On the one hand, God doesn’t let anyone get away with anything (Romans 2:5-6). But there’s also Psalm 145:9, that “God is good to one and all; everything he does is suffused with grace” (The Message).
But horrible things happen to people in natural disasters and wars, and the animal world isn’t exactly nice either, with predatory animals knocking off other animals in gruesome ways, and viruses, flies, maggots and other nasties doing things you don’t dare watch on TV while eating.
Such is the world God created. He intentionally “subjected it to frustration,” stuck it “in bondage to decay,” to the point that “the whole creation has been groaning in pain” all through the ages (Romans 8:20-22). So how can Psalm 145:13 say that God “is gracious in everything he does”? It was written by king David too, who had all sorts of horrible things happen to him, and yet he could write in verse 17, “the Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.”
David could say that, though, because in his own experience, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth (who really mean it),” verse 18.
David had learnt that by throwing himself on God to meet his needs, God “fulfills the desires of those who fear him,” and “he hears their cry and saves them,” verses 18-19. David learnt through good old practical everyday living that God really “is near” and he does listen.
But what happens to people who don’t take advantage of that, and don’t turn to God in their lifetimes? Is that it for them – opportunity missed, too bad? Not so, David says, because God will “satisfy the desires of every living thing,” verse 16. No one misses out on what God has in mind for us, nor does the whole creation. That’s because God is creating an “everlasting kingdom” in verse 13, with all the time in the world to fulfill that promise. This life is just the beginning, so if people don’t turn to him now, there’s lots more life to come for discovering God later.
Which is why ”your saints tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,” verses 10-11, because the saints know firsthand, like David, that “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love,” verse 8. The saints know that God is “faithful to his promises and loving toward ALL he has made,” verse 13. They know, therefore, that God is – and will be – good to one and all.
Buck To Basics 