Knowing God: Experience & Love Him

The Goodness of God (Psalm 31:19)

Assured that all our Lord’s requests
and plans are good.

Paul J. Bucknell

Series Introduction| Knowing God | The Revelatory God | Goodness of God | Holiness of God

Goodness of God handout pdf | Video

Life Questions | Genesis 1 & Goodness | Other Scripture & Goodness | Two Worldviews of Self | Difficulties Believing | Satan's Tactics | Handling Evil | Power of Goodness | Psalms 31:9 | Distinctive of God's Goodness | Good, Evil and God | Study Questions & Projects

Psalm 31:19 and Other Scriptures on God's Goodness

Purpose: The key to a powerful Christian life is partially found in deeply believing in God's goodness. God's goodness is not just a doctrine, but a means which helps us trust God when things are not going well as Psalm 31:19, Romans 8:28 and other verses demonstrate.

This continues the thrid main section of The Goodness of God.

Many scripture verses inspire us to think greater of and to fully embrace God’s goodness. These themselves become a means by which we can personally experience the power of God’s goodness in our lives.

Psalm 31:19

“How great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, before the sons of men!” (Psalm 31:19 NASB).

God is good. Always. It is His nature. From His goodness all of His plans are derived. We see His goodness in every aspect of Creation through which God is calling us to respond to Him. “If you like what you see, then you will like me whom you cannot see!”

Psalm 31:19 calls us to think about the greatness of God’s goodness. Far from being inferior, we find God’s goodness is constant and completely good. There are no holes or dark spots that keep God’s goodness from being directed to those who trust in Him. His goodness can be fully trusted no matter what we witness.

In creation

God is good. We seen His goodness overflowing in His creation–His works. Because the goodness of His nature, we can be sure His plans and dealings are derived out of that goodness.



Psalm 31:19 calls us to hide in His goodness. It protects us from the scoffings of the world, scars of bitterness and marks of hopelessness. Can you see the faith this verse inspires in us?

Think about the attribute of God’s goodness. What other characteristics do you think of? From God emanates various expressions of His glorious goodness. We see them in the various ways He deals with His people.

Other Scriptures

John 10:14

“Jesus is our good shepherd. “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me” (John 10:14 NASB).

God’s goodness is translated to our lives largely through Jesus Christ. He tenderly leads us along in life. He never leaves us alone and vulnerable (Mat 28:20). Jesus is our good shepherd.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NASB).

God’s goodness works down into our daily lives including all of our problems. We can be confident of the way He specifically works out all the details of our lives–‘work together for good.’

Without faith, we will not be able to live within His sphere of goodness, though it still be there. With faith, however, although all seems dismal, we know God is working behind the scenes to bring about a greater good about.

Jeremiah 31:14

“I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people will be satisfied with My goodness” declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 31:14).

God’s goodness leads to full contentment. “My people will be satisfied with My goodness.” This is God’s kind of goodness. It leads to perfect satisfaction and delight. The priests’ will know of His abundance.

Just from this verse, we should be able to recognize that anytime something causes us discontent or that we begin doubting the goodness God is bringing into our lives, then Satan is tempting us.

If we do go through difficult times, then we should carefully reexamine our lives to make sure we are living in obedience. But once this is done, we have made sure the Lord is not correcting us (Hebrews 12:4-11)–another mark of His goodness. We should thank the Lord for His goodness that swallows up the pain, suffering and difficulties that we face.

Our joy does not need to disappear as we keep our eyes upon the Lord (Philippians 4:4). It is the Lord’s constant goodness that stands as the foundation of our delight in His good care for us no matter what we are experiencing.

Next page =>Worldviews: How should we involve ourselves in this world?

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Biblical Foundations for Freedom ( BFF )

Rev. Paul J. Bucknell