Good to Everyone

“The Lord is good to everyone; His compassion rests on all He has made.” (Psalm 145:9)

Along his life’s journey a light came on for the writer of Psalm 145. He had been taught all his life that the Lord was the God of the Israelites, and that the Israelites were God’s chosen people. As for many, he likely concluded early in life that this conveyed a certain status for him and all other Israelites, and that God's blessings were intended just for His own people. Then, he noticed that God’s blessings seemed to be made available even to those who were unjust, who even worshiped other gods. He saw rain given both to the just and the unjust. He learned that the goodness of God is something that is shared by all, that God’s compassion is not just an individual experience but a blanket experience as well.

Is this not the same thing Jesus taught? He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45)

Other than because it is God’s nature to be compassionate toward His creation, why else would God do this? What might He hope to achieve. Maybe the Lord simply wants to bless everyone so that all might “taste and see that the Lord is good,” with the result that more will enter into that personal faith relationship we call “salvation.”

The goodness of God to all conveys a message. Blessed are all, but especially blessed are those who hear the truth and respond with faith.

Lord, Help us today to live in ways that communicate this same truth. Amen.