How does Psalm 145:9 align with the existence of suffering and evil in the world? Text And Immediate Context Psalm 145:9 states, “The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.” The psalm is an acrostic hymn of praise in which David rehearses God’s steadfast character, covenant mercies, and universal kingship (vv. 1–13) before celebrating His benevolent dealings with every creature (vv. 14–21). The verse in question is not an isolated claim but the keystone of a stanza that exalts God for sustaining, providing, and rescuing (vv. 15–20). The Central Tension: God’S Goodness Vs. Experienced Evil Skeptics object that pervasive suffering contradicts the assertion of universal divine goodness. Scripture itself acknowledges the tension (Habakkuk 1:2–4; Psalm 73). The question is therefore internal to the Bible, and the canonical answer is multidimensional rather than a single proof-text. Origin Of Suffering: Moral And Natural Evil Moral evil originated in angelic and human rebellion (Isaiah 14:12–15; Genesis 3:1–7; Romans 5:12). Natural evil—pain, decay, disaster—entered creation through that same historical Fall (Genesis 3:17–19; Romans 8:20–22). Thus the Bible locates evil’s entrance not in God’s creative will but in the misuse of creaturely freedom. Freedom And Love Genuine love requires the capacity to withhold love (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15). A world engineered to eliminate the possibility of rejection would be one where worship, obedience, and relationship are coerced, not chosen. The risk of evil is therefore the corollary of the gift of freedom, preserving the moral framework in which love can flourish. Common Grace As The Present Expression Of God’S Goodness Psalm 145:9 is echoed by Jesus: “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good” (Matthew 5:45). Agricultural cycles, breathable air, aesthetic beauty, conscience, and civil order are daily evidences of God’s indiscriminate benevolence (Acts 14:17). Even in fallen conditions, creation still “declares the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). Providential Restraint Of Evil Scripture teaches that God limits evil’s range (Job 1:12; 1 Corinthians 10:13), appoints governing authorities to curb violence (Romans 13:1–4), and institutes moral law in human hearts (Romans 2:14–15). Historical data—such as the collapse of totalitarian regimes and the abolition of legal slavery—illustrate long-term divine restraint operating through human agents. Redemptive Purposes In Temporary Suffering God employs trials to refine character (James 1:2–4), awaken repentance (Luke 13:1–5), display His works (John 9:3), and extend comfort to others (2 Corinthians 1:3–7). Joseph’s testimony—“You intended evil against me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20)—encapsulates the divine ability to transmute malice into salvation history. The Cross As The Supreme Proof Of Divine Goodness At Calvary, the greatest evil (the judicial murder of the sinless Son) becomes the greatest good (atonement and resurrection). “God demonstrates His own love toward us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The historical resurrection, attested by multiple early, independent sources and the empty tomb criterion, validates both the reality of evil’s cost and the triumph of divine compassion. Miracles As Foretastes Of Complete Restoration Biblical healings (Mark 5; John 11) and rigorously documented modern cases—e.g., instantaneous, medically verified reversal of Barbara Snyder’s terminal idiopathic pulmonary disease after corporate prayer (see Keener, Miracles, Vol. 1, pp. 496–502)—serve as empirical pledges of God’s continuing goodness and His intention to fully eradicate suffering. Final Eradication Of Evil Psalm 145 anticipates eschatological fulfillment: “The LORD is faithful in all His words and holy in all His works” (v. 13). Revelation 21:4 promises that death, mourning, and pain will be abolished. Divine justice culminates in the new creation, vindicating every assertion of God’s universal goodness. Philosophical Coherence The logical problem of evil asserts an incompatibility between God’s goodness and evil’s existence. The free-will defense, combined with the evidential balance of divine intervention, demonstrates that coexistence is not contradictory. Indeed, objective moral values presupposed by any judgment against evil require the very God whose character defines goodness (Romans 2:15; Psalm 36:9). Scientific Observations And Intelligent Design A universe fine-tuned to one part in 10⁶⁰ for life-permitting cosmic expansion, the information-rich digital code within DNA, and the Earth’s uniquely habitable conditions all imply purposeful artistry. Natural laws that allow pain (gravity, plate tectonics, entropy) simultaneously enable stable orbits, nutrient cycling, and biological complexity—conditions indispensable for moral agents to exist and choose. Summary Answer Psalm 145:9 proclaims a foundational truth: God’s nature is unchangeably good and compassionate toward every creature. The existence of suffering does not negate this; it reflects the outworking of creaturely freedom within a fallen yet redeemable order. Scripture, reason, empirical observation, and historical evidence converge to show that evil is parasitic and temporary, whereas the goodness affirmed in Psalm 145:9 is essential, active, and destined to prevail. Practical Implications Believers are summoned to trust God’s heart when His hand is unseen (Habakkuk 3:17–19), to mirror His compassion through acts of mercy (Proverbs 19:17; Galatians 6:10), and to proclaim Christ, in whom the goodness of Psalm 145:9 reaches its climactic expression (Titus 3:4–7). For skeptics, the psalm offers an invitation: taste and see (Psalm 34:8) by evaluating the historical resurrection and personally calling on the Lord who “is near to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). Doxological Conclusion “My mouth will declare the praise of the LORD; let every creature bless His holy name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:21). The final word belongs not to evil but to the universal, compassionate goodness of Yahweh. |
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