Psalms 73:28 · Bible study
Psalms 73:28 Commentary: The Good of Drawing Near to God
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore why the psalmist declares that nearness to God is his chief good after wrestling with the prosperity of the wicked, and what that means for faith today.
Research Summary
- Meaning: After envying the wicked, the psalmist affirms that nearness to God is his supreme good, and he takes refuge in God, vowing to proclaim God’s works.
- Key words: ‘Draw near’ (קִרְבַת) denotes intimate approach; ‘refuge’ (מַחְסֶה) indicates shelter from danger; ‘declare’ (סַפֵּר) means to recount in detail.
- Main debate: Whether the psalmist’s ‘good’ is primarily experiential or eschatological, and the textual variant adding ‘in the gates of the daughter of Zion’ (LXX).
- Theological theme: Theodicy resolved not by full explanation but by nearness to God; God as the soul’s portion and refuge.
- Best use: A testimony of faith’s triumph over doubt; a model for how to process questions of injustice through worship and trust.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And I--nearness of God to me is good, I have placed in the Lord Jehovah my refuge, To recount all Thy works!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.
Translations in other languages (9 available)
Y en cuanto á mí, el acercarme á Dios es el bien: he puesto en el Señor Jehová mi esperanza, para contar todas tus obras.
Mas quanto a mim, bom me é me aproximar de Deus; ponho minha confiança no Senhor DEUS, para que eu conte todas as tuas obras.
Pour moi, m’ approcher de Dieu, c’ est mon bien:
Aber das ist meine Freude, daß ich mich zu Gott halte und meine Zuversicht setzte auf den Herrn HERRN, daß ich verkündige all dein Tun.
Maar mij aangaande, het is mij goed nabij God te wezen; ik zet mijn betrouwen op den Heere HEERE, om al Uw werken te vertellen.
Ma quanto a me, il mio bene è d’accostarmi a Dio; io ho fatto del Signore, dell’Eterno, il mio rifugio, per raccontare, o Dio, tutte le opere tue.
Aleć mnie najlepsza jest trzymać się Boga; przetoż pokładam w Panu panującym nadzieję moję, abym opowiadał wszystkie sprawy jego.
但我 親近 神 是與我 有益；我以 主 耶和華 為我的避難所，好叫我述說 你一切的 作為。
But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 73:28
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that after his painful struggle with the prosperity of the wicked, the psalmist finds his answer in the goodness of drawing near to God. Barnes calls it “pleasant, profitable, the chief good.” Gill specifies that this nearness comes through prayer and worship and is “honourable, pleasant, and profitable.” Keil and Delitzsch note the antithesis with “those far from God”: the psalmist embraces nearness as his portion, a state of union with God. Clarke ties the verse to the previous one: because those far from God perish, it is good to draw near. Calvin sees the verse as the climax of the psalm’s resolution: after envying the wicked, the psalmist rests in God as his refuge. All agree that the “good” is not a passing feeling but a settled conviction that God himself is the soul’s true home, leading naturally to declaring his works.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The psalmist declares that nearness to God is good, that God is his refuge, and that he will declare God’s works.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of “draw near to God” | Christians agree it signifies intimate fellowship with God, a turning from distance to closeness. | Some traditions emphasize liturgical or sacramental approach (e.g., Holy Communion), while others focus on personal devotional practices. Both seek genuine nearness. |
| Nature of the “good” | Agreement that it is the chief good for the believer, surpassing any earthly prosperity. | Some emphasize present peace and satisfaction in God, others the future hope of glory (v.24 “afterward receive me to glory”). The psalm includes both. |
| Textual variant in verse 28b | The Hebrew text is accepted as authoritative by most traditions. | The LXX, Vulgate, and some versions add “in the gates of the daughter of Sion” after “declare all thy works.” Some scholars suggest this may preserve an original reading; others see it as a clarifying addition. |
| Role of declaring God’s works | Christians agree that testimony and praise are vital responses to God’s goodness. | Some see this primarily as worship in the congregation, others as evangelistic witness to the world. Both are valid expressions. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 73 is a wisdom psalm attributed to Asaph, grappling with the age-old problem of theodicy: why do the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer? The psalmist admits his own temptation to envy the arrogant (v.3) and his near-stumble (v.2). The turning point comes when he “enters the sanctuary” (v.17) and perceives the end of the wicked. The verb “draw near” (qirvat) carries priestly overtones of approaching God in worship, a privilege that demanded ritual purity. Here it is extended to every believer, signalling intimate covenant fellowship. The psalmist calls God “Lord Yahweh”, a rare combination of Adonai and Yahweh, underscoring God’s sovereign authority and covenant faithfulness. Making God one’s “refuge” (machseh) echoes earlier psalms (14:6; 71:7) and pictures a shelter in storm or danger. The final vow, “that I may declare all your works,” is a commitment to testify publicly of God’s deeds of justice and grace. This verse closes the psalm on a note of triumphant faith, reversing the drift of doubt that opened it. The sanctuary context, both the physical temple and the posture of worship, is essential: it is in God’s presence that the psalmist’s perspective is restored.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note one significant textual variant. The Septuagint, along with the Vulgate and some versions, adds the phrase “in the gates of the daughter of Sion” after “declare all thy works.” This reading is mentioned by both the Cambridge Bible and Adam Clarke. The Hebrew text does not include this phrase. The variant does not change the main meaning of the verse but does reinforce the liturgical setting of the sanctuary, which is already implicit in the psalm (v.17).
Reception History
Throughout church history, Psalm 73:28 has been treasured as a summary of the believer’s response to doubt. Early Christian writers saw in “draw near to God” a foreshadowing of access through Christ (cf. Hebrews 10:22). Medieval mystics used the language of drawing near for contemplative union with God. The Reformers emphasized the personal act of making God one’s refuge and the duty of declaring his works. The verse has been set to music in hymns that echo the psalmist’s journey from perplexity to trust. It remains a classic passage for those struggling with the prosperity of the wicked, offering not an argument but an invitation into the presence of God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Nearness to God is our highest good. After wrestling with envy and doubt, the psalmist declares that drawing close to God is truly good. It is not a lesser good but the chief good, outweighing any prosperity the wicked enjoy.
- God alone is our secure refuge. The psalmist says, “I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge.” This is an active choice: to put trust in God as shelter from life’s storms, in contrast to those who trust in themselves or their wealth.
- Declaring God’s works is the outcome of refuge. The purpose of this trust is testimony: “that I may tell of all your works.” When we find safety in God, the natural response is to speak of what he has done, not only for us but in the world.
Five-point outline
- The contrast: those far from God perish (v.27); those near to God find life.
- The personal claim: “But as for me”, the psalmist makes his own declaration of faith.
- The intimacy: “draw near to God” involves relationship, not just religion.
- The security: making God a refuge is a deliberate act of trust in his character.
- The mission: declaring God’s works turns personal faith into public witness.
Illustration hooks
- Child after a nightmare. A child wakes in fear and runs to a parent’s room. The safety found there is not just a physical place but the presence of someone trustworthy. Afterwards, the child might tell others about the comfort received.
- Shelter from a storm. During a severe storm, a family takes refuge in a basement. When the storm passes, they emerge and describe the protection they experienced, inviting others to find shelter too.
- Home after travel. After a long, difficult journey, coming home feels good. The greeting, the familiar surroundings, the rest, all point to the deep goodness of being where you belong.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why is it hard to feel that God is good when others seem to prosper without him?
- How can I draw near to God when I feel distant or full of doubt?
- What does it look like to “declare all God’s works” in my everyday life?
Leading a Discussion
In Psalm 73, the psalmist wrestles with a question many of us ask: Why do the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer? He comes to a turning point when he enters the sanctuary, and eventually declares that drawing near to God is good. This passage invites us to consider where we find our true good.
Discussion questions
- What caused the psalmist’s near-stumble (v.2-3)? Have you ever felt a similar envy?
- What changed when the psalmist “entered the sanctuary” (v.17)? How does worship reshape our perspective?
- What does “draw near to God” mean in practical terms for your daily life?
- How does the psalmist describe God as a refuge? What does that refuge protect us from?
- Why does the psalmist want to “declare all your works”? What is the connection between trust and testimony?
- How does this verse help us when we envy the success of people who don’t follow God?
- What “good” have you experienced in drawing near to God, especially during times of doubt or difficulty?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 14:6 | You frustrate the plan of the poor, because Yahweh is his refuge. |
| Psalms 40:5 | Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted. |
| Psalms 65:4 | Blessed is the one whom you choose and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple. |
| Psalms 66:16 | Come and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul. |
| Psalms 71:17 | God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works. |
| Psalms 71:24 | My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me. |
| Psalms 84:10 | For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. |
| Psalms 107:22 | Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his deeds with singing. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the sharp contrast between those who stay far from God and perish and those who draw near through Christ's sacrifice and are saved. He stresses that trusting in the Lord as one's portion leads naturally to declaring His works. He also notes that some ancient versions add a closing phrase about Zion's gates, but this is not found in Hebrew manuscripts.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes sees the psalmist's confusion about God's justice as consistent with genuine faith, not a rejection of it. Despite his perplexity, the psalmist's deepest happiness and trust remained in drawing near to God. He wrestled with his doubts specifically to understand God's ways and then explain them to others.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that the psalmist nearly abandoned faith by judging only from present circumstances. The remedy is patience: we must let God's providence work in the hidden way He has determined, trusting that in the end the righteous will not lose their reward and the wicked will not escape judgment.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights the psalmist's emphatic self-contrast with those who stray from God. Having once doubted the benefit of serving Him, he now finds endless reason for praise, resting in the Lord as his refuge. A textual note suggests the original may have mentioned declaring God's works in the gates of Zion.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note emphasizes that drawing near to God is not only good in itself but also the foundation for trust. This trust then moves the believer to speak openly about God's works, making declaration the natural outcome of closeness and reliance.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill sees three distinct kinds of good in drawing near to God: it is honorable, pleasant, and profitable. He stresses that this approach comes through Christ as the living way and by the Holy Spirit, grounded in the psalmist's fresh experience of deliverance from temptation.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch draws a sharp antithesis between two kinds of people: those who remove themselves from God and fall to ruin, and the psalmist who counts nearness to God as his true good fortune. Fellowship with God, not distance from Him, is what yields lasting good.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees the psalmist’s painful struggle with temptation as an unexpected gain: stumbling without falling actually moves the believer forward. The grieved heart and bitter self-reproach led to a deeper, more humble reliance on God, proving that God’s grace can turn even the most dangerous trial into lasting good.