We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is a construct. טוּבִי֙ my goodness. It is used 2 times in the Old Testament. It is a noun construct of the noun טוּב good things, goodness, best things, prosperity, beauty, blessing, well-being. The noun is used 32 times in the Old Testament. Both times our phrase is used refer to God and his goodness. Let’s start with our passage since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 33:18-19 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all טוּבִי֙ my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Notice how God answers Moses request to see his glory by equating his glory with his goodness. This tells us one of the things other than God’s power that makes him glorious is his goodness, his character. The other use in the Bible of our phrase is used to describe how God’s goodness is shared or given to his people when he gathers them back together from their being scattered. Jeremiah 31:12-14 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the ט֣וּב יְהוָ֗ה goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with טוּבִ֥י my goodness, declares the Lord.” This theme of God not only being full of goodness but also sharing his goodness or blessing his people with his goodness is seen throughout the Bible. 1 Kings 8:66 They blessed the king and went to their homes joyful וְט֣וֹבֵי [literally goodness of heart] and glad of heart for all הַטּוֹבָ֗ה the goodness that the Lord had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people. 2 Chronicles 6:41 Let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice בַטּֽוֹב in your goodness. Psalm 27:13 I believe that I shall look בְּֽטוּב־יְהוָ֗ה upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! One of the many things that makes God full of goodness is his mercy and forgiveness of our sins. Psalm 25:6-7 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of טוּבְךָ֣ your goodness, O Lord! Did you notice David’s appeal to God’s goodness as the reason for his forgiveness? I’ll close with this great reminder that absolute goodness is being with God for all of eternity. Psalm 23:6 Surely ט֤וֹב goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
