By Rev. J. Loren Russell
Psalms 73:1-3, 28 NKJV
“Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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.”
While at an event to officiate the installation of new officers and leaders, one guest struck up a conversation with me. We had never met prior to that day, but I think he knew I was a minster of the Gospel. After a few pleasantries, he blurted out, “Psalms 73:28!” I ask, “What does it say?,” to which he replied, “I don’t know.”
I took out my phone, went to one of my Bible apps and read, “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.” Wow, I thought. What a profound verse of scripture. I read it many times in the past, but never after someone brought it to my attention so randomly. I felt compelled to take a closer look at this verse and the context in which it was stated.
Asaph was the author who wrote this chapter. He is taking an introspective look at himself and his own motivations. He speaks in the first few verses of this Psalm of his early stumbling. He was not stumbling over obstacles in the road but stumbling over his own envy and jealousy. He compared the prosperity and success of the wicked against his feeble attempt at keeping his heart pure. That comparison resulted in his becoming angry and discouraged.
But when he drew near to God in the sanctuary, his understanding shifted, his anger diminished, and his envy vanished. It was in the sanctuary that he began to understand the destiny of the wicked. He now understood that they were living on slippery slopes headed to a cliff of destruction. It would only take a minute, the twinkling of an eye, and they would be destroyed and swept away.
When he changed his focus, his mind was transformed, he put his trust in the Lord, and he became a proclaimer of the goodness of God. His transformation is readily observable in the words chronicled in the verse of scripture shared with me at the installation service, “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. The transformation that occurred in Asaph can happen to anyone who puts their trust in the Lord!
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church and is the spiritual leader of both LaGree Baptist Church and the Evangelical Church of God, all in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096), and is the creator and host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook Live. Be sure to ‘Friend’ the Matters of Faith YouTube Channel. Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.
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