Oh How Great Is Thy Goodness!

 

 

Did you know that God lays up His Goodness?

That is exactly right!

Like a man stores up food in autumn for the desperate needs of winter...like a fountain that can never run dry...where neither devil nor man can reach it - He has stored up His Goodness for His children.

 

This Goodness is indeed a treasure hidden away for the needs or emergencies of His children. It is always accessible...infinite in supply...and can never be exhausted - no matter how often they are in need.
                                                                                                                 

This Goodness is a work of His own hands. It is "laid up"(Psalm 31:19).  It is "wrought"(Psalm 31:19). It is not a work by chance but carefully planned and arranged by a Caring and Mindful Heavenly Father Who lovingly anticipates the needs of His children and has already provided and proportioned it according to their necessities. This work of benevolence resembles the act of a man who lays up treasure for a future use - he saves for a "rainy day" - so to speak.
                                                                                                                

Is it any wonder that David cried - "Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up..."(Psalm 31:19) That word "great" deals specifically with the amount of supply. It means much, many, abounding in, more numerous than, or exceedingly. God's Goodness has enough for all and at all times. It includes all of His Goods as well as His Fairness, Beauty, Joy, and Prosperity.
                                                                                                              

Is this wonderful treasure available to all?

                                                                                                                                                                           

No, actually it is reserved for two classes of people - those who fear the Lord and those who trust in Him before the sons of men. "O how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; which Thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men."(Psalm 31:19)
                                                                                                                                               

Those who fear the Lord are the ones who tremble at His Word...have a holy dread of ever displeasing Him...hate all evil - avoiding even the very appearance of it...consider it their whole duty to fear Him, keep His commandments, and hate every false way...and obey Him rather than man.
                                                                                                                                                                                                           

These same ones "trust in Thee before the sons of men." By faith, they take hold of the Promises of God...boldly confess Him before a crooked and perverse generation...rely completely and absolutely on Him in all places and in all situations - including danger, want, or trouble...seek refuge in and flee for protection to Him... confide in Him...and place all their hope and trust in Him before any man's counsel, ways, or programs.
                                                           

To those who will fear the Lord and trust in Him before the sons of men, He opens up the storehouse of His Goodness. Isn't that wonderful?

 

Are you one of those who tremble at His Word with a Holy Fear and Reverence...dread ever living in a manner which is displeasing unto Him...trust Him completely to supply your needs rather than relying on man and his means of provision?

 

Then you are promised a share in His Goodness at any time that you ever face a need in this life. Wow! What security there is for those who will live uprightly before the Lord and men! The Scripture is most definitely true which says - "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"(Philippians 4:19) But you must be sure to meet the conditions of His Precious Promise.
                                                                                                                                                                                   

In Psalm 31, David outlined five examples for us of God's Goodness that is "laid up" for the righteous.

They are as follows -
                                                                                                

1) God Hides Them From The Pride Of Man

                                                  

Psalm 31:20 - "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of men..."  
 

                                                                                                                                

The "pride of men" actually involves the wicked forming a conspiracy or a league against the righteous. They set snares and traps for them as well as plot against them. God, in His Goodness, promises to very carefully hide all those who fear Him and trust in Him. He hides them "in the secret of His presence." What that actually means is that He hides them in a special shelter, hiding place, or pavilion. It is His secret presence - the covering of His countenance. Their lives are hidden with Christ in God. Satan does not dare to approach such a place. No enemy is able to find any child of God hidden there. And certainly the "pride of man" can never touch one who is sheltered there either.
                                                                                                                                                                         

2) God Keeps Them From The Strife Of Tongues

                                                                                                                                                

Psalm 31:20 - "...Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."  

 

The "strife of tongues" includes the slander, reproach, and defamation of others against the righteous. But God has made provision for their safety. He has prepared a "pavilion" - a thicket, cover, booth, tent, cottage, hut, or tabernacle - for the upright where He secretly hides them from the controversy, dispute, quarrel, and strife of the evil speaker or the babbler. How wonderful is our God! He "keeps them secretly" in the innermost part - His "pavilion" - where they share sweet communion with Him and escape the harassment of the evil speaker. 

                                                                                                                                                          

3) God Preserves The Faithful

                                                                                                                                                   

Psalm 31:23 - "O love the LORD, all ye His saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful..."  
 

                                                                                                     

Who are the "faithful" whom the Holy Spirit speaks of here? They are the reliable, certain, sure, established, firm, and committed ones. They show all confidence and fidelity unto their God. In times of danger and trouble, they do not give up in despondency and despair. Even though they may not see His hand at work, they have learned to trust His heart. They are the faithful ones. He promises to "preserve" them -  while guarding them from danger, watching over them at all times, and keeping them close by His side. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

4) God Plentifully Rewards The Proud Doer
                                                             

Psalm 31:23 -  "O love the LORD, all ye His saints: for the LORD...plentifully rewardeth the proud doer."

                                                                             

The "proud doer" is the man who is haughty, arrogant, insulting and outrageous in his speech and conduct. He is confident in himself...seeks to exalt himself at the expense of others...tramples on others, including the righteous...treads them down and insults over them. God promises to take care of this oppressor of the upright. The Word tells us that He "plentifully rewards" him. In other words, He  recompenses him abundantly, amply, and in plenty for his evil deeds. This wicked man receives full justice from the hand of the Almighty for "...God resisteth the proud..."(James 4:6)
                                                                                                 

5) God Strengthens The Heart Of The Righteous

 

Psalm 31:24 - "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."  

                                                                          

Finally, David tells us that God shows His Goodness towards those who fear Him and trust in Him before the sons of men by "strengthening their hearts." In the face of trials and great opposition from the enemy, He sends forth His enabling Grace to meet the enemy's challenge and cause the believer to come forth victoriously.  He keeps all His Faithful Ones from becoming faint, disheartened, depressed, discouraged, and feeling cast down. In their weakness, He is their strength. 

                                                                                                                 

It is no wonder that David exclaimed - "Oh how great is Thy Goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men!"(Psalm 31:19) This Goodness is reserved for those who Fear the Lord and Trust Him completely and absolutely. It is demonstrated to them by His safekeeping from the "pride of man" and the "strife of tongues"...by His "preservation of His faithful ones" and "plentifully rewarding the proud doers" who oppose them. It is also demonstrated by His "strengthening the hearts" of all those who hope in Him.

                                                                                            
Do you Fear the Lord today...rely on Him completely in every place and at all times?

Can He always count on you to be Faithful and True in your commitment to Him?

                                                                                                       

Then You have a Heavenly Bank Account that you can draw from at any time and in any circumstance.

God has "laid up" for you His Wonderful Goodness for your time of need and emergency.

 

Perhaps you feel as though you have not measured up to the standards as directed by the Word of God. You have not walked in the Fear of the Lord...trusted in Him completely...nor always been Faithful and True to Him.

 

Why not repent this day of any shortcomings on your part?

God will give you a second chance. He will receive you once again for He delights in Mercy.

He will open up to you the riches of His Goodness so that you can proclaim with David - "Oh how Great is Thy Goodness...!"