Restore your Goodness

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• By Rev. Devadosan Sugirtharaj
• Posted 08/02/2020
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Fruit of the Spirit

Restore Your Goodness

Psalms.34

Introduction

• Goodness is a word usually used vaguely as positive. However, it is more than a positive outlook and it is a selfless attitude and action for the benefit of others with good character and motive. 
• Kindness and goodness are similar in nature but not identical. Kindness is the selfless act we should have toward others. Goodness involves an act toward others in a kindly manner. 
• Goodness is not just an act of kindness but comes from the person who is motivated by righteousness and holiness in virtue and action.

Word Study

• Hebrew word: Tobh. It means abundant in goodness, plenteous in mercy
• Greek word: Chrestotes: It means usefulness, kind, full of goodness.
• Biblically, goodness is participating with God in the Kingdom’s work in the world.

Context

• Psalm 34 is the context of King David’s experience in the land of Philistines. It is based on 1 Samuel 21:10-22:1. David was running away from Saul as a fugitive. He went to the land of Philistine. He was brought before Abimelech. Abimelech is the title of the king of Philistine and his proper name is Achish (1 Samuel.21:10) and he pretended to be a mad person before Abimelech. Abimelech drove him away and he went to the cave at Adullam and many desperate men joined him. In this context, he wrote this psalm to thank God for his goodness to deliver him from the hands of his enemies. 
• Psalm 34 is an acrostic. Every verse of this psalm begins with the letter of the Hebrew alphabet except the letter WAW in order to encourage learning and memorization. 

1. Goodness comes from God. Psalm 34:1-3
   1. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me,And let us exalt His name together.
   2. David had sung this psalm after him triumphant and relief from the hands of Philistines. 1 Samuel.21:10-22:1. He may have acted like food but he was not foolish. He knew that the goodness of God would come to him. He praises in his heart and mouth for what God had done in his life. Goodness comes from God as He is Good. 
   3. Psalm.23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. All the days of my life; And I will [a]dwell in the house of the Lord [b]Forever. Psalm.65:11: You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.
   4. James.1:17: 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
   5. Biblical Example: Luke 7:37-50: God was good to the sinful woman and forgave and saved her.
   6. Sermon illustration: One of my friends lives in Australia. When he was in prison for his crimes, his brother sent God’s promises every day to him for 3 years. After 3 years, he became Christian and released from prison. He is now a pastor to lead ex-prisoners to lead to Christ. When I met him, he said to me: God is good to me, pastor. He has changed me to be a new man to be the witness of his goodness.

1. Goodness comes from God through prayer.Psalm.34: 4-7
   1. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The [a]angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
   2. David testified of his deliverance. He sought the Lord and he heard him and delivered him from all his hears. When he was in the hands of the enemies, he played like a mad man among them and he prayed secretly and inwardly. Though he acted like a mad man, God did not abandon him but delivered him as he sought God. Divine care and might. Here David indicated that his focus on loving trust upon God and receive his help.
   3. Isaiah.60:4-5:“Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
   4. Biblical Example: Judges 16:18: Samson heard the last prayer of his life and showed his goodness to him.
   5. Sermon Illustration: While Josh McDowell was attending seminary in California, his father went Home to be with the Lord. His mother had died years earlier, but Josh was struggling in his faith. One day he prayed: “Lord, somehow give me the answer so I can get back to normal. I’ve just got to know.” Two days later, Josh drove out to the ocean. He walked to the end of a pier to be alone. There sat an old woman in a lawn chair, fishing. “Where’s your home originally?” she asked. “Michigan—Union City,” Josh replied. “Nobody’s heard of it. I tell people it’s a suburb of —”“Battle Creek,” interrupted the woman. “I had a cousin from there. Did you know the McDowell family?” Stunned, Josh responded, “Yes, I’m Josh McDowell!” “I can’t believe it,” said the woman. “I’m a cousin to your mother.” “Do you remember anything at all about my mother’s spiritual life?” asked Josh. “Why sure—your mom and I were just girls—teenagers—when a tent revival came to town. It was the fourth night—we both went forward to accept Christ.” “Praise God!” shouted Josh, startling the surrounding fishermen.

1. Goodness comes from God’s through prayer so that we need to call people to pray and experience His goodness. Psalm.34:8-22.
   1. Inviting People to experience God’s goodness: 34:8-10: Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no [b]want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
   2. Teaching People to return to God: 34:11-14: Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil. And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
   3. Encouraging people to pray to the Lord. 34:15-22: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To [c]cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as [d]have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be [e]condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. 
   4. Biblical example: Mark 5: Jesus healed the Demon-Possessed man and he went back to his town and shared God’s goodness. 
   5. Sermon Illustration:As D. L. Moody walked down a Chicago street one day, he walked up to a man and asked him if he were a Christian. The fellow raised his fists and angrily exclaimed, “You mind your own business!” “This is my business,” replied Moody.

Conclusion

            The Holy Spirit gives the fruit of the Spirit and one among them is goodness. We need it.                                     From Psalm 34, we learn three truths of goodness.

1. Goodness comes from God. Psalm 34:1-3.

2. Goodness comes from God through prayer. Psalm. 34:4-7

3. Goodness comes from God’s through prayer so that we need to call people to pray and experience His goodness. Psalm.34:8-22.

i. Inviting People to experience God’s goodness: Psalm.34:8-10

ii. Teaching People to return to God: Psalm.34:11-14

iii. Encouraging people to pray to the Lord. Psalm.34:15-22

Questions for Discussion

1.  Where do you seek for your goodness? God is good and he does good. As he is good, God wants to experience you the goodness of God in your lives. 
2. Think about God’s goodness in your lives. Share with others some of the goodness of God you experienced.
3. Prayer is essential to experience God’s goodness. It is key to God’s goodness. Think about your prayer. How do you reflect that you trust God for every goodness in your life?
4. Share with others the experiences of God’s goodness to you through your prayers
5. If you have the aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, goodness, you are called to invite people to experience God’s goodness, to return to God and also to pray for God’s goodness in their lives. When was the last time you invited people to experience God’s goodness? 
6. Share with others the experiences of people who experienced God’s goodness through your witness, evangelism and prayers.