The Goodness of God in Times of Crisis
The goodness of God, a core aspect of His character, is consistently portrayed in Scripture as a source of strength and refuge for His people, particularly during times of crisis. This divine attribute encompasses benevolence, mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience [4]. The Bible frequently describes God as a "stronghold in the time of trouble" [1] and "a very present help in trouble" [3].
The concept of God's goodness is not merely an abstract theological idea but is demonstrated through His active involvement in the lives of His creatures. As Easton's Bible Dictionary explains, God exercises this perfection "according to their various circumstances and relations" [4]. When His creatures experience misery, His goodness manifests as mercy, pity, and compassion. Towards impenitent sinners, it is expressed as long-suffering patience, and in communicating favor to the unworthy, it is grace [4].
Biblical texts frequently highlight God's goodness as a comfort in distress. Nahum 1:7 states, "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him" [2]. Similarly, Psalm 37:39 declares, "But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble" [1]. These passages underscore the protective and supportive nature of God's goodness when His people face adversity.
The "loving-kindness of God" is another facet of His goodness, described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting [5]. This loving-kindness is understood to be "through Christ" [5]. It is considered "better than life" and is the source of preservation, quickening, and comfort for saints [5]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalm 69:16, connects God's loving-kindness to Christ, noting that it is "good" and a reason for Christ to expect to be heard by the Father [8].
In times of personal or communal crisis, the biblical narrative often depicts individuals turning to God in prayer, trusting in His goodness and mercy. John Gill notes that a "time of distress is a time for prayer," and God sometimes allows distress to bring people to Him [9]. He further observes that when people "cry unto the Lord in their trouble," He saves them out of their distress [10]. This reliance on God's goodness is not based on human merit but on His grace and mercy [7]. The psalmist, even when wounded, confesses faith in God's ability to transform misery and weakness into abundant life, drawing encouragement from God's righteous character [11].
The presence of God in the midst of His people is also a significant aspect of His goodness during crises. John Gill, commenting on Zephaniah 3:17, emphasizes that "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty," providing support, supply, assistance, strength, protection, and defense. This presence is not merely essential or providential but a "gracious presence, peculiar to his church and people" [6]. This divine presence assures believers that God is near and actively involved in their circumstances.
The goodness of God is not contingent on human circumstances but is an inherent perfection of His character [4]. This steadfast goodness provides a foundation of hope and assurance, even when facing profound difficulties.
Sources
- Psalms “But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. -- Psalms 37:39”
- Nahum “Nahum 1:7 (BSB) — The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.”
- Psalms “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. -- Psalms 46:1”
- 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 ”
- Zephaniah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Zephaniah 3:17: The Lord thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty Every word carries in it something very encouraging to the church and people of God; and is an antidote against those fears and faintings they are subject to; Christ "is in the midst of" them; near at hand to support and supply them, to assist and strengthen them, to protect and defend them; he is not only near by his essential presence, which is everywhere; and by his providential presence, which is concerned with all his creatures; but by his gracious presence, peculiar to his church and people; and which gives th”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 44:26: Arise for our help,.... Or, "arise our help" (s). God is the help of his people, and he is a present help in time of trouble; and he is the only one; and he can help and does, when none else can; and redeem us for thy mercies' sake; not for the sake of her integrity and faithfulness; nor for her sufferings for Christ's sake; but for his grace and mercy's sake, which is the source and spring of redemption or deliverance, both temporal and spiritual; and to that the saints ascribe it, and not to any merit of theirs, or works of righteousness done by them. (s) "auxi”
- 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”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 18:5: In my distress I called upon the Lord,.... The great Jehovah, the everlasting I AM, who is the most High in all the earth, and who is able to save, Heb 5:7; and cried unto my God; as Jesus did, Mat 27:46; so the members of Christ, when in distress, as they often are, through sin and Satan, through the hidings of God's face, a variety of afflictions, and the persecutions of men, betake themselves to the Lord, and call upon their God: a time of distress is a time for prayer; and sometimes the end God has in suffering them to be in distress is to bring them to the thro”
- 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”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 71:19: 71:19-21 God’s righteous character provides encouragement and strength in the midst of suffering. The wounded psalmist confesses faith in God’s ability to transform his misery and weakness into abundant life.”