Hidden Treasure
How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men! Psalm 31:19 NASB
Have stored up– Do you like treasure hunts? Does finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow appeal to you? Well, according to David, God has prepared some hidden treasure; treasure that you can find with the right map, and the Bible tells you exactly what map to read. According to David, if you fear God you’re on the right path to His hidden treasure.
“Wait a minute,” comes the objection. “I do fear God, but I don’t see any treasure. Most of what I get is suffering and struggle. Sure, there are good times mixed in. Some relationships really are a blessing. But life doesn’t come with a silver spoon. What kind of treasure is this?”
Good question. Let’s see if we can answer it. David’s version of the treasure is the goodness of God (ṭûb). The root (ṭôb) has five different nuances:
1) practical, economic, or material good, 2) abstract goodness such as desirability, pleasantness, and beauty, 3) quality or expense, 4) moral goodness, and 5) technical philosophical good. [1]
As practical or economic benefit, ṭôb includes such things as hospitality, beneficial counsel, prosperity, economic wellbeing, victory, productive labor and friendship. In its abstract form, good includes a respected name, blamelessness, truth and reliability. ṭôb also describes beauty, desirability, delight and happiness. In term of quality, ṭôb is about purity, nobility and high relative worth. Morally, ṭôb describes uprightness. Finally, as a philosophical ideal, ṭôb is the equivalent of the summum bonum, the highest good that Man can seek. All this God has stored up for those who fear Him. Paul refers to the same thought when he modifies the passage in Isaiah 64:4, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). But all of this, all these various nuances of ṭôb, are summarized in one other word—YHVH. For David, the rav tuveka is the abundant goodness of God. If we have Him, all the rest is included.
At this precise moment in your life, you might not feel as if all these nuances of ṭôb are yours. That is correct. David’s claim is that these have been “stored up” (ṣāpan) or “hidden” for you. They aren’t on public display at this time, but they will be. Just wait and see. The treasure God promises comes with hints and clues now, and the full enjoyment later. Now is the time to seek the hints and clues, knowing more is promised. I’ll bet if you look hard enough you will find some of these hints today.
Topical Index: ṣāpan, stored, hidden, ṭôb, good, Psalm 31:19
[1]Bowling, A. (1999). 793 טוֹב. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament(345).
Hello readers one of the words I really enjoy telling people about, is the word shalom, there is so much wrapped up in this word. many people think it just means peace that’s just the icing on the cake. When we see what the ingredients include it is much like this word today. The absence of War or conflict, anything that struggles with the word of God as he speaks to our heart. Yes battle is in the mind but it is also in her heart. The things that God has stored there are insurmountable. When Yeshua was in the room, with his disciples ,resurrection. He said peace to you. Now be filled with the Holy Spirit. Being prepared is a matter of mind and heart . Shalom aleichem.B.B..
Thank you, Skip, for this beautiful word of encouragement today!
Goodness is God unleashed in our lives. We can no more have anything “good” without Him than we can have sunlight without the sun. It is impossible to entertain darkness and ask for what only the light can offer. The only thing that can block the full expression of the promise of God’s “riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19) is, well, me! Paul says that he had been taught of God to be content in all things. The riches of God cannot be extinguished or diminished by any earthly species of hell without our participation. It is only when we have “an agreement with hell” (Is. 28:18) that hell can prevail.
We may be embattled in our fort: our little temple mount may be besieged by every evil, but if the King is on the throne of our hearts it is still heaven. Goodness, like the sun, is a self-contained, self-generating principle. Goodness starts at home, and radiates from there. Evil will give up if it cannot win. Our part is to “resist the devil and he will flee” (James 4:7). How do we resist him? By employing all the goodness of God!
Goodness is not the absence of evil: goodness is triumph over evil. We live in a war zone. The best defense in this war is a good offense. It is no good(!) trying to strike a deal with God to serve Him if He removes the evil, for the only way to remove the evil is to serve Him. Goodness has the ability to conquer even death and take captives. Goodness is the ultimate weapon and supply depot, too. Goodness is a triumphant flag waved in the very teeth of disaster and despair, and it is at its sweetest when the rest is at its most bitter. We can “taste the Lord, and see that He is good” no matter what the world is dishing up for dinner if we could only learn to pick up the fork of the law of self-renouncing love that heaven sent its finest to demonstrate. Goodness is the essence of self-sacrifice. The fork that feeds me best is the fork I employ to feed everyone else. I get goodness when it is on its way through me to all the regions of hell beyond, and the light of the goodness of God shines brightest when it is the blackest outside the fort.
I think if we could only humble up enough to realize that we are at war, we could shift our expectations and perhaps even employ a better vocabulary, too.
That is powerful, Laurita! Thank you. I really liked “it is impossible to entertain darkness and ask for what only the light can offer“. That really hit the nail on the head for me. The thread of this truth that you’re speaking about runs throughout the Scriptures ! This has the potential for great freedom !
WOW Laurita. This is brilliantly explained. The only way to win the battle against evil is to serve the purpose of God…
Can someone explain how that is achieved as it seems this is only achieved when we are doing the will of God. Ten commandments. Torah or new covenant. Love God above all and others like ourself making no provision for the flesh…
Or is that creating our own house for mankind.
A preacher once urged the congregation to pray in thanksgiving
for all the many blessings we were mindful of. He noted we might
be surprised at how long our prayer could turn out to be.
After an intense hour, I was still actively praying with a long way
to go. I was amazed at just how many good treasures had already
been revealed.
I’ve been praying ever so thankfully ever since.
In reference to First Corinthians 2:9, I always like to remind people to read on down. Verses 10 through 12 begin with “but”, He has given us his spirit that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. Are we engaged enough to search for these hidden treasures? Are we hungry? They who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. Hunger and desire is a prerequisite. If you seek me, you will find me, if you seek me with your whole heart ! The person in the Bible sold all that he had for the pearl of great price! Somehow once again, we want it all to fall into our laps. Maybe part of the idea of entitlement !
It is easy to see the treasures: one of which is having “TW” pop up on my laptop. Thank you, Skip.