I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord,
    the deeds for which he is to be praised,
    according to all the Lord has done for us –
yes, the many good things
    he has done for Israel,
    according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

It is a good thing to regularly and specifically thank God for all His blessings toward us. This verse opens with the words ”I will tell”. God’s goodness should be spoken about: a.) to others. Testimony is a form of praise, but it also has the added benefit of encouraging other people; b.) to Himself: note: ”the deeds for which he is to be praised.” We are to thank God personally and directly.

God’s goodness is extravagant goodness. We read in our text about ”many good things” and ”many kindnesses”. He is super-abundantly good, beyond our wildest imaginings. How can we ever tell of all He has done? But we can at least make a start, even though we feel our speech to be halting and stammering.

If we start to forget God’s kindness to us we will fall into spiritual danger. We will see how this worked out among the people of Israel as we continue to read through this chapter.

God’s greatest kindness toward us is exhibited in Christ and His so great salvation:

” But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ” (Titus 3:4-7).

I find again and again that no-one says it better than good old Matthew Henry:

‘Here is a general acknowledgment of God’s goodness to them all along, v. 7. It was said, in general, of God’s prophets and people (ch. 62 6) that they made mention of the Lord; now here we are told what it is in God that they do especially delight to make mention of, and that is his goodness, which the prophet here so makes mention of as if he thought he could never say enough of it. He mentions the kindness of God (which never appeared so evident, so eminent, as in his love to mankind in sending his Son to save us, Tit 3 4), his loving-kindness, kindness that shows itself in every thing that is endearing; nay, so plenteous are the springs, and so various the streams, of divine mercy, that he speaks of it in the plural number—his loving-kindnesses; for, if we would count the fruits of his loving-kindness, they are more in number than the sand. With his loving-kindnesses he mentions his praises, that is, the thankful acknowledgments which the saints make of his loving-kindness, and the angels too. It must be mentioned, to God’s honour, what a tribute of praise is paid to him by all his creatures in consideration of his loving-kindness. See how copiously he speaks, 1. Of the goodness that is from God, the gifts of his loving-kindness—all that the Lord has bestowed on us in particular, relating to life and godliness, in our personal and family capacity. Let every man speak for himself, speak as he has found, and he must own that he has had a great deal bestowed upon him by the divine bounty. But we must also mention the favours bestowed upon his church, his great goodness towards the house of Israel, which he has bestowed on them. Note, We must bless God for the mercies enjoyed by others as well as for those enjoyed by ourselves, and reckon that bestowed on ourselves which is bestowed on the house of Israel. 2. Of the goodness that is in God. God does good because he is good; what he bestowed upon us must be traced up to the original; it is according to his mercies (not according to our merits) and according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses, which can never be spent. Thus we should magnify God’s goodness, and speak honourably of it, not only when we plead it (as David, Ps 51 1), but when we praise it.’