For Yahweh is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.
Parallel Translations
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For Yahweh is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.
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For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
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For the LORD is good; His mercy endureth for ever; and His faithfulness unto all generations.
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Cross-references (25)
Passages linked to Psalms 100:5 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Psalms 106:1 Praise Yahweh! Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Psalms 86:5 For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
- Psalms 107:1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
- 1 Chronicles 16:34 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Psalms 36:5 Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
- Jeremiah 33:11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, ‘Give thanks to Yahweh of Armies, for Yahweh is good, for his loving kindness endures forever;’ who bring thanksgiving into Yahweh’s house. For I will cause the captivity of the land to be reversed as at the first,” says Yahweh.
- Psalms 136:1-26 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods; for his loving kindness endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords; for his loving kindness endures forever: to him who alone does great wonders; for his loving kindness endures forever: to him who by understanding made the heavens; for his loving kindness endures forever: to him who spread out the earth above the waters; for his loving kindness endures forever: to him who made the great lights; for his loving kindness endures forever: the sun to rule by day; for his loving kindness endures forever; the moon and stars to rule by night; for his loving kindness endures forever: to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; for his loving kindness endures forever; and brought out Israel from among them; for his loving kindness endures forever; with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; for his loving kindness endures forever: to him who divided the Red Sea apart; for his loving kindness endures forever; and made Israel to pass through the middle of it; for his loving kindness endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea; for his loving kindness endures forever: to him who led his people through the wilderness; for his loving kindness endures forever: to him who struck great kings; for his loving kindness endures forever; and killed mighty kings; for his loving kindness endures forever: Sihon king of the Amorites; for his loving kindness endures forever; Og king of Bashan; for his loving kindness endures forever; and gave their land as an inheritance; for his loving kindness endures forever; even a heritage to Israel his servant; for his loving kindness endures forever: who remembered us in our low estate; for his loving kindness endures forever; and has delivered us from our adversaries; for his loving kindness endures forever: who gives food to every creature; for his loving kindness endures forever. Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; for his loving kindness endures forever.
- Psalms 103:17 But Yahweh’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children,
- Luke 1:50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
- Nahum 1:7 Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.
- Psalms 118:1-4 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. Let Israel now say that his loving kindness endures forever. Let the house of Aaron now say that his loving kindness endures forever. Now let those who fear Yahweh say that his loving kindness endures forever.
- Psalms 119:68 You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.
- 2 Chronicles 5:13 when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Yahweh; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Yahweh, saying, “For he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever!” then the house was filled with a cloud, even Yahweh’s house,
- Exodus 34:6-7 Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.”
- Psalms 89:1-2 I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”
- Ezra 3:11 They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid.
- Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
- Jeremiah 33:20-21 “Yahweh says: ‘If you can break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night, so that there will not be day and night in their time; then may my covenant also be broken with David my servant, that he won’t have a son to reign on his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
- Psalms 107:8 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
- Psalms 107:22 Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his deeds with singing.
- Psalms 119:90-91 Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains. Your laws remain to this day, for all things serve you.
- Psalms 52:1 Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually.
- Romans 15:8-9 Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.”
- Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began;
- Hebrews 6:13-18 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (10 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain He declareth that we ought never to be weary…
He declareth that we ought never to be weary in praising him, seeing his mercies towards us last forever.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Psa 100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy…
Psa 100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.
Ver. 5. For the Lord is good] Though we be evil, he giveth us all these good things gratis; and although we provoke him daily to punish us, yet his mercy is everlasting: like a fountain, it runneth after it hath run; and as the sun, which shineth after it hath shined. See Zec 13:1; Joh 1:27.
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And his truth endureth to all generations] Heb. to generation and generation. He saith not, for ever, saith an interpreter, because his promises are true, but under a condition, which perhaps the following generations will not observe; the condition is to the promise as an oar in a boat, or stern of a ship, which turns it another way.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain For the Lord is good,.... Both in a providential…
For the Lord is good,.... Both in a providential way, and in a way of grace, and does good; he is the good Shepherd, that has laid down his life for the sheep; and the good Samaritan, that pours in the wine and oil of his love and grace, and his precious blood, to the healing of the wounds made by sin: while he was on earth, he went about doing good to the bodies and souls of men; and he continues to do good unto them, and therefore should be praised, served, and worshipped:
his mercy is everlasting; or "his grace" (e); there is always a sufficiency of it for his people; and his lovingkindness, which may be also here meant, is always the same; having loved his own which were in the world, he loves them to the end, Joh 13:1.
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and his truth endureth to all generations; or his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises, and performing his engagements; he was faithful to his Father that appointed him, and to the covenant he made with him; and he is faithful to his people, to keep what they commit to his care and charge now, and to give them the crown of righteousness at the last day, which is laid up for them; and upon all these considerations, and for these reasons, ought to be praised and adored.
(e) "gratia ejus", Cocceius, Gejerus; "gratia et misericordia ejus", Michaelis.
Next: Psalms Chapter 101
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 5. For the Lord is good] GOODNESS, the…
Verse 5. For the Lord is good] GOODNESS, the perfect, eternal opposition to all badness and evil, is essential to God. Mercy and compassion are modifications of his goodness; and as his nature is eternal, so his mercy, springing from his goodness, must be everlasting. And as TRUTH is an essential characteristic of an infinitely intelligent and perfect nature; therefore God's truth must endure from generation to generation. Whatsoever he has promised must be fulfilled, through all the successive generations of men, as long as sun and moon shall last.
As this is a very important Psalm, and has long made a part of our public worship, I shall lay it before the reader in the oldest vernacular Versions I have hitherto met with, - the Anglo-Saxon and the Anglo-Scottish, with a literal interlineary translation of the former.
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The Anglo-Saxon Hundredth Psalm
Rhyme ye the Lord all earth, serve the Lord in bliss; 1. [Anglo-Saxon]
Infare in sight his in blithness; 2. [Anglo-Saxon]
Wit ye, for that Lord he is God, he did us not self we 3. [Anglo-Saxon]
Folk his sheep leeseway his fare into gates his in
confession, into courts is in hymns confess him. 4. [Anglo-Saxon]
Praise name his, for that winsom is; Lord thro'
eternity mildheartedness his, unto on kindred kindred
sothfastnes his 5. [Anglo-Saxon]
The reader will see that, in order to make this translation as literal as possible, I have preserved some old English words which we had from the Anglo-Saxon, and which have nearly become obsolete: e.g., Infare, "to go in" blithness, "joy, exultation" wit ye, "know ye;" did, the preterite of to do, "made, created," the literal translation of the Hebrew, עשה asah, he made; leeseway, "pasturage on a common;" winsom, "cheerful, merry;" mildheartedness, "tenderness of heart, compassion;" sothfastness, "steady to the sooth or truth, fast to truth."
I might have noticed some various readings in Anglo-Saxon MSS.; e.g., Ps 100:1. for [A.S.] idrymeth, "rhyme ye;" [A.S.] winsumiath, "be winsom, be joyful." And Ps 100:5, for [A.S.] winsom, "cheerful;" [A.S.], swete, "sweet."
Anglo-Scottish Version of the Hundredth Psalm
1. Joyes to God al the erth; serves to Lord in gladnes.
2. Enters in his sight with joying.
3. Wittes for Lorde he is God; he made us and noght we;
4. Folke of hym, and schepe of his pasture; enters the gates of hym in schrift; hys Halles in ympnys; schryves to hym.
5. Loues his name, for soft is Lorde; withouten end in his mercy; and in generation and generation the sothfastnes of hym.
Thus our forefathers said and sung in heart and mouth and with their tongues made confession to salvation. There are but few words here which require explanation: Ver. 3, Wittes, "wot ye, know ye." Ver. 4, Schrift, "confession;" schryves, "confess ye." Ver. 5, Loues, "praise ye, laud ye." Sothfastness, as above, steadfastness in the truth.
ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDREDTH PSALM
There are two parts in this Psalm: -
I. An exhortation to praise God, and the manner in which it is to be done, Ps 100:1-4.
II. The reasons on which this is founded, Ps 100:3-5.
I. In his exhortation to praise God it is required, -
1. That the praise be universal: "All ye lands."
2. That it be hearty: "Make a joyful noise." Let the soul be cheerful in the work.
3. That it be not partial nor restrained: "Make a joyful noise - serve - be glad - sing - be thankful - give praise - bless his name." The various expressions show the completeness of this blessed word.
4. That it be sincere - done in his presence.
5. That it be an intelligent service: "Know ye."
6. That it be frequent and public: "Enter his gates - go into his courts."
7. That gratitude shall be a part of it: "With thanksgiving."
II. The reasons on which this is grounded; they are, -
1. Drawn from the nature of God: "Know ye that Jehovah is Elohim," the true God; therefore, alone worthy to be worshipped.
2. Drawn from the benefits bestowed on us: 1. "He has made us" - capable of knowing him, and being eternally happy with him. 2. He has called upon us by his grace to be "his people, and the sheep of his pasture." He both governs and feeds us.
And that we may be the more cheerful in this work he puts us in mind of the Divine attributes engaged in our redemption, goodness, mercy, and truth.
1. "He is good." This is his very nature.
2. "He is merciful." This flows from his goodness.
3. "He is true;" keeping covenant for ever with them that fear him; and fulfilling all his promises to the believing and obedient.
And that we may have the more confidence,
1. "His mercy is everlasting." It continues through all the changes and chances of this life to them who trust in him; and extends through all the generations of men.
2. His truth is like his mercy, it is pledged to fulfil his promises. "God is not man that he should lie;" he has promised, and will save to the uttermost all who come to him through Christ Jesus: "Be therefore thankful to him, and speak good of his name."
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain For the Lord is good - For good is…
For the Lord is good - For good is Yahweh. That is, He is not a being of mere “power;” he is not merely the Creator; but he is benevolent, and is, therefore, worthy of universal praise. In the former verses, his claim to adoration is founded on the fact that he is the “Creator,” and has, as such, a right to our service; in this verse, the claim is asserted on account of his moral character:
(1) his benevolence;
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(2) his mercy;
(3) his truth;
(a) the fact that he is a God of truth; and
(b) the fact that his truth endures, or that in all generations he shows himself to be faithful to his promises.
The first of these is his “benevolence:” “The Lord is good.” As such, assuredly, God is worthy of praise and honor. A being of “mere” power we could not love or praise; a being whose power was united with malignity or malevolence, could only be the object of hatred and terror; but a being whose power is united with goodness or benevolence ought to he loved.
His mercy is everlasting - This is the “second” reason, drawn from his moral character, why he should be praised and adored. A being of mere “justice” may be feared and respected; but a character of “mere” justice would be to man an object of dread - and may be so anywhere. There are other attributes than the one of “justice,” high and valuable as that may be, which are necessary to constitute a perfect character; and man, in order to find happiness and security, must find some other attribute in God than mere “justice,” for man is a sinner, and needs pardon; he is a sufferer, and needs compassion; he is to die, and needs support and consolation. Besides, mere “justice” may drive its decisions over some of the kindest and tenderest feelings of human nature, for there are cases, under all administrations, where pardon is desirable and mercy is proper. It is, therefore, a ground of unspeakable joy for man that God is not a Being of “mere justice,” but that there is mingled in his character the attribute of mercy and kindness. But for this, man could have no hope; for, as a sinner, he has no claim on God, and all his hope must be derived from God’s infinite compassion. To all this as a ground of praise is to be added the fact that this mercy of God is “everlasting.” Its fruits - its results - will extend to the vast eternity before us; and in all that eternity we shall never cease to enjoy the benefits of that mercy; never be suffered to fall back on the mere “justice” of God.
And his truth endureth to all generations - Margin, as in Hebrew, “to generation and generation.” That is, forever. It is the same in every generation of the world. This is the third reason derived from the moral character of God for praising him; and this is a just ground of praise. We could not love and honor a God who was not true to his promises, and who did not himself love the truth; we could not honor one who was changeable and flexible - who loved one thing in one generation and a different thing in the next; who in one age was the friend of truth, and in the next the patron of falsehood. It is the just foundation for praise to God - our God - that he is essentially and always - in all worlds, and in all the generations of people - toward all in the universe - a Being of unchangeable benevolence, mercy, and truth. Such a God is worthy to be had in universal reverence; such a God is worthy of universal praise.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 5. For the Lord is good— “This last seems…
5. For the Lord is good— “This last seems to be the response of the whole chorus of the priests at the instant of the firing of the sacrifice, the prefect, or precentor, having begun the previous strains.”—Hammond. But in a higher sense, it is the refrain to the song of the universal Church when the grand praise offering for the world’s submission shall be presented, through our great High Priest.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 5. For Jehovah is good;
5. For Jehovah is good;
His lovingkindness (endureth) for ever;
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And his faithfulness unto generation after generation.
Israel’s fresh experience of the untiring goodness and love and faithfulness of Jehovah is an argument which should win all the nations to His service.
Psa_100:4-5. are based on Jer_33:11, cp. Psa_89:1. “Give thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever,” became a standing liturgical formula after the exile. See note on Psa_106:1.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain For the Lord is good. (comp. 1Ch_16:34 2Ch_5:13 2Ch_7:3…
For the Lord is good. (comp. 1Ch_16:34 2Ch_5:13 2Ch_7:3 Ezr_3:11 Psa_106:1 Psa_107:1 Psa_118:1, 29 125:3 136:1 145:9, etc.) His mercy is everlasting; literally, his mercy is forever. Compare the frequent refrain, "His mercy endureth forever". (Psa_118:1-4, 29 136:1-26, etc.) And his truth (or, his faithfulness) endureth to all generations; literally, to generation and generation. All men"s hope is in God"s "faithfulness," that he will keep his promises to them pardon them, deliver them, cleanse them, and give them rest in his kingdom forever.
"His truth endureth.
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Test this declaration.
I AS TO WHAT GOD HIMSELF IS. He is ever true. None of the miserable motives which lead men to be untrue can have any power with him. Examine all his works, whether in nature, providence, or grace, and in all it will be found that he acts consistently with himself.
II AS TO HIS WORD OF TRUTH. That is contained in the Holy Scriptures, and whether we appeal to the testimony of conscience, or to that of history, their witness agrees to and affirms the declaration of our text.
III AS TO HIS FAITHFULNESS. The onus probandi lies on those who deny this. Where can it be shown that one of his promises, when rightly understood, has ever failed? What thing hath he spoken that hath not come to pass? Trace the records of the Bible, and they form a great cloud of witnesses to this truth. Trace the course of providence, and its varied events all show that his truth endureth. Trace the experience of God"s people, and it is the same. Let the following quotation illustrate: "Now instead of taking you back to ancient or modern history, I would like to take you to the history of your mother or of your grandmother. I think of my dear grandfather, and of what he used to say to me. If he were here tonight I am glad he is not, because he is in heaven, and that is a much better place for him; but if he could come from heaven, and could talk as he used to do when he was here on earth, he would say, "Ah, my boy, I did find him a faithful God." He had a large family and a small income, but he loved his Lord, and he would not have given up his preaching of the gospel for anything, not even for an imperial crown. He has told me often how the Lord provided for him. He had a little farm to get his living upon it, and he had a cow which used to give milk for his many children, and one day when he came up to the cow it fell back with the staggers, and died. Grandmother said, "James, how will God provide for the dear children now? What shall we do for milk?" "Mother," said he, "God said he would provide, and I believe he could send us fifty cows if he pleased." It so happened that on that day a number of gentlemen were meeting in London persons whom he did not know were sitting as a committee for the distribution of money to poor ministers, and they had given it to all who had asked for it. My grandfather had never asked for any; he liked to earn his own money. He did not send any petition or appeal. Well, after the gentlemen had distributed to all who had asked there were five pounds over, and they were considering what they should do with this balance. "Well," said one, "there is a Mr. Spurgeon, down at Stambourne, in Essex, a poor minister; he stands in need of five pounds." "Oh," said another, "don"t send him five pounds: I will put five to it; I know him; he is a worthy man." "No," said another, "don"t send him ten pounds; I will give another five pounds, if some one else will put a fourth five to it." The next morning came a letter with nine pence to pay. Grandmother did not like to pay ninepence for it; but there was twenty pounds in it, and as my grandfather opened it, he said, "Now can"t you trust God about an old cow?" These things I tell you, and you smile, and well you may; but, oh, my soul laughs, and my face laughs on both sides when I think how faithful God has been to me. He has never lied unto me, or failed me, or forsaken me; but has kept his word to this moment in every respect" (Spurgeon). But such experience as this the whole army of the saints of God can furnish instances of. It is no solitary example.
IV THEREFORE BELIEVE FOR ALL THE FUTURE. Go forward with a cheerful courage, thou child of God, fully persuaded of what all the past of all the people of God abundantly proves, that his truth shall endure, and that he "will never leave thee nor forsake thee. S.C.
The goodness of God.
The word "good" is used as the one supremely suitable for God. But we are not left to our own guidance to find out what is included in the term. We are told that God"s goodness is made up of two things:
(1) his mercy;
(2) his truth.
"Goodness is a very comprehensive quality. It is love, kindness, benevolence, that which leads you to wish well and to do good to those around you; and the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, because it is so full of his works and ways, which are the fruits and manifestations of his goodness.
I THE GOODNESS OF GOD AS MERCY. He is gracious, kind, pitiful. Mercy is the grace of our dealing with those who are weaker than we are; and with those who have wronged us. It has in it the idea of "dealing otherwise with us than according to our stern deserts." Take this as chief point, and illustrate from God"s gracious ways with his people Israel. Make this provide for a careful reading of our own life histories, so as to discern the Divine mercies in them.
II THE GOODNESS OF GOD AS TRUTH. Here his faithful promise keeping. And it is noticed that there is this steadfast sameness of God to all generations. He always has been, and he always will be, "the faithful Promiser." "Hath he said, and shall he not do it?" Deal with this point in the same way. Find proofs of the Divine faithfulness in the story of ancient Israel; and make what is found illustrate the faithfulness and truth of the Divine dealings with us. For practical applications, show:
1. "The goodness of God ought to be one of the strongest barriers that can be raised up against sin.
2. The goodness of God should "lead us to repentance.
3. The goodness of God should lead us to do good to others.
4. The goodness of God to us in this world should inspire us with confidence in his goodness to us in the world to come." The goodness of God may be thought of as the infinite fountain; the mercy of God is the ever freshly flowing stream; and the eternal truth and righteousness is the ocean out to which God"s mercy flows. R.T.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain Ver. 5. For the Lord is good. This sums…
Ver. 5. For the Lord is good. This sums up his character and contains a mass of reasons for praise. He is good, gracious, kind, bountiful, loving; yea, God is love. He who does not praise the good is not good himself. The kind of praise inculcated in the Psalm, viz., that of joy and gladness, is most fitly urged upon us by an argument from the goodness of God.
His mercy is everlasting. God is not mere justice, stern and cold; he has bowels of compassion, and wills not the sinner's death. Towards his own people mercy is still more conspicuously displayed; it has been theirs from all eternity, and shall be theirs world without end. Everlasting mercy is a glorious theme for sacred song.
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And his truth endureth to all generations. No fickle being is he, promising and forgetting. He has entered into covenant with his people, and he will never revoke it, nor alter the thing that has gone out of his lips. As our fathers found him faithful, so will our sons, and their seed for ever. A changeable God would be a terror to the righteous, they would have no sure anchorage, and amid a changing world they would be driven to and fro in perpetual fear of shipwreck. It were well if the truth of divine faithfulness were more fully remembered by some theologians; it would overturn their belief in the final fall of believers, and teach them a more consolatory system. Our heart leaps for joy as we bow before One who has never broken his word or changed his purpose.
"As well might he his being quit
As break his promise or forget."
Resting on his sure word, we feel that joy which is here commanded, and in the strength of it we come into his presence even now, and speak good of his name.
Ver. 5. His mercy is everlasting. The everlasting unchangeable mercy of God, is the first motive of our turning to him, and of our continuing stedfast in his covenant, and it shall be the subject of unceasing praise in eternity. As the Lord is good, and his mercy everlasting, so the full perfection of these attributes in a perfect state will call forth praise unwearied from hearts that ever faint. W. Wilson.
Ver. 5.
1. The inexhaustible fountthe goodness of God.
2. The ever-flowing streamthe mercy of God.
3. The fathomless oceansthe truth of God. "O the depths!" W. Durban.
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and…
Psa_100:5
The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.
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The Divine goodness exemplified
I. An important statement. The Lord is good. All we see around us confirms this glorious truth. Nothing has left His hand without partaking, directly or more remotely, of His perfection; and the more deeply we contemplate the produce of His creative skill, the more accurately we track the wheels of His providence, and the more carefully we ponder the economy of His grace, the more enlarged will be our hearts, the louder our song, as we adopt the statement of the text.
II. An encouraging doctrine. His mercy is everlasting. Such is the uniform tenor of the announcements and declarations of the Divine Word.
1. His mercy is from everlasting in its source. If we look backward that we may be able to tell the period, in the past, when mercy took its rise in the heart of the Almighty, we shall find that before duration began to be measured by revolving seasons, the Father of mercies hath delighted in mercy.
2. It is to everlasting, in its efficacy; so that, casting the eye forward, in order to discern the length of its duration for time to come, we are lost as we contemplate it, flowing on in its effects through the amazing circle of eternity, even after the apocalyptic angel shall have proclaimed, that time shall be no longer.
III. A strong attestation of His faithfulness, in connection both with His goodness and His mercy. His truth endureth to all generations. If we regard this portion of the text as an appeal to the display of the perfections already mentioned, in times gone by, then it will carry us back, in our contemplations, to His dealings with His people of old. And here time would fail us to speak of the various examples of the Divine goodness and mercy on record, from the moment when the voice of mercy was heard in the garden of Eden, to the present hour. From these considerations may we gather confidence, that this goodness and mercy shall not fail us, neither the generations yet to come. Conclusion:--
1. Admire the condescension of God, in thus displaying His goodness and mercy around us, and in our behalf.
2. Examine yourselves, whether you have a personal interest in the truths that have now been stated.
3. Be grateful to the Divine Being, for the character in which He has thus revealed Himself. (John Gaskin, M. A.)
His truth endureth to all generations.
The eternal truth of God
I. God is true.
1. He is true in His very nature. Falsehood is the wickedness--I dare not call it the infirmity--the wickedness of little natures; but as for the Great Supreme, you cannot conceive Him acting in any manner that is otherwise than straightforward, upright, and truthful. A God of truth and righteousness is He essentially. He must be so.
2. The Lord our God is not only true in His nature, but He is true to His nature. You never find Him doing anything that is not godlike. Select the acts of His creation. If He makes an aphis to creep upon a rosebud, you will find traces of infinite wisdom in it: you shall submit the insect to the microscope end discern a wisdom in it as glorious as that which shines in yonder rolling stars. If in providence some minor event comes under your notice, in that event you shall find no deviation from the constant rule of right and love by which the Most High characterizes all His doings. There are no emergencies with God in which He could be driven to an act of untruth; no pressures, no difficulties, no infirmities which could produce falsehood in Him. I am Jehovah: I change not, saith He.
3. He is true in action. The covenant of grace has many promises in it, but not one of them has failed. As on Christs side the covenant was kept by His death, so on the Fathers side the covenant has been kept by the salvation of those whom Jesus redeemed from among inert when He gave Himself a ransom for many.
4. He is true to His promises.
5. He is true in every relation that He sustains.
II. God is true in all generations.
1. He has been true in the past. All history, sacred and profane, goes to prove that.
2. God is true still. All things are moving according to the decree of goodness and wisdom, and you must not doubt it. Like Jacob, you sometimes say, All these things are against me; but they are not, they are all for you. God is ordering all for the best.
3. God will be true. I do not know how far we have to go before we shall reach to our journeys end; but this I know, the whole of the road that we have to travel is paved with love and faithfulness, and we need not be afraid. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
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Psa_101:1-8
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.