Psalm 52:1 “Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually.”
Boasting…who really loves to listen to a good boaster? There is a sickening resonance that brings disdain when people have to listen to someone boast about themself.
The world will boast about their accomplishments, they will boast in their knowledge of things, their degrees, their money, their philosophy of life and with the boasting comes a diminished view of others.
More bullies have been empowered by a sense of pride or superiority over those they deem as weaker vessels and yet the world celebrates with those who exalt themselves.
Hollywood has a long standing fixation on fame, fortune, and their faces. They love to look in the mirror as much as they love to have people adore them and yet God asks the question….why?
Why do you boast in evil O’ mighty man? Those who think they are above God’s laws or God’s authority exalt themselves and adore their positions so God declares His goodness before them.
The Standard of Goodness
As great as mankind can achieve, God’s goodness remains the standard of ultimate authority, power, and greatness. Like a flea standing up in pride before a male African elephant, mankind looks silly and pathetic when pride is exalted before the King of kings. The reality of man’s foolishness is on full display when he thinks of himself as highest of all Creation.
1 Samuel 2:3 “Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.”
How are we weighed? In the scales of God’s justice, the moral law becomes the standard of God’s Holiness. When placed upon the scale, everyone falls short, and not just by a little. Everyone fails the test miserably. Not one can say they are good, not one can proclaim themself holy, there is no one who can see, all are blind to His Truth.
The goodness of God endures continually……
God isn’t good one day, and not good on another. His goodness is like an ever flowing river, it has no end. Why is that reality both frightening and comforting?
Psalm 37:12-15 “The wicked plots against the just,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn the sword
And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay those who are of upright conduct.
Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.”
The wicked stand in defiance against God’s rule and authority but they fail to understand how pathetic they have become. They lack a true fear of God and the prospect of being held accountable for their actions is often denied or avoided. They blaspheme His name without consideration that His goodness stands as judge over them. For those who truly recognize the fear of God, they are the ones who need not fear.
The Standard Fulfilled
For the redeemed of the Lord, their sins have been washed white and their guilt has been satisfied by the Savior.
Psalm 37:18-20 “The Lord knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the Lord,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away.”
The upright are the redeemed. They are not better than anyone, they are just forgiven. They have done nothing to earn this reward, all that was done was accomplished at the cross. The call of God goes forth, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Jesus has done what mankind couldn’t do…He lived a sinless and perfect life that He might redeem a people unto Himself. The standard of expectation was perfection and Jesus did just that…by giving of His life, He atoned for the sins of all who would believe.
1 Timothy 4:7-10 “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”
Jesus is the One all believers follow. There is no division, they do not accept anything that is not of God. Every false way is rendered futile, every conception of man is put down. There is no other way. The righteous run to Him because they have been saved by Him.
The Standard of the Righteous
Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”
Only God is good. It is only God’s name that represents the goodness in this world. When a man or woman of God is called by His name, it is a title that has been endowed by the Holy Spirit. Many people call themselves “christians”, but their self-proclaimed title has little merit. They may like the idea that christianity represents, they just aren’t willing to submit to God’s authority in their lives.
When a lost sinner comes to Christ, they come in humility and with repentance. Only God knows the heart and can tell if the response is real. When it is, the Spirit of God confirms the belief by His anointing.
When the anointing comes, so comes God’s goodness. The standard by which they were once condemned, is now the revelation of God’s holiness through their lives.
When a person acts according to God’s goodness, they act according to His will….and we can then declare, that act was good. Only the righteous can see God’s goodness. Only the righteous know the characteristics of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The righteous know God and they see God’s good hand moving in others….and they rejoice with them.
Psalm 91:2 “I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
This is the Kingdom of God.
God’s goodness reigns among His people. God’s goodness brings judgement upon the world. God’s goodness endures forever and will be the river that flows through the streets of Zion.
Do you know God’s goodness?
You can.
Turn to Jesus, trust in Him, and you will see His goodness and know His grace.
U.T. 