Psalm 73:28
“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.”
~ Psalm 73:28
In Psalm 73, Asaph gives an account of the sore temptation that had taken him–temptation had led him into despondency where he traversed a dark and slippery path. He wrote, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped” (Psalm 73:2). Chiefly it was his carnal views of the wicked that led him down the dreaded road. Thankfully, he was not left in this condition. His understanding did return and he was restored to a proper knowledge of the events that had greatly distressed him.
Proper knowledge led to humble repentance, “Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins” (Psalm 73:21). He acknowledged his ignorance in verse 22 declaring, “So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.” His conclusion is consistent with the scriptures, in that it is always foolish to stray from God. However, it is infinitely more foolish to stay from God. “For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee” (Psalm 73:27).
The end of the wicked is destruction. They are far off “having no hope, and without God in the world.” He realizes the blessedness of his standing regardless of troubles in the flesh and the promotion of the sinful in the world. He owns that it is to his own good and blessing to draw near to God. He praised God that he was not consumed in his errors but was led back into the way. His conclusion was that it was good, he was trusting in God, and he would declare all His works. Let us now investigate three things that are suggested in our text, namely, our approach to God, our salvation by God, and our working for God.
In the first place, we consider our approach to God. Asaph writes, “But it is good for me to draw near to God.” We know that approach to Him is necessary because of our inborn separation from Him. “The scripture hath concluded all under sin” (Galatians 3:22). Realizing our condition, we must come to God. Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). We can only come to God through Christ. Christ also testified, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). We cannot come to Christ of our own working “it is the gift of God.” “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Romans 9:16). It is not of our own power or ability that we come to God. “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts” (Psalm 65:4).
Truly then, Jesus is the “author and finisher of our faith.” Therefore, we are chosen by God unto salvation as says the scriptures, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thessalonians 2:13-14).
In the second place, we consider our salvation by God. Asaph declares, “I have put my trust in the Lord God.” To put our trust in the Lord is to be saved for Paul told the Philippian jailer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). Jesus also preached, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” There is no salvation apart from faith and that faith is the gift of God according to the scriptures, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is not earned by work on our part. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). We find that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). The Psalmist declared, “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power,” (Psalm 110:3). So we conclude with Jonah, “Salvation is of the LORD.”
In the last place, let us think about our working for God. Asaph says, “that I may declare all thy works.” He does not place his works before his salvation but after and makes his salvation the grounds for and causes of his good works. In Psalm 40, it was after that David was brought up “out of an horrible pit” and his feet were set “upon a rock” that he “preached righteousness in the great congregation.”
The saved are to walk in holiness before the Lord. Following the progression rightly, we discern that salvation is unto good works as the scriptures proclaim, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). The vital union with Christ is the source of our fruits. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).
Therefore, we see how each builds upon the other and the latter is an evidence of the former seeing that the former is source of the latter. In other words, we are chosen by God unto salvation (II Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 1:4), we are saved by God through faith (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5), and we are saved by God unto good works (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14). Surely, it is good for us to “draw near to God.”
Acts 13:36
“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God,
fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption”
~ Acts 13:36
The verse before us is part of the message that Paul preached in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. He makes an almost incidental statement saying that David, “after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers.” Paul was demonstrating the fact that David’s prophecy in the Psalms was not of himself since he had died and seen corruption. His intention was to prove that Jesus was the Christ, as is seen in the very next verse.
He further preached Christ to them showing how that he fulfilled that prophecy by His resurrection. Verse 36 seems as merely supplementary evidence to support Paul’s argument, so we may pass by quickly. While it certainly serves that purpose, this verse is worthy of our attention for greater instruction. Charles Spurgeon preached a great sermon from this text where he expounded the idea that David “had served his own generation.” Many felt that Spurgeon preached his own funeral sermon in that message. I shall endeavor to bring some thoughts to light after this same manner.
We need only appeal “To the law and to the testimony” to learn that David was a great man. But what made him great? Our text furnishes some clues. This verse further confirms what Jesus taught His disciples that true greatness is only found in service. “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all” (Mark 10:44). Our text declares that David “served his own generation” and that “by the will of God.” Potential greatness is no greatness at all. Your gifts and abilities matter little if they are “kept laid up in a napkin.” David did not hide his light. He placed it on the lamp stand and gave light to all that were in the house. No one asked him, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” He “served his own generation” and then “fell on sleep.”
A call to greatness is a call to service. One does not achieve greatness by pursuing it, but rather by serving “his own generation.” Few are willing to answer the door when that opportunity knocks. They would rather come into greatness “some other way.” Service leads to greatness and humility leads to service for “before honour is humility.” Many are far too proud to be of much service.
We notice that David served “his own generation.” In that sense he was like the woman that anointed the Lord for His burial. Christ said, “She hath wrought a good work on me . . . She hath done what she could.” David was not permitted to choose his time. He could only choose to rise above the mediocrity and instead of being a man of the times, be the man for the times.
You will notice in the book of Daniel that of all the Hebrews in captivity only a few “certain” ones refused to defile themselves with the King’s portion. Like those faithful Hebrews and like Esther, we must ponder whether we “art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” We have been placed in a generation of the Lord’s choosing. That generation beckons a servant. We cannot call on David, Solomon, Elijah, Daniel, The Baptist, Peter or Paul. “Who will go for us?” Pray the Lord that some Isaiah today will say, “Here am I; send me.”
We further observe that David’s time was fixed to his own generation and then he “fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers.” David was a great man but he could not go beyond that appointed time. There is “a time to be born, and a time to die.” The very greatest of men must finish their course and depart this life. History has supplied us with many great men. We look back and believe that “there were giants in the earth in those days,” great men “of whom the world was not worthy.” They are a great “cloud of witnesses” to whom we are greatly indebted.
The past saints served their own generations. They have all now finished their course and departed to great rejoicing in heaven. But, what about our time? What about our generation? We might almost feel as the Psalmist who cried, “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men” (Psalm 12:1). But let us not sit down under Elijah’s Juniper tree just yet. Let us all be in double earnest and seek a double portion of our brethren’s spirit that we might serve our own generation. Let us trust in the Lord with all assuredness, knowing that God always has a man. He has not left “himself without witness.” Whatever time we have, may it all be for the glory of God. Amen.
