Psalms 73:28

Verse Psalms 73:28. It is good for me to draw near] We have already seen that those who are far off shall perish; therefore, it is ill for them. Those who draw near-who come in the true spirit of sacrifice, and with the only available offering, the Lord Jesus, shall be finally saved; therefore, it is good for them.

I have put my trust in the Lord God] I confide in Jehovah, my Prop and Stay. I have taken him for my portion.

That I may declare all thy works.] That I may testify to all how good it is to draw nigh to God; and what a sufficient portion he is to the soul of man.

The Vulgate, Septuagint, AEthiopic, and Arabic, add, in the gates of the daughter of Sion. These words appear to make a better finish; but they are not acknowledged by any Hebrew MS.

ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-THIRD PSALM

The prophet shows the grief that many good men feel at the prosperity of the wicked, and the distresses of the godly; but at last, consulting the will of God, he finds that the felicity of the wicked ends in wretchedness, and the crosses of the godly are the way to happiness; and, with this consideration, he gains quiet to his troubled mind. Let the question be, Who is the happy man? The godly or ungodly? And then the parts of the Psalm will be as follows: -

I. The arguments produced for the happiness of the wicked, Psalms 73:1.

II. The impression these arguments make in carnal minds, Psalms 73:2; Psalms 73:10.

III. The rejection of these doubts and impressions, Psalms 73:15.

IV. The refutation of the former arguments, Psalms 73:18.

V. The psalmist's censure of himself for his precipitate judgment, Psalms 73:21-19.

VI. His full resolution of the doubt, after the full examination of the reasons on both sides. That true happiness consists in union with God; and therefore the wicked, who are far from him, however they flourish, are unhappy, Psalms 73:23-19.

But, more particularly, the Psalm is divisible into the following parts: -

I. There is, first, an assertion: "Certainly, God is good to Israel, to such as are of a clean heart," Psalms 73:1. But can this comport with their present afflicted state? With this he was greatly harassed, Psalms 73:2. He saw the wicked in prosperity, which he states in several particulars.

II. What carnal minds think of them.

1. They have no conflicts in their death, Psalms 73:4.

2. They are not troubled like other men, Psalms 73:5.

3. They are proud and haughty, Psalms 73:6, and yet are not punished.

4. They are oppressive tyrants: "Violence covereth them."

5. They feed luxuriously, Psalms 73:7.

6. They speak evil against the poor, Psalms 73:8.

7. They even speak against God, and all the dispensations of his providence: "Their tongue walketh through the earth," Psalms 73:9.

8. They assert that he takes no cognizance of their ways, Psalms 73:10.

III. The evil conclusion formed from these premises refuted.

1. It is the ungodly that prosper in the earth, Psalms 73:12.

2. If so, then of what avail are my religious observances and sufferings, c.? Psalms 73:13.

He resolves the question, -

1. From the testimony of ALL the godly, Psalms 73:15.

2. He tried to solve it by reason, but did not succeed, Psalms 73:16.

3. He consults with God, and the whole is made plain, Psalms 73:17.

From him he learns, -

1. That the happiness of the wicked is unstable, Psalms 73:18.

2. They stand on a precipice, and are cast down, Psalms 73:19.

3. Their desolation comes suddenly and unexpectedly, Psalms 73:19.

4. Their ruin is fearful: "They are consumed with terrors."

5. Thus it is demonstrated that their happiness was vain, empty, as unsubstantial as a dream, Psalms 73:20.

IV. He now acknowledges that he had formed an erroneous judgment. 1. That he gave way to animosity. 2. That he acted rather like a beast than a man, in looking only to the present life, Psalms 73:21-19. He now receives instruction and encouragement.

1. The godly are not neglected: "They are continually with God," Psalms 73:23.

2. They are tenderly led as by the hand of a loving father, Psalms 73:23.

3. They are directed by the word and Spirit of God, Psalms 73:24.

4. They are often crowned with signal marks of God's esteem, even in this life, Psalms 73:24.

V. His resolution to live to God, as he sees that such alone are happy.

1. He expects nothing in heaven but God: "Whom have I in heaven," c.

2. He will seek no other portion on earth: "There is none on earth," Psalms 73:25.

3. I will cleave to him in life and death: "When my flesh and my heart fail."

4. My confidence in him shall be unshaken, Psalms 73:26.

VI. He draws two conclusions from what he had learned: -

1. They that are far from God perish.

2. They that draw nigh to him are saved, Psalms 73:27.

Therefore, I will so trust in God that I shall be able to declare his works, Psalms 73:28.