Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 179:714 (Apr 2022)
Article: From The Editor
Author: Glenn R. Kreider

From The Editor

Glenn R. Kreider

In Psalm 100, the author encourages people of faith to worship the Lord, “for the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (v. 5). God’s goodness and his love provide confidence that his faithfulness endures. We can trust a good God to do what is good.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Ps 118:1). Israel’s God is good, he is love, and his goodness and love endure forever. So the psalmist calls the people to declare, “His love endures forever” (vv. 2–4; three times). Since Israel’s God is our God, we too should be thankful and declare together, “His love endures forever.” And yet the Lord never promises to protect his people from harm, from struggles, from persecution, from difficulties; but he has promised his help and ultimate deliverance. For those who are “hard-pressed,” the Lord promises “a spacious place” (v. 5).

The author of Psalm 118 ends where he begins, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (v. 29). Because the Lord is good and because he is faithful and because his love endures forever, he can be trusted to care for his own. In the midst of challenging times, we can trust a good God to be at work doing what is good. We can join with the psalmist: “You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you” (v. 28).