The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. – Psalm 145:9
A story is told of the day of final exams in 2002 at Hannibal-LaGrange College in Missouri. As students do, they had been cramming, and, once in the classroom, the professor took a few moments to review the semester’s teaching. Warning them that they were responsible for knowing the entirety of the content of their textbook, chilling some of them, he handed out the test. Finally, with pens in hand, the students turned the test over only to discover that every blank had already been filled in. Even their names were there.
At the bottom of the last page of the test was a note from the professor: “All the answers on your test are correct. You will receive an ‘A’ on the final exam. The reason you passed the test is because the creator of the test took it for you. All the work you did in preparation for this test did not help you get the ‘A’. You have just experienced grace.”
Bible teacher and author J.I. Packer writes, “Every place we look we see God’s goodness. He has blessed us in every way imaginable. We can find His goodness everywhere if we will just begin to look for it.” Theologian Matthew Henry says God is good “so he does good; He is good to all, to all His creatures from the highest angel to the meanest worm… All His works, all His creatures, receive the fruits of His merciful care and bounty. It is extended to them all.”
James Montgomery Boice stated that Psalm 145 is a “monumental praise psalm, a fit summary of all David had learned about God during a long lifetime of following hard after the Almighty.”
It is this same goodness, mercy, and compassion that God provided in His Son Jesus who would taste death for everyone… without exclusion. What can you do with such information but offer up your praise to God? As Bible sales are reportedly on the increase in the United States, pray that, in this new year, Americans will recognize their need for the compassions, goodness, and mercy of God, and come to Jesus to save them.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 145:9
The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Psalm 145:1-13
I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
