The Goodness of God in Dark Valleys and Trials
The concept of God's goodness is a pervasive theme in biblical literature, particularly in the Psalms. Psalm 33:5 declares, "He loueth righteousnesse and iudgement: the earth is full of the goodnesse of the Lord" [2]. This affirmation underscores the omnipresent nature of God's goodness, suggesting it is not limited to times of prosperity or ease but is also manifest in times of trial and hardship.
In the face of adversity, the biblical writers often turn to the character of God as a source of comfort and strength. Sirach 35:26 notes, "The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction, as a cloud of rain in the time of drought" [1]. This imagery highlights the refreshing and life-giving nature of God's goodness, even in the most desolate of circumstances.
The Psalms frequently express the idea that God's goodness is not merely a general attribute but is specifically directed towards those who fear Him and live according to His will. Psalm 103:17 states, "But the louing kindnesse of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare him, and his righteousnes vpon childrens children" [3]. This enduring loving-kindness is a testament to the enduring nature of God's goodness.
The etymology of certain biblical names also sheds light on the concept of God's goodness. For instance, "Mehetabel" means "how good is God" [4], while "Jahaleel" signifies "praising God; light of God" [5]. These names reflect the biblical tradition's emphasis on the goodness of God as a fundamental aspect of His character.
In interpreting the Psalms, various traditions have underscored the multifaceted nature of God's goodness. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, God's perfections of love, mercy, goodness, and truth are manifested in pardoning sin [6]. This view is echoed in the commentary on Psalm 31:19, which notes that God "displays openly His purposed goodness to His people" [7]. The goodness of God is thus not only a theoretical attribute but is actively demonstrated in the lives of believers.
The biblical concept of God's goodness is also closely tied to His power and control over creation. Psalm 65:6 speaks of God's great power and goodness as the grounds of confidence, illustrating these through His control of natural forces and His provision for humanity [8]. This connection between power and goodness underscores the idea that God's goodness is not passive but is actively engaged in the world.
In times of trial and darkness, the biblical writers find solace in the goodness of God. The wilderness, a symbol of desolation and hardship, is also a place where God's power and goodness are displayed [9]. This paradox is at the heart of the biblical understanding of God's goodness: it is precisely in the "dark valleys" that God's goodness can be experienced as a source of comfort and strength.
The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes the tender mercies of God, noting that "the goodness of God's nature, as it is his glory, so it is the joy of all the saints" [10]. This tradition highlights the compassionate aspect of God's goodness, underscoring its significance for believers facing adversity.
Sources
- 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 33:5 (Geneva1599) — He loueth righteousnesse and iudgement: the earth is full of the goodnesse of the Lord.”
- Psalms “Psalms 103:17 (Geneva1599) — But the louing kindnesse of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare him, and his righteousnes vpon childrens children,”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Mehetabel — how good is God”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jahaleel — praising God; light of God”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 25:11: God's perfections of love, mercy, goodness, and truth are manifested (his name, compare Psa 9:10) in pardoning sin, and the greatness of sin renders pardon more needed.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 31:19: God displays openly His purposed goodness to His people.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 65:6: God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; Psa 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 29:8: the wilderness--especially Kadesh, south of Judea, is selected as another scene of this display of divine power, as a vast and desolate region impresses the mind, like mountains, with images of grandeur.”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:156: Here, 1. David admires God's grace: Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord! The goodness of God's nature, as it is his glory, so it is the joy of all the saints. His mercies are tender, for he is full of compassion; they are many, they are great, a fountain that can never be exhausted. He is rich in mercy to all that call upon him. David had spoken of the misery of the wicked (Psa 119:155); but God is good notwithstanding; there were tender mercies sufficient in God to have saved them, if they had not "despised the riches of those mercies." Those that are deliver”