2:18. Pra”
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 ”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 37:27: The exhortation is sustained by the assurance of God's essential rectitude in that providential government which provides perpetual blessings for the good, and perpetual misery for the wicked.”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 23:6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,.... Either the free grace, love, favour, and mercy of God in Christ, which endures continually, and is always the same from everlasting to everlasting; or the effects of it; and these either temporal good things, which flow from the goodness and mercy of God, and not the merits of men; and which are in great mercy and loving kindness bestowed on his people, and which follow them: they do not anxiously seek after them; but seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, these are added to them, they trusting in the Lord, and”
Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 10:29: The way, &c.--that is, God's providence sustains the righteous and overthrows the wicked (Hos 14:9).”
Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 11:22: Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them that fell, severity--in rejecting the chosen seed. but toward thee, goodness--"God's goodness" is the true reading, that is, His sovereign goodness in admitting thee to a covenant standing who before wert a "stranger to the covenants of promise" (Eph 2:12-20). if thou continue in his goodness--in believing dependence on that pure goodness which made thee what thou art.”

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