“Who are you?” and “What do you do?” They are the most frequently asked questions when people are getting to know each other. They establish context. They create common ground. “Who are you?” and “What do you do?”
Psalm 119:68 is a pillar of context for the entire Bible. That’s a sweeping statement, I know, but I’m pretty sure Psalm 119:68 can stand up to the test. Speaking of God, the psalmist writes:
You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
Who is God? God is good. What does God do? God does good.
Let’s make that personal:
- God is good and does good when he commands me. He is seeking my good.
- God is good and does good when he warns me. He wants to guard my good.
- God is good and does good when he challenges me. He is leading me to what is good.
- God is good and does good when he rebukes me. He knows better than I what is good.
- God is good and does good when he trains me. He wants me to be an ambassador for good.
Who is God? God is good. What does God do? God does good. What does God want for you? Only what is good. Doesn’t it make sense, then, that we would wholeheartedly say with the psalmist, “Teach me your statutes”?