Day 7 - God's Goodness Comes Through Israel
- Pastor b.Side
- May 6
- 3 min read
In Judah God [is] known; His name [is] great in Israel. In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion. - Psalm 76:1-2
The goodness of God is transcendent and excellent above all things because God is supremely exalted above everything. This places God in the perfect position to distribute His goodness to the entire world. However, God distributes His goodness through a specific channel. God's goodness will be inaccessible if we don’t believe in and honor that truth. Besides, His supremely exalted position makes it impossible to reach God to alter His plans.
“In Judah God [is] known…”
Psalm 76 teaches us about the channel through which God distributes His goodness. God is known in Judah. In Genesis 49:8-10, God prophesied that His Messiah would come from Judah to rule over Israel and the world forever. God initiated the fulfillment of that prophecy through David. The writer of Psalm 76, Asaph, was the chief musician responsible for leading the praises of God during David’s rule. He was well aware of God's work through Judah. God preserved and blessed Israel from the time of the Exodus to the days of King David. Whether good leaders or bad ones led Israel, God was faithful to His people. He destroyed the Egyptians, Sihon, and Og; He brought down the walls of Jericho and equipped a group of people just one generation removed from slavery to conquer great armies in the Promised Land. David brought peace to Israel through his many conquests. God’s goodness was well-known in Israel!
“In Salem also is His tabernacle…”
God’s tabernacle was also in Salem. The Hebrew word “Salem” appears only one other time in scripture in Genesis 14:18, where Melchizedek is mentioned. He was the King of Salem. The city's name stood for peace. Salem is an ancient term for Jerusalem. Eventually, God’s tabernacle was moved to that city when David conquered the Jebusites. Yet the text also says that God’s dwelling place is in Zion.
“His dwelling place in Zion…”
This is another name for Jerusalem, particularly in a prophetic context. God uses this designation to describe Jerusalem when discussing the fulfillment of His eternal covenants with Israel and the world. He establishes His holy King, the Messiah, in Zion (Psalm 2:6). The salvation of Israel emerges from Zion (Psalm 14:7). The joy of the entire earth stems from that city (Psalm 48:2). God Himself will shine forth from Zion (Psalm 50:2). The LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in glory from there (Psalm 102:16).
The goodness of God is freely accessible to all people, yet Scripture reveals that God’s glory and transcendence will shine through one place and one group of people. To experience the benefits of God’s goodness, we must examine the covenants and God's work in Israel, particularly through the tribe of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. Why is this important? These elements point to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, King of Israel. He is the single source who embodies the transcendent goodness of God.
Prayer for today
Our heavenly Father, thank You for making things simple for us. While Your glory fills the world from Your supremely exalted position in heaven, You have provided us with a clear path to enjoy Your goodness: from Melchizedek to Israel, to Judah, to Jerusalem, and to Jesus Christ, our Priest and King. Help us to trust Your Word as it is written, so we may walk in Your goodness by that faith, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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