Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
Truly God is good to Israel, meaning those who are clean and pure in heart, the true Israel of God in every age and not merely those descended from Israel or nominally belonging to it. His goodness is His unchanging character and all that He does, and it is not to be measured by outward circumstances, whether favorable or unfavorable, joyful or involving suffering, illness and death. The psalm confesses how the writer's steps nearly slipped when he was envious of the foolish at seeing the prosperity of the wicked, who are not troubled or plagued like others and have more than heart could wish, so that he reasoned he had cleansed his heart in vain. When he went into the sanctuary of God he received divine light and grasped their end, that God sets the wicked in slippery places and casts them down to destruction, and that a future Judgment vindicates God's justice and explains the inequalities of this life, where accounts are not settled. Therefore the verse gives constant reason for thanksgiving, praise, trust and rejoicing in affliction and time of need, and it warns against greed for money and envy toward the prosperity of the rich in the last days, calling the faithful to look to the sanctuary and to the latter end and the life beyond this one.
Meaning and Historical Setting
Truly God is good to Israel, even to those who are of a clean and pure heart. This goodness stands even when the prosperity of the wicked troubles the beholder and almost causes the steps to slip into envy and near loss of faith, for the following verses set that trouble against perspective found in the sanctuary and in consideration of their latter end, when they are brought to destruction. That vindication appears when the one who stumbled over divine justice because the wicked prospered with more than heart could wish, while the waters of a full cup of plague and chastening were wrung out to the righteous, goes into the sanctuary of God and grasps their end. There God sets the wicked in slippery places and casts them down to destruction, bringing them into desolation in a moment, utterly consumed with terrors, a thought too painful to bear until divine light is given. A future Judgment there vindicates divine justice, explains the inequalities of the present life, proves present ease is not final recompense and is not to be envied, rewards the suffering saints, and leaves the throne of Him who sits between the cherubim above the ark and mercy-seat guiltless, so that drawing near to God is good.
Israel in the verse means those who are clean in heart, the true Israel of God in every age, not everyone descended from Israel or nominally belonging to Israel. Its promise of goodness therefore applies to faithful people, including Christians and good people among both Jews and Gentiles, and the promises to Israel are fulfilled in them. Because Israel is defined by cleanness of heart and prevailing with God rather than by genealogy, the Sabbath also does not depend on genealogy but on creation, and to such clean-hearted people it remains a perpetual covenant even to the end of time.
God's goodness in the verse is His unchanging character and what He does, for He does only good. It is not to be measured by human judgment or by outward circumstances, whether seasons are fruitful or unfruitful, whether conditions are favorable or unfavorable, whether life is joyful or involves suffering, illness and death. Those who believe count all He does as good and find in it foundation for thanksgiving, so there is always good reason for giving thanks to God at all times in all places. Every true Israelite, every true child of God, everyone who has learned to know God's character for himself affirms without hesitation under all circumstances in all places that only God is good to Israel, trusting a God who is near and whose goodness and help remain accessible in time of need.
The psalm was written by Asaph during the reign of Hezekiah in the time of Isaiah's prophetic ministry. It relates to the invasion of Sennacherib and the destruction of the Assyrian host. It presses the question whether He is my King and whether I yield loyal allegiance to Him.
Justice Revealed in Sanctuary
Truly God is good to Israel, even to those of a clean heart, yet the writer confessed his steps had nearly slipped because he was envious at the foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. Those envied have no bands in death, are not in trouble as other men nor plagued like other men, their eyes stand out with fatness and they have more than heart could wish, even to being wholly at ease. Seeing this he reasoned that he had cleansed his heart in vain, because present circumstances did not show immediate rewards and punishments. Dark circumstances can thus lead someone to question God's goodness instead of examining his own judgment, mistaking an easy mind for acceptance with God. The same danger belongs to the people of God in the last days when they see those around them prospering in riches, adding farm to farm and receiving the applause and honor of this world, while they themselves are poor and despised for keeping the seventh day.
When he went into the sanctuary of God he grasped their end and received divine light about God's way and dealings with people, which saved him from the despair of unbelief. His envy of the wicked's prosperity and his near loss of faith gave way, when he considered their end in God's sanctuary, to the conviction that drawing near to God is good. He had stumbled over the justice of God because the wicked prospered in the world with more than heart could wish while the waters of a full cup of plague and chastening were wrung out to the righteous, and the thoughts were too painful for him. Then he saw that God sets the wicked in slippery places and casts them down to destruction, bringing them into desolation in a moment, utterly consumed with terrors, an end so dreadful it was painful to contemplate. This goodness does not mean the righteous are spared trouble, for the wicked may prosper while the psalmist suffers, but the sanctuary gives him a view of their latter end and of the life beyond this one.
The sanctuary reveals a future Judgment that vindicates God's justice, explains the inequalities of the present life, and proves that God does not settle accounts in this life. Present calamity is not proof that God is displeased with a person or that the person has sinned more than others, and present prosperity is not final recompense. Decisions made in the sanctuary will reward the suffering saints and cast the wicked down to destruction, which sets all things right and leaves the throne of Him who sits between the cherubim above the ark and mercy-seat guiltless. The righteous may suffer and be afflicted in this life but will have peace forever in the new earth, while the wicked, though they now have what they desire, will ultimately be cut off with no remainder. Their apparent ease therefore does not cancel God's goodness or mean they have received their final recompense, for a doom awaits them.
The ease of the wicked, wholly at ease with no bands even in death, is not enviable and does not prove acceptance with God. Feeling secure while insensible to danger and without the law searching the heart is carnal security, not proof of right standing with God. The psalm's picture of the prosperity of the ungodly in the world thus contrasts with the prosperity of the godly described in Psalm 1.
Comfort and Faithful Living
Truly God alone is good to Israel, to those with pure hearts, and that goodness is His unchanging character shown in what He does, for He does only good. It is not to be measured by human judgment or by outward circumstances, whether seasons are fruitful or unfruitful and whether conditions are favorable or unfavorable, so there is always good reason for giving thanks to God at all times in all places. Those who believe in God count all He does as good and find in it a foundation for thanksgiving and praise. Every true Israelite, every true child of God, everyone who has learned to know His character for himself affirms without hesitation under all circumstances in all places that God alone is good to Israel. That goodness is to be trusted not only when life is joyful but also through suffering, illness, and death, and continuing to believe then shows confidence in a God who is near and whose help is accessible in time of need. His nearness and goodness are evident even in affliction, especially to those who trust in Him.
The psalm is for people enduring affliction to dwell on for comfort and encouragement to trust God. His goodness is reason for the faithful to rejoice and find encouragement amid trial and not to be discouraged. It does not mean the righteous are spared trouble, for the wicked may prosper while the psalmist suffers, but the sanctuary gives a view of their latter end and of the life beyond this one.
The passage beginning with this declaration applies to the present time of greed for money and envy toward the prosperity of the rich, and together with the rest of the psalm gives the final outcome of efforts directed toward securing wealth at all hazards. The danger is the same as when the writer confessed his steps had nearly slipped because he was envious at the foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, who have no bands in death, are not in trouble as other men nor plagued like other men, whose eyes stand out with fatness and who have more than heart could wish. That same danger belongs to the people of God in the last days when they see those around them prospering in riches, adding farm to farm and receiving the applause and honor of this world, while they themselves are poor and despised, scoffed at and frowned upon because they keep the seventh day for the Sabbath. Like David they must go to the sanctuary of God and understand the end of the wicked.
God's goodness to Israel is seen in the blessings and progress attending His cause and its work, which come not by human might or power but by the Spirit of God and give reason to thank the Heavenly Father. His mercy rests on those who delight in His commandments and seek to glorify Him in all they do, and has accompanied the cause and work and continues for them. That goodness is also seen in shining additional light on the pathway and kindly leading His people step by step out of their errors to prepare them for the return of His Son from heaven. It includes delivering His saints in the final struggle with the enemy.
Truly God is good to Israel, meaning those who are clean and pure in heart, the true Israel of God in every age and not merely those descended from Israel or nominally belonging to it. His goodness is His unchanging character and all that He does, and it is not to be measured by outward circumstances, whether favorable or unfavorable, joyful or involving suffering, illness and death. The psalm confesses how the writer's steps nearly slipped when he was envious of the foolish at seeing the prosperity of the wicked, who are not troubled or plagued like others and have more than heart could wish, so that he reasoned he had cleansed his heart in vain. When he went into the sanctuary of God he received divine light and grasped their end, that God sets the wicked in slippery places and casts them down to destruction, and that a future Judgment vindicates God's justice and explains the inequalities of this life, where accounts are not settled. Therefore the verse gives constant reason for thanksgiving, praise, trust and rejoicing in affliction and time of need, and it warns against greed for money and envy toward the prosperity of the rich in the last days, calling the faithful to look to the sanctuary and to the latter end and the life beyond this one.
Meaning and Historical Setting
Truly God is good to Israel, even to those who are of a clean and pure heart. This goodness stands even when the prosperity of the wicked troubles the beholder and almost causes the steps to slip into envy and near loss of faith, for the following verses set that trouble against perspective found in the sanctuary and in consideration of their latter end, when they are brought to destruction. That vindication appears when the one who stumbled over divine justice because the wicked prospered with more than heart could wish, while the waters of a full cup of plague and chastening were wrung out to the righteous, goes into the sanctuary of God and grasps their end. There God sets the wicked in slippery places and casts them down to destruction, bringing them into desolation in a moment, utterly consumed with terrors, a thought too painful to bear until divine light is given. A future Judgment there vindicates divine justice, explains the inequalities of the present life, proves present ease is not final recompense and is not to be envied, rewards the suffering saints, and leaves the throne of Him who sits between the cherubim above the ark and mercy-seat guiltless, so that drawing near to God is good.
Israel in the verse means those who are clean in heart, the true Israel of God in every age, not everyone descended from Israel or nominally belonging to Israel. Its promise of goodness therefore applies to faithful people, including Christians and good people among both Jews and Gentiles, and the promises to Israel are fulfilled in them. Because Israel is defined by cleanness of heart and prevailing with God rather than by genealogy, the Sabbath also does not depend on genealogy but on creation, and to such clean-hearted people it remains a perpetual covenant even to the end of time.
God's goodness in the verse is His unchanging character and what He does, for He does only good. It is not to be measured by human judgment or by outward circumstances, whether seasons are fruitful or unfruitful, whether conditions are favorable or unfavorable, whether life is joyful or involves suffering, illness and death. Those who believe count all He does as good and find in it foundation for thanksgiving, so there is always good reason for giving thanks to God at all times in all places. Every true Israelite, every true child of God, everyone who has learned to know God's character for himself affirms without hesitation under all circumstances in all places that only God is good to Israel, trusting a God who is near and whose goodness and help remain accessible in time of need.
The psalm was written by Asaph during the reign of Hezekiah in the time of Isaiah's prophetic ministry. It relates to the invasion of Sennacherib and the destruction of the Assyrian host. It presses the question whether He is my King and whether I yield loyal allegiance to Him.
Justice Revealed in Sanctuary
Truly God is good to Israel, even to those of a clean heart, yet the writer confessed his steps had nearly slipped because he was envious at the foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. Those envied have no bands in death, are not in trouble as other men nor plagued like other men, their eyes stand out with fatness and they have more than heart could wish, even to being wholly at ease. Seeing this he reasoned that he had cleansed his heart in vain, because present circumstances did not show immediate rewards and punishments. Dark circumstances can thus lead someone to question God's goodness instead of examining his own judgment, mistaking an easy mind for acceptance with God. The same danger belongs to the people of God in the last days when they see those around them prospering in riches, adding farm to farm and receiving the applause and honor of this world, while they themselves are poor and despised for keeping the seventh day.
When he went into the sanctuary of God he grasped their end and received divine light about God's way and dealings with people, which saved him from the despair of unbelief. His envy of the wicked's prosperity and his near loss of faith gave way, when he considered their end in God's sanctuary, to the conviction that drawing near to God is good. He had stumbled over the justice of God because the wicked prospered in the world with more than heart could wish while the waters of a full cup of plague and chastening were wrung out to the righteous, and the thoughts were too painful for him. Then he saw that God sets the wicked in slippery places and casts them down to destruction, bringing them into desolation in a moment, utterly consumed with terrors, an end so dreadful it was painful to contemplate. This goodness does not mean the righteous are spared trouble, for the wicked may prosper while the psalmist suffers, but the sanctuary gives him a view of their latter end and of the life beyond this one.
The sanctuary reveals a future Judgment that vindicates God's justice, explains the inequalities of the present life, and proves that God does not settle accounts in this life. Present calamity is not proof that God is displeased with a person or that the person has sinned more than others, and present prosperity is not final recompense. Decisions made in the sanctuary will reward the suffering saints and cast the wicked down to destruction, which sets all things right and leaves the throne of Him who sits between the cherubim above the ark and mercy-seat guiltless. The righteous may suffer and be afflicted in this life but will have peace forever in the new earth, while the wicked, though they now have what they desire, will ultimately be cut off with no remainder. Their apparent ease therefore does not cancel God's goodness or mean they have received their final recompense, for a doom awaits them.
The ease of the wicked, wholly at ease with no bands even in death, is not enviable and does not prove acceptance with God. Feeling secure while insensible to danger and without the law searching the heart is carnal security, not proof of right standing with God. The psalm's picture of the prosperity of the ungodly in the world thus contrasts with the prosperity of the godly described in Psalm 1.
Comfort and Faithful Living
Truly God alone is good to Israel, to those with pure hearts, and that goodness is His unchanging character shown in what He does, for He does only good. It is not to be measured by human judgment or by outward circumstances, whether seasons are fruitful or unfruitful and whether conditions are favorable or unfavorable, so there is always good reason for giving thanks to God at all times in all places. Those who believe in God count all He does as good and find in it a foundation for thanksgiving and praise. Every true Israelite, every true child of God, everyone who has learned to know His character for himself affirms without hesitation under all circumstances in all places that God alone is good to Israel. That goodness is to be trusted not only when life is joyful but also through suffering, illness, and death, and continuing to believe then shows confidence in a God who is near and whose help is accessible in time of need. His nearness and goodness are evident even in affliction, especially to those who trust in Him.
The psalm is for people enduring affliction to dwell on for comfort and encouragement to trust God. His goodness is reason for the faithful to rejoice and find encouragement amid trial and not to be discouraged. It does not mean the righteous are spared trouble, for the wicked may prosper while the psalmist suffers, but the sanctuary gives a view of their latter end and of the life beyond this one.
The passage beginning with this declaration applies to the present time of greed for money and envy toward the prosperity of the rich, and together with the rest of the psalm gives the final outcome of efforts directed toward securing wealth at all hazards. The danger is the same as when the writer confessed his steps had nearly slipped because he was envious at the foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, who have no bands in death, are not in trouble as other men nor plagued like other men, whose eyes stand out with fatness and who have more than heart could wish. That same danger belongs to the people of God in the last days when they see those around them prospering in riches, adding farm to farm and receiving the applause and honor of this world, while they themselves are poor and despised, scoffed at and frowned upon because they keep the seventh day for the Sabbath. Like David they must go to the sanctuary of God and understand the end of the wicked.
God's goodness to Israel is seen in the blessings and progress attending His cause and its work, which come not by human might or power but by the Spirit of God and give reason to thank the Heavenly Father. His mercy rests on those who delight in His commandments and seek to glorify Him in all they do, and has accompanied the cause and work and continues for them. That goodness is also seen in shining additional light on the pathway and kindly leading His people step by step out of their errors to prepare them for the return of His Son from heaven. It includes delivering His saints in the final struggle with the enemy.