Good-for versus Beauty-full

Good is what it is because it is good for something.

To say again: Good has to be for something. Therefore good is not inert; it is dynamic. It proves its goodness in benefiting, in some way, others.

That is why it is Good.

Contrast this to Beauty. Beauty doesn't have to be for something. Beauty is complete in itself.

That is why we say Beauty- full. Beauty is already full. As in: Beautiful.

But we don't say good-full. No ...

We say good for. Something is good because it is good for something or someone.

With this in mind, the psalmist says to give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

That God is beautiful is beyond debate. But in Psalm 118, the psalmist is not occupied with beauty. He is occupied with something far more extraordinary:

God is not only beautiful. He is also good. And ...

... Good is for something. And so the psalmist goes on to say:

The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes ...

Logos2Go

Psalm 118.1, 7-9 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever ... (7-9) The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes ...