Exodus 33:18-19 (NLT) Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.” The LORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you . . .”
This is an extract of a song by Bethal Music, The Goodness of God. “I love You Lord. Oh Your mercy never fails me. All my days I’ve been held in Your hands. From the moment that I wake up. Until I lay my head. I will sing of the goodness of God. All my life You have been faithful. All my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able. I will sing of the goodness of God. I love Your voice. You have led me through the fire. In darkest nights. You are close like no other. I’ve known You as a father. I’ve known You as a friend. I have lived in the goodness of God. Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me. Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me. With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now, I give You everything. Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.”
Regarding Mark 10:17, Thomas Manton makes a fourfold distinction concerning God the Father being declared Jesus as good.
Mark 10:17 (NLT) As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
- God is originally good, James 1:17 (NLT) Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
- God is essentially good. He is not only good, but goodness itself. Kippy Meyers mentions in his article God and Goodness, that “It is worth noting that we actually get our English word ‘good’ from the word ‘god’. Just as we cannot write the word ‘good’ without the word ‘god’, so also the concept (and nature) of goodness derives from the nature of God’s being. When one uses the term good in reference to God, they normally refer to two things. First, good is a moral attribute of God otherwise known as omnibenevolence (i.e. all good). Second, God’s acts toward us not only exhibit His moral goodness, but they are also good in that they are beneficial to us.” Psalm 145:9 (NIV) The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
- God is infinitely good, 1 Samuel 2:2 (NLT) No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
- God is immutably good, Numbers 23:19 (NLT) God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Today, I conclude with a quote from Julian of Norwich: “…the goodness of God is the highest object of prayer and it reaches down to our lowest need.”