How does Psalm 145:9 connect with Jesus' teachings on loving others? Psalm 145:9 – A Window into God’s Heart “The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.” (Psalm 145:9) God’s Character Revealed • Goodness extends “to all”—no exclusions. • Compassion “rests on all He has made”—a settled, ongoing mercy. • Because Scripture is true and literal, this verse establishes an unchanging principle: God deals with His entire creation out of goodness and mercy. Jesus Mirrors and Expands the Same Heart • Matthew 5:44-45: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” – Jesus links love for enemies to the Father’s impartial care—sun and rain for all, echoing Psalm 145:9’s “good to all.” • Luke 6:35: “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” – The command to “do good” flows from God’s own kindness. • John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.” – Jesus roots our love in His own, reflecting the Father’s universal goodness. • Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) – Compassion extended across ethnic and religious lines demonstrates Psalm 145:9 lived out on the road to Jericho. Connecting Threads • God’s goodness is the standard; Jesus calls believers to imitate that standard. • Psalm 145:9 reveals the nature of God; Jesus shows that disciples display family resemblance when they love indiscriminately. • Divine compassion is active, not passive. Jesus’ commands move God’s people from admiration to imitation. Practical Takeaways for Daily Life • View every person—friend, stranger, even opponent—as someone under God’s compassionate gaze. • Let speech and actions pass the “good to all” filter: – Is this word or deed a channel of God’s goodness? • Replace retaliation with blessing (Romans 12:14-21). • Practice generosity without calculating return, mirroring the Father’s rain and sun. • Serve in tangible ways: helping a neighbor, showing patience in traffic, welcoming newcomers at church—simple avenues to display the goodness described in Psalm 145:9 and commanded by Jesus. Key Parallel Passages for Further Reading • Psalm 103:8-14 – The LORD’s compassionate nature. • Matthew 22:37-40 – Greatest commandments connected to love. • 1 John 4:7-12 – Loving others because God first loved us. |
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