God Is Good and Good Enough

Psalm 73 begins and ends with the same thought. David uses “good” at least two times, one at the beginning and one at the end. It’s like the song “give me that old time religion; it’s good enough for me.” We say it a lot. “It’s good enough for me.” It’s easy for us to say the words.

Psalm 73:1 “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 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.”

If everything we have was gone but the goodness of the Lord, it would still be enough for a lifetime. Often we fail to appreciate God’s goodness. When we look at what others have and what we don’t have, we can get in trouble. Paul said to be satisfied with whatever we have. In prison he said he had all and abounded. Was he crazy? No. The goodness of God was behind the bars with him. He was getting along fine. What’s the point?  If we don’t have what others have, God has given us good enough.

At times we still question things. We look around and ask why the worst of people live the good life and we have it harder. It’s the age-old question. Why is the wicked better off than we are? The more we try to do, the less we have materially. It took hold of David, and the devil used it to get him down. David let it obsess him to the point of almost giving up.

In verses 4 and 7-9 and 12 he tells us his observations. “For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” David said this ought not to be. They are without God; they disregard him and are better off; they are unscathed. Those confident in the world with diminishing morals and principles of God survive. David was beginning to believe they were getting away with it, and he had trouble dealing with it.

When he went to the house of God, he saw it for how it was. “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.”  That’s cut and dry. It’s important for us not to look at the pieces of the picture. It gives the appearance that all is fine. It’s not fine. Pray that you will see the whole picture. The majority of our life is not bad. Look what David says about the wicked. “How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.”  Instead of turning away from God, he looked to him and God helped him see the truth. Every one of us will have down days; we’ll have up days. The unsaved may seem to be up all the time. If we could see through it, we’d see that the devil is destroying their souls.

When we think about ourselves and size up our life—yes it is up and down. We have easy days; we have hard days. We have victories; we have losses.  In our worst day as a Christian we are better off than a sinner is in a good day. Every one of us has battles; we have a few more miles to walk. We don’t know what will come before us, but no matter what, there remains a rest for us. The reckoning day is coming to those who mock God. Look at verse 19 again. “How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.”

God is good and good enough. If we lose our health, God is good enough. David said he was utterly foolish. We might say “I could kick myself.”  He said “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.” Whatever the “nevertheless” is in our life, God is good enough. David realized that no matter how it looks for those without God, they will perish. God may allow battles to come our way, but he shows us the way through them.

The Lord has always made a way. He will receive us into his glory. So what if we don’t have this and that. We all have received those beautifully wrapped presents that have nothing inside we really want. What the Lord gives is pretty inside and out. Not for just next week or next year.  Forever. He’s altogether lovely. Verse 26 says “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” So what if we only have beans and taters. What else is there like our God? What else matters?  Verse 25 says “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”

Verse 28 ends with the same word.  Good. “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.” The key is to come to the same conclusion David did.  God is good and good enough.