The story is told of the missionary to Africa in the 1800’s who sacrificed much and suffered greatly as he and his family served the Lord there. Some of the natives ran him and his family out of their villages, his wife eventually died of a disease, and he was physically sick and financially broke. One night he sat down on a big rock, looked up at the stars and penned the words, “I am overwhelmed by the goodness of God”. Some would classify that as sheer ignorance; however, those who have had similar experiences and have made similar responses know it is a deep, spiritual insight. Any spiritual wimp can praise God when everything is going jim-dandy and hunkey-dory but when bad times crash in on them they lash out at God or deny God’s goodness, power or even deny His existence. It’s not spiritual ignorance that sees the goodness of God in terrible times – it is spiritual insight and wisdom that is able to look beyond the physical circumstances into the spiritual realm where there are rich blessings beyond comprehension (Ephesians 1:3). Remember, Paul was writing from a prison when he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord, always…” (Philippians 4:4). I would argue that Paul was out of his mind – out of his mind for Jesus as he looked and lived in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 2:6). Read Psalm 34 and then listen to a beautiful song entitled “The Goodness of God.
Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.