Psalm 73:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

NIV: But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

NASB: But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord God my refuge, So that I may tell of all Your works.

CSB: But as for me, God's presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do.

NLT: But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

KJV: But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

NKJV: But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.

In this final verse of Psalm 73, Asaph counts his blessings. By contrast with the condition of the wicked who are far from God, Asaph knows it is good for him to be near God. He acknowledges that God is his fortress. He trusts in the Lord for safety, and he vows to proclaim all of God's works.

No doubt when Asaph left the temple, where he received God's answer to the issue of the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:2–3, 15–18), he told others what he had learned. Believers today do not know everything, nor can we solve every problem that mankind faces, but we know the One who knows everything and can solve every problem (Isaiah 55:8–9). However, it is our privilege to tell others about Him and introduce them to Him (Matthew 28:19–20). Before the disciples declared God's wonderful works at Pentecost, they devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14). Like Asaph and the disciples, we can prepare to carry out this task by first drawing near to God.

Psalm 73:15–28 gives a fitting resolution to Asaph's complaint (Psalm 73:2–3). He was disturbed by the contrast between the seemingly prosperous wicked and the difficulties of the righteous. Many today feel the same conflict. An eternal perspective gave the answer he needed to those hard examples. In short, wickedness does come with risks, and earthly life is not all there is to our existence. Even in the context of the natural world, evil invites negative consequences and disaster. In eternity, judgment on godlessness is absolutely guaranteed.

Seeing godless people thrive, even as they hatefully mock God, while believers suffer, leads many people to a crisis of faith. This was the case for Asaph. Using exaggerated imagery, he complains to the Lord that it seems as if evil people have easy lives, while godly people suffer. Further reflection reminds Asaph that sin does lead to consequences, both in this life and the next. He confesses his sins of bitterness and resolves to trust God more deeply.

This psalm is the first in a collection which corresponds to Leviticus and the overall theme of worship. Asaph, who wrote Psalm 73, confesses that seeing prosperity among wicked people brought him bitterness and envy. That nearly caused him to lose trust in God. Carefully considering God and His eternal truth led Asaph to a stronger faith. Job chapter 21, in which trial-laden Job also complains about the success of some wicked people, mentions many of the same ideas as Psalm 73.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 5/7/2024 4:36:59 AM