God is Good!

Introduction

What does it mean for something to be good?

When we are looking for a “good” phone we probably need to decide between an iPhone or an Android phone. In this case “good” refers to better technology, easier to use, better apps / camera, etc.

We also use “good” when we try to describe someone that is good at something.

He is a good soccer player.

She is a good gymnast.

He is good actor.

…in this context…good refers to someone’s superior ability to do something.

We also come across the word good in Psalm 100 and it refers to God.

Salmo 100:5 NIV

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

In this psalm, the author commands God’s people to worship God, to sing to him, to praise his holy name.

Salmo 100:5 NIV

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

…and someone might say, “Why should he worship God?”

Well, the psalmist tells us exactly why God should be worshipped…he gives us a profound reasons for why we should worship God.

…and this reason has to do with God’s goodness.

God is good.

Notice what the psalmist says.

Salmo 100:5 NIV

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

We should worship God because he is good.

This does not refer to God being good at being God.

It’s not as if God received an award for being good at being God.

In this case, good refers to God’s character.

You see when we say Cristiano Ronaldo is a really good soccer player we are simply speaking about his ability to kick a soccer ball with either his left or right foot and score a goal.

When we say that Kobe Bryan was a really good basketball player we are speaking about his incredible ability to score and his incredible footwork.

…but we are only referring to their technical sports ability and nothing else.

In fact, it is often said that Cristiano Ronaldo tends to throw tantrums on the field and often makes very arrogant self centered comments.

Many people could be very good at what they do - but they have many character flaws that frequently would disappoint their admirers if they knew about them.

…and yet, in this psalm we are called to worship God because he is good.

So if this does not refer to God being very good at being God…what does this refer to?

In this case, the psalmist refers to God being good and gives us two says God shows us that he is good:

His love for us is never ending.

He is faithful to his promises.

God’s is a most gracious and loving good in that we do not deserve mercy or compassion - we’ve sinned against God and have broken God’s law - but God shows us mercy and grace through the work of his son Jesus on the cross.

God’s shows his love in that he has made many promises to us…and he keeps his promises throughout all generations.

God has promised to be with us until the end.

God has promised never to forsake or abandon us.

God has promised to comfort us when we are full of anxiety, fear, and sadness.

…do we need any other reason to worship God?

I am sure you’ve seen God’s goodness in your life.

Many of you are proud of your parents and I am sure you would say - I have a very good father, a very good mother…and you remember all the times that your parents have demonstrated their love and care for you.

You recognize how they’ve made many sacrifices for your sake so that you would be taken care of.

You have tasted of what it means to have a good parent who loves you despite all your flaws, the times that you’ve disrespected your parents, despite you can never repay what your parents have done for you.

…and yet, we see that God himself is the model of what it means to be good.

He is without fault, without sin - and will continue to demonstrate his goodness through all generations.