Bible Commentaries

DIVINE GOODNESS AND TRUTH

‘For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.’

Psalms 100:5

I. There are some passages of the Word which admit of no explanation.—They are so simple, that they at once find their way to the understanding; yet so full of meaning, that they draw forth our deepest emotions. The words before us belong to this class. Who can say more than that the Lord is good? His very name—God—signifies the good One; and His mercy is everlasting.

II. But when we read, ‘His truth endureth for ever,’ we advance a sentiment which lies at the root of all our hopes.—God has promised, and all His promises are truth itself; God has threatened, and that also will be fulfilled. It is, in short, upon the truth of the Eternal that our hopes repose. Apart from that, we are floating in a sea of uncertainties; we have only speculation for our saviour, and man’s dreams for our eternity.

III. Mark, then, how the truth of God is displayed in His Word.—We read, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Reposing upon that—setting to our seal that God is true—our iniquity is taken out of the way: but refusing to repose upon it—that is, making God a liar—we still feel His truth; but it is the truth of His wrath revealed against the workers of iniquity. Again: has God said, ‘Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ’? Then, do we build on that foundation, according to the mind of God? In that case we are safe for eternity; we have a building of God Himself. But, on the other hand, do we refuse to build there, and prefer the sand-bank or the sea-wave of mortal devices to the truth of God? Then the rain will descend, and the floods will come, and the winds will blow, and beat upon our house, and it will fall; and great will be the fall of it, because we turned the truth of God into a lie.

IV. And so in every case. Nor let us forget how this truth of God may be most simply welcomed, most easily retained.—It is by receiving the Saviour, and resting upon Him. He is the Truth. In Him all the promises are Yea and Amen. As all rivers run into the sea, all truth finds both its origin and terminus in Jesus. Would we know the truth? Then welcome the Saviour. Would we be sanctified by the truth? Then welcome the Saviour. Would we acquaint ourselves with Jehovah, God of truth? Again, let us see the brightness of His glory in the Saviour of the lost; that is truth, and is no lie—the very truth which came from Heaven to take absolute possession of the soul, and fit it for glory and for honour.

Illustration

‘“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting,” etc. This sums up His character, and contains a mass of reasons for praise. Everlasting mercy is a glorious theme for sacred song. Our heart leaps with joy as we how before One Who has never broken His word or changed His purpose.’