What Does Psalms 31:19 Mean?

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! After extended lament, David breaks into praise, contemplating God's stored-up goodness for those who fear and trust Him. This provides both comfort in present suffering and hope for future reward.

Oh how great expresses overwhelming awe. Hebrew mah-rab combines interrogative with adjective to express magnitude beyond description. David isn't making calm observation but exclaiming in worship. God's goodness exceeds ability to quantify. This is appropriate response to divine grace—wonder and praise.

Thy goodness (tub) refers to God's benevolence, bounty, blessing. This isn't merely absence of harm but positive blessing, abundant provision, delightful gifts. Reformed theology emphasizes God is not merely non-evil but positively, supremely, infinitely good—source and standard of all goodness.

Which thou hast laid up (Hebrew tsaphan—hide, treasure up, store away) introduces stored blessings concept. God has reserved, accumulated, secured goodness for His people. Storage imagery suggests both protection (secured from theft) and abundance (more than immediately needed). There is inheritance awaiting believers beyond present experience—glory, joy, blessing stored in heaven (1 Peter 1:4).

For them that fear thee identifies beneficiaries. Fear (yare) means reverent awe, worshipful respect, covenant faithfulness. Before the sons of men adds that God's provision is public, visible, demonstrable—His faithfulness will be manifest to all, vindicating their faith and His character.