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The Goodness of God in Times of Affliction

The goodness of God, a perfection of His character, is consistently exercised toward His creatures, manifesting as benevolence, mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience [3]. This divine goodness is not absent during times of affliction but is often revealed through and within such experiences. Afflictions are a common human experience, affecting all people (Job 5:7; 14:1) [1]. However, for believers, these trials are understood to serve specific purposes related to their spiritual growth and God's glory [1].

Biblical texts frequently connect God's goodness and loving-kindness with His response to human suffering. The Psalmist declares, "I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities" (Psalm 31:7) [2]. This highlights a belief that God is intimately aware of and responsive to the distress of His people. The loving-kindness of God is described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting, and it is understood to be mediated through Christ (Ephesians 2:7; Titus 3:4-6) [6]. It is through this loving-kindness that saints are preserved, quickened, and comforted [6].

Afflictions are often presented as instruments in God's hands for beneficial outcomes. They are intended for the good of individuals (James 1:2, 3, 12; 2 Corinthians 12:7) and for the glory of God (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 1 Peter 4:14) [1]. The Bible teaches that all afflictions are directed by God (Lamentations 3:33) and will ultimately result in the everlasting good of His people in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:35-39) [1].

Specific ways in which afflictions are made beneficial include:

During affliction, prayer is encouraged (James 5:13), with petitions often focusing on God's consideration of trouble, His presence and support, divine comfort, mitigation of troubles, and deliverance [4]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that affliction is a time of trouble and a proper season for prayer, bringing individuals to the throne of grace when humbled [7]. He also observes that God delivers the poor "in" their affliction by supporting them, supplying grace for patience, granting His presence, and protecting them from enemies [10].

Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist/Puritan commentator, reflects on Psalm 119:92, noting that David, though in great distress and "ready to perish in his affliction," admired God's goodness for preserving his soul and enabling him to remain close to God and his faith [9]. Henry also highlights the word of God as a means of consolation during affliction, quickening believers when they are "dead in duty" or "cold and indifferent" [11].

The Apostle Paul describes afflictions as "light" and "momentary" when compared to the "eternal weight of glory" they are producing (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) [1, 8]. This perspective suggests that while present suffering is real, its ultimate purpose, directed by God, is to yield a greater, lasting good for believers. The goodness of God is thus not merely His benevolence in times of ease, but His active, purposeful engagement with humanity even amidst suffering, transforming it for redemptive ends.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Afflictions — Common to all (Job 5:7; 14:1; Ps. 34:19); are for the good of men (James 1:2, 3, 12; 2 Cor. 12:7) and the glory of God (2 Cor. 12:7-10; 1 Pet. 4:14), and are to be borne with patience by the Lord's people (Ps. 94:12; Prov. 3:12). They are all directed by God (Lam. 3:33), and will result in the everlasting good of his people (2 Cor. 4:16-18) in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39).”
  2. 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”
  3. 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 ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
  6. 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 ”
  7. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 107:16: Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,.... A time of affliction is a time of trouble, and a proper season for prayer; and by it persons are brought to the throne of grace, when humbled under the mighty hand of God, to seek for relief. Hezekiah in his affliction prayed to the Lord, though Asa sought to the physicians only, and not to the Lord; this is to be understood of such who are convinced of their folly, brought to a sense of sin and danger, and therefore cry to the Lord for his sparing mercy, and pardoning grace. And he saveth them out of their distres”
  8. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 4:16: For our light affliction,.... The difference between the present and future state of the saints is here expressed, the disparity between them shown, and the influence the one has upon the other. The present state is a state of "affliction". Affliction is the common lot of the children of men, but more especially of the children of God, and is here designed by "our" affliction; for these, besides their soul trouble, meet with such in the world, and from the men of it, others do not. Afflictions are appointed for them by their heavenly Father; provision is made f”
  9. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:92: Here is, 1. The great distress that David was in. He was in affliction, and ready to perish in his affliction, not likely to die, so much as likely to despair; he was ready to give up all for gone, and to look upon himself as cut off from God's sight; he therefore admires the goodness of God to him, that he had not perished, that he kept the possession of his own soul, and was not driven out of his wits by his troubles, but especially that he was enabled to keep close to his God and was not driven off from his religion by them. Though we are not kept from afflic”
  10. 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 ”
  11. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:50: Here is David's experience of benefit by the word. 1. As a means of his sanctification: "Thy word has quickened me. It made me alive when I was dead in sin; it has many a time made me lively when I was dead in duty; it has quickened me to that which is good when I was backward and averse to it, and it has quickened me in that which is good when I was cold and indifferent." 2. Therefore as a means of his consolation when he was in affliction and needed something to support him: "Because thy word has quickened my at other times, it has comforted me then." The word”
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