I’ve been exploring some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy 😀. But now, I’ve decided to alternate between very modern hymns, old hymns, and in-between hymns, namely the worship songs from the 60s to the 90s that feature in hymnbooks such as Mission Praise. Today it’s the turn of the very modern hymns.
Today’s song is You Are Good from 2001.
I never remember hearing this one in church. Maybe it’s a little too fast for congregational singing, but it’s a wonderful song. The title seems like it’s stating the obvious. And wouldn’t it be better as “You are Wonderful”, or “You Are Amazing”? But goodness is an attribute of God. The goodness of God is obvious to us because we experience his goodness. But think of what life would be like if the devil had a free hand or if God were evil. We do wish that he would stop sin and evil, but He will eventually do that. I’m confident that God has a purpose in tolerating evil. For example, crucifying Jesus was an appallingly evil act, but God had a purpose in allowing that:
Acts 2:23-25
23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Acts 4:27-28
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
Here’s a brief summary of the “Goodness” attribute of God that I noticed on YouTube.
Today’s song is based on several psalms, particularly Psalm 100:
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 136:1
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
I can think of another older song that’s based on Psalm 100
And here are some other versions of today’s hymn:
Hibernia Gospel 