The Goodness of God in Scripture

Goodness belongs to the very essence of God and is also a fruit of the Spirit in the life of the believer. The psalmist invites everyone to experience it: "O taste and see that the LORD is good" (Psalm 34:8). God is not only good in his acts; he is good in his being, and this goodness spreads over all his creation: "The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works" (Psalm 145:9). When God reveals himself to Moses, he proclaims himself "merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6). This divine goodness is not reserved for a few; it even leads people to repentance (Romans 2:4). Scripture calls the believer to reflect this goodness by doing good to all: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men" (Galatians 6:10). For goodness is part of the fruit that the Spirit produces in a life surrendered to God (Galatians 5:22). To reflect goodness is to walk in integrity, generosity, and compassion, imitating the character of the one who loved us first. These verses celebrate the goodness of God and encourage a life marked by doing good, in the image of our heavenly Father, who daily pours out his kindness upon the just and the unjust alike. To taste the goodness of God is to be changed by it, so that the believer no longer doubts his Father's heart but rests in the abundant goodness and truth that God himself proclaimed to Moses (Exodus 34:6), letting that same goodness overflow toward everyone he meets.