My Notes
What Does Psalms 119:68 Mean?
"Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes." The simplest and most profound theological statement in Psalm 119: God IS good (character) and DOES good (action). The being and the doing are unified — God's actions flow from His nature. He does good because He IS good. And the response to both? Teach me. The goodness of God produces the desire for God's instruction.
The phrase "thou art good" (tov attah) is a character declaration: before anything God does, God IS. The goodness is essential, not achieved. God doesn't become good through good deeds. He does good deeds because He's already good. The being precedes the doing. The nature produces the action.
The "teach me thy statutes" (lammedeni chuqqeka — instruct me in Your engravings) connects God's goodness to the desire for learning: BECAUSE You are good and do good, therefore teach me. The goodness of the Teacher makes the teaching desirable. If God weren't good, His statutes would be burdensome. Because God IS good, His statutes are welcome.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Do you believe God is good — and does that belief make His instruction welcome rather than burdensome?
- 2.What's the difference between God BEING good and God DOING good — and why do both matter?
- 3.How does trusting God's character make learning His statutes feel safe rather than threatening?
- 4.What area of God's instruction feels burdensome — and could it be because you doubt His goodness?
Devotional
You ARE good. You DO good. Now teach me. Three statements that build on each other: God's character (good), God's actions (does good), and the request that flows from both (teach me Your statutes). The being produces the doing. The doing produces the trusting. The trusting produces the asking.
The 'thou art good' is the foundation: before God does anything, He IS something. Goodness isn't God's behavior. It's His essence. He doesn't try to be good. He IS good. The goodness is the starting point, not the achievement. Everything God does flows from what God is. The doing is always a reflection of the being.
The 'doest good' is the evidence: God's goodness isn't theoretical. It's active. He DOES good — in creation, in provision, in rescue, in discipline, in silence, in speaking. Every action is an expression of the goodness that defines Him. The doing proves the being. The actions demonstrate the character.
The 'teach me thy statutes' is the logical response: if You are good AND You do good, then Your statutes must ALSO be good. The instruction of a good God is good instruction. The rules of a good Ruler are good rules. The desire to learn God's statutes isn't obligation — it's trust. I want to learn from You BECAUSE You are good. Your goodness makes Your teaching safe.
Do you believe God is good AND does good — and does that belief make you hungry for His instruction?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,.... The good and profit of which he had observed before; See Gill on Psa…
Thou art good - See the Psa 100:5, note; Psa 107:1, note. And doest good - As the expression or manifestation of…
Here, 1. David praises God's goodness and gives him the glory of it: Thou art good and doest good. All who have any…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture