Psalm 27:13 “I had fainted, unless, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

This text puts before us a future experience embraced or anticipated by faith. It indicates the sustaining power of such anticipation. The goodness of God is His kindness towards us. Concerning the goodness of God I think of several things; it is infinite; it is perfect in quality; it flows from his eternal character.

The knowledge that David had of the goodness of God came from three sources: first the manifestation that came through the creation of the world; secondly the story of His dealings with his own people Israel; and thirdly his own experience from childhood.

David’s faith and ours should rest on these things as well; the uniform character of God and His conduct toward us past and present.

As we now prepare to embrace a new year let us not faint or fear but have faith in the God who has revealed Himself to us and will sustain us in the days ahead.