Psalm 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
People all around the world have ideas of what God is like (some of which are rather unconventional), however, the only authoritative source for information about God and what He is like is the Word of God, the Bible.
The Bible is the only book we have that is given to us by God and about God. One thing the Bible clearly declares to us about what God is like, and that is, God is good!
Notice the Certainty of God's Goodness. The word "surely" (not Shirley!) is a word of confidence and certainty. The Bible states very emphatically, God is good... all the time! - God is absolutely good! Psalm 25:8, "Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way." Psalm 34:8, "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Psalm 73:1, "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart." Psalm 86:5, "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." God is good! It is His very nature to be good. God does good because He is good. David was a great man of faith, yet he often struggled with fear, but he never doubted God's goodness; when he struggled with confusion, he never doubted God's goodness, when he struggled with loneliness, he never doubted God's goodness, when he struggled with guilt and failure, he never doubted God's goodness. - God is eternally good! Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." God's nature never changes, He is eternally good. God always has been and always will be good.
Notice the Companion of God's Goodness. "...goodness and mercy..." All through Scripture God's mercy is associated with His mercy. Psalm 106:1, "Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." Psalm 107:1, "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." Psalm 118:1, "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever." Psalm 136:1, "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." God's mercy means that He withholds the judgment that all of us deserve. God's goodness without His mercy would do us little good.
Notice the "Stalking" of God's Goodness. The word "follow" means to pursue; dog; chase down; to shadow; to stalk.
The goodness of God is our divine "stalker," following us everywhere we go.
God's goodness stalks us in His eagerness to forgive our sin. Psalm 86:5, "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." God's goodness stalks us in His eagerness to meet our needs. Psalm 126:3, "The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." Jeremiah 33:3, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
Notice the Security of God's Goodness. "...all the days of my life...forever." I have made some bad decisions in my life, but the best decision I have ever made is trusting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. God has been nothing but good to me. God will be nothing but good to me. In Heaven for all eternity we'll experience the goodness of God without having to deal with the sinfulness of man. When I was lost and on my way to Hell, God's goodness opened my heart and mind to the Gospel. When I have been treated unfairly and unkindly, God's goodness has relieved my bitterness. When my heart has been broken, God's goodness has relieved by anger and pain.
When I have failed God and my fellowman, God's goodness provides forgiveness and offers a second (and third, and fourth, etc.)
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