We crave relief and moments of goodness, a soothing to our anxiety and worry, and we want an end to our anger and sadness. Ultimately, we want good. And not just good things; we want good outcomes, good relationships, good thoughts, good times, good memories, good endings.
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| Photo by me |
But what is the means to this good end? What's the formula? Is there one? How can we get the result of goodness? What causes it?
Psalm 92 begins with these three words: "It is good." It begins with this result, or the ending, as a proclamation to what will come -- good. Starting with what is reaped keeps our focus on what the chapter is about. The rest of the chapter guides us on a path to the goodness.
The chapter begins: "It is good to give thanks to the LORD." It's a simple enough statement. The term good here is "towb" in Hebrew. Although we may hastily interpret the verse to mean Thanking God is the right thing to do, and that's not wrong, we can miss how God wants to love us and teach us through this.
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| https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2896.htm |
From my research, the term good is rich in similar, yet slightly different, meanings. Here, the meaning of good is beautiful. A closely similar meaning is in Genesis 1: "And God saw that it was good" (NKJV).
We crave it, and when we're walking in a dark valley and have no strength and little hope of goodness ahead, God wants us to know there is still goodness.
Goodness is an after-effect. It's an ultimate goal and result: why do we exercise? Because it is good. Why do we connect with friends? Because it is good. Why do we vacation? Because it is good.
Giving thanks is the same -- there's an ultimate goal and result to thanking God -- it is good.
And this is just the start of God's love for us. He gives two more ways for us to establish what's good in Psalm 92. Verse one continues with what else brings the result of good: ". . . to sing praises to Your name, O Most High." Music is a gift from God, and it brings good into existence.
The third way to goodness is in verse two: "To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, / And Your faithfulness every night." What beauty we will have in our lives when we make much of God!
He clothes us with a goodness that can only come from Him. He transforms us with a heavenly peace.
Thanksgiving + Worship + Declaring = Goodness
This is awesome treasure!
It's God's work and God's hands. I am not the god of the goodness in my life. The Holy Spirit works within us to be thankful, to sing, to declare Him. All this good is all God.
Seek what is good. Begin by thanking God.
My material resources for this article:
BibleHub.com, "Towb." 2024. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2896.htm
The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testament, New King James Verson. 1994. Thomas Nelson, Inc.