A Good, Kind, and Accepting God

This chapter of The Mercy of God in the Old Testament considers the goodness and kindness of God, his acceptance of the undeserving. God’s goodness is on display in creation and in the renewal begun at Sinai, where God is seen not to enforce the penalty for breach of the covenant stipulations. The goodness of God encapsulates the attributes set forth in Israel’s Compassion Creed and frequently celebrated in the Psalms. God’s kindness is demonstrated in his concrete acts of benefaction. The covenant with David, and the closely associated temple, a microcosm of an ideal world, also exhibit the designs God has for the renewal of all things. The restoration after exile is celebrated as an exhibition of God’s goodness which is ultimately for the world he has created and humanity in particular.