Table 5.2 Additional Terms in Psalms for Blessing
| Hebrew | English | # | References | Totals: Ps./all OT |
| בְּרָכָה | blessing | 6 | 3:8; 21:3, 6; 24:5; 129:8; 133:3 | 9/71 |
| טוּב | goodness | 5 | 25:7; 27:13; 31:19; 65:4; 145:7 | 7/32 |
| טוֹבָה | goodness | 4 | 16:2; 65:11; 68:10; 86:17 | 8/67 |
| יטב | to do good | 3 | 51:18; 119:68; 125:4 | 7/117 |
| שָׁלוֹם | peace | 7 | 29:11; 35:27; 72:7; 85:8, 10; 119:165; 147:14 | 27/237 |
| גְּמוּל | benefits | 1 | 103:2 | 4/19 |
| תַּגְמוּל | benefits | 1 | 116:12 | 1/1 |
the sons of Korah desire a manifestation of Yahweh’s kindness, mentioning His act of giving and His peace (85:7–8). Near the end of the Psalter we find another connection between blessing and peace (147:13–14). Additionally, the blessing theme includes two words that mean “benefit,” listed below in Table 5.2. No doubt in other places Psalms touches on the theme without using one of the dozen words inventoried in the tables below. For example, Psalm 145, which uses four of the words, additionally includes two significant propositions of God’s goodness. (1) “The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down” (v. 14), and (2) “Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing” (v. 16). Thus wherever we find fulfillment of human desires, prosperity, or deliverance from trouble, we are looking at God’s blessing and goodness.
Propositions
The many verses listed in Tables 5.1 and 5.2 direct us to several theological generalizations. We begin with a proposition that should be obvious, but there is a human tendency to forget that (1) because God is good, He is always doing good.122 In other words, His nature manifests itself in His actions. The psalmist puts it quite simply: “Thou art good, and doest good” (119:68). David affirms this: “For You, Lord, are good … and abundant in lovingkindness [acts of love]” (86:5). The phrase “for the Lord is good” (יְהוָה כִּי־טוֹב) describes His nature (34:8; 100:5; 135:3). The shorter form, “for he is good” (כִּי־טוֹב), occurs five times (106:1; 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1). In the contexts of many of these verses, the psalmists mention God’s good actions, sometimes in general: “the mighty acts of the Lord” (106:2) and “magnificent, amazing deeds” (136:4, NET). Specifically, God’s good deeds include provisions for those in need (34:9), rescue from enemies (107:2), responding to someone calling in distress (118:5), and election to be a part of His special treasure (135:4).123 David says, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will he teach sinners in the way” (25:8). Later he exclaims about that characteristic in action: “Oh how great is thy goodness” (31:19a).
(2) God has extended His goodness to all of His creation. This proposition is explicit in 145:9. “The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” This is what theologians call common grace.124 David announces that God provides water for the earth, thus “blessing its growth” (65:9–10, ESV). He says to God, “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness” (65:11).125 Another psalm proclaims, “The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us” (67:6, NIV). The expression of God’s benevolence to all His creatures occurs also in 85:12; 104:27–28; 136:25; and 145:15. His common grace specifically to mankind finds expression in 100:5 (“to all generations”) and 115:16b (“the earth hath he given to the children of men”). Indeed, “The earth is full of Your lovingkindness [acts of love]” (119:64a).
Yet (3) God has especially provided His goodness to those who have a special relationship to Him. Numerous times the psalmists mention God’s people as the recipients of His blessing. For example, “thy blessing is upon thy people” (3:8b). Other cases include 28:9; 29:11; 68:35; 73:1 (“Israel”); 78:24 (“gave them food from heaven,” NASB); 85:8 (“peace”); 105:44 (“gave them the lands”); and 115:12 (“he will bless the house of Israel”). God blesses those that fear Him: “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee” (31:19). The psalmists return to this point repeatedly (103:11; 111:5; 115:13; 118:4; 128:4; 147:11). These persons are the “righteous” (5:12; 24:5), “those who walk uprightly” (84:11, NASB), including “them which put their trust” in God (17:7; 32:10; 34:8b; 52:8; 59:16). They “seek the Lord” (34:10; 119:2) because they are the “needy” (132:15, NASB), who hunger and thirst (107:9). In numerous instances it is the psalmist who, speaking with first-person pronouns, is the object of God’s acts of kindness: “You have given gladness in my heart” (4:7, literal translation); “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation” (18:35a); “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (23:6a); and “the God of my mercy” (59:17c).126
(4) God has responded with His goodness specifically to those who have asked for it. Psalm 86:5 is the best proclamation of this proposition: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Sometimes these requests are personal, from the psalmist using first-person pronouns: “Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses;127 … according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord” (25:6a, 7); “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness” (51:1a); “Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me” (66:20); “Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies” (69:16); “O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give [נתן, nathan] thy strength unto thy servant, … Shew me a token for good [טוֹבָה, towvah] …” (86:16–17); and “Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me” (119:122). Sometimes the requests are communal, the psalmists asking on behalf of the group: “Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever” (28:9); “Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem” (51:18); “God be merciful unto us, and bless us” (67:1a); “O satisfy us early with thy mercy [חֶסֶד, khesed]” (90:14a); and “May you be blessed by the Lord” (115:15a, HCSB).128
God has not, however, responded reluctantly. (5) God has delighted in bestowing His goodness for mankind. The book of Psalms gives no indication that God is hesitant in His giving. In contrast with 5:4a (“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness”), we hear David say, “Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity [שָׁלוֹם, shalowm, “peace”] of his servant” (35:27b). After all, when God brought Israel
