Psalm 73 Devotional Part 1: The Goodness of God

For months anytime my soul has “not felt right”, I have continuously be pressed to go back to Psalm 73. As I was writing some thoughts, I felt lead to share them not because I’m the best devotional writer (I’m not because this is my first crack at it), but because I believe some of the struggles that will be shared many people have either thought about or fought through. My hope and prayer is by the time you complete this four part devotional on Psalm 73 that you recognize the Lord is good.

In Christ,

Michael A. Kubus

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“God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart. But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray. For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”-Psalm 73:1-3 CSB

The opening of Psalm 73 indicates that the Lord is good to Israel and the pure in heart. Even when Israel fell away from the Lord, He was still good to them. Even when we who call ourselves Christians fall away, He is still good us. At times, however, we can be lead to think the Lord is “evil” either when His just judgment is taking place or those who are “not following after the Lord “evil” are prospering. Psalm 92:15 makes one thing very clear “The Lord is just; He is my rock and there is NO evil in Him”.

Several months after losing my daughter Leah, there was a day I woke up mad, better yet, angry. I couldn’t pin point it, but I knew I was angry because I was snapping at my wife and was tempted to kick the dog (Don’t worry, the dog didn’t get kicked). As my wife was getting ready for the day, she graciously encouraged me to seek the Lord. I sat down on the bed and as I put my hands to my face, tears started rolling down. I asked the Lord, “help me to understand my anger”. That is when I heard/thought of “Psalm 73”. I started reading these verses and immediately I knew what was the cause of my anger; A social media post.

Someone I knew posted a photo on social media with his wife and three kids on the beach having a great vacation. I wasn’t necessarily mad at them, I was mad that I couldn’t share a family photo. The reality was I was mad at God. I was mad that the Lord had blessed them with kids and I didn’t understand why Rachel and I could not be blessed with at least one child alive on this earth. As I re-read these verses I knew the Lord was telling me “Mike, be careful to not let envy and jealously lead you astray.” It was like the Lord was challenging me with this question “Do you still trust me, even in the midst of pain?”

I say all that to ask you, do you still trust the Lord Jesus even in the midst of your pain? Do you trust Him when you don’t always get what you want? Do you trust Him when it seems like evil is winning? I want to restate the opening verse of Psalm 73; “God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart”. Whatever your current circumstances, God is not a God of evil. “He is a good and gracious God who will meet all your need according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

My challenge to you today is to think of the goodness of God in your life. Give Him thanks for all the blessings He has provided and the strength to walk through the valley. When you are done, I encourage you to give Him praise by singing the song below to the Lord Jesus because He is worthy to be praised.