Goodness and Enduring Love

When the builders completed the foundation of the LORD’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the LORD, just as King David had prescribed. With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the LORD: “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the LORD because the foundation of the LORD’s Temple had been laid. [Ezra 3.10-11]

Throughout Israel's history, when there is record of Israel praising God, the phrase of praise found in this passage is, more often than not, the wording they used to express their praise.

This phrase of praise, “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” reveals much about God and what we, as people, should understand about His character.

First, God is good. If mankind does not first understand the foundational principle that God is good, mankind is likely then to draw erroneous conclusions about God.

Next, and just as important, is the statement that God's faithful love for His people endures forever. It is unending. If those who claim to have relationship with God fail to understand the enduring nature of God's love, there is much room for error.

The combination of these two facts, that God is good, and that His love endures, is paramount to understanding God, His Word, and His plan for the world. If God's people build everything else they understand about God based upon these two facts, they will stand little chance of error.

Make no mistake about it, I am not suggesting that the two facts discussed here are ALL there is to understand and focus on regarding God. In fact, another undeniable characteristic of God is His justice. However, God's justice cannot be fully understood apart from His goodness and enduring love. And, that is why Israel made His goodness and enduring love their recurring reminder of God (His justice was obvious in the hardships they experienced and needed no reminder!).

God is good. His faithful love endures forever!

Father, help me to better comprehend Your supreme goodness and enduring love.