Goodness

Driving to work this morning, a short ten minute jaunt, I found my mind tracing the familiar shape of Psalm 31:19:

"Oh, how abundant is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear You..."

Goodness: the sum of God's generosity to the undeserving. We don't serve a malicious or self-serving God; our God is essentially good.

Abundant: the measure of the supply. "How abundant" is a beautiful way for us to connect God's character with His infinitude.

Those who fear God: The people whose attention is riveted on God alone. It is impossible to fear anyone or anything else when God is in our center-view.

It is great to have an immeasurably good God. We don't fear Him because He is vindictive or uncertain or mean. Our attention is captivated by God because He is generous and kind and merciful and gracious.

But--get this--God's goodness has a target--US. We are the object of all the untold resources of an infinitely generous God. He has stored up His goodness for those who fear Him, like water dammed up in a fathomless reservoir, pouring over the spillways of His grace in just the time and way we need it most.

There's more: The Psalm is set in the darkness of David's grief, when it seems like the world has turned against him. In that context, David assures his soul that God will publicly pour out His goodness, that He'll vindicate his servant who takes refuge in Him.

And there's more--but for now, I'm reveling in God's unspeakable goodness, counting on His unending supply, and satisfied to be the target of His generous affections.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."