The Secret

“It is good for me to draw near to God.”
Psalm 73:28

Asaph* declares the secret to a healthy life: “It is good for me” to draw near to my God. There are immeasurable blessings to those who spend time in His presence. His wonder causes the soul to rest in a peace unhindered by our present circumstances.

“It is good for me…”

There are personal benefits that go beyond our consciousness. His glory is health to the bones, a balm to our troubled minds, an assurance that settles our spirit, a calmness that assuages our weaknesses and failures.

There are no words in the language of men that adequately describe His beauty nor the peace that is the atmosphere of His Love. Though He is high and Holy, with an unspeakable, unapproachable glory apart from the blood of the Lamb slain on our behalf, yet He draws near to those who approach Him in a right spirit.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, sinners! And purify your hearts,
double minded ones!”
James 4:8 (LITV)

The soul that knows God inherently recognizes its daily need for “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). The influences of this dark world tend to settle upon us just as the dust gathered on the feet of disciples of old.

Jesus, the Lord of lords, girded Himself as a servant and washed the feet of each of His disciples to demonstrate His eternal nature and His call for us to do likewise. How easy it is for us to forget the exhortation of Jesus to “wash” one another’s feet.

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
John 13:14

It is good (and necessary) for us to draw near to Him so that we can be “renewed” by His presence so that, in touching Him, we may touch others in the same Spirit.

“The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him;
and He will shew them His covenant.”
Psalm 25:14

By our being in His presence, we are enabled to “know the WAY of Life.”

“You will make Me know the way of life.
In Your presence is fullness of joys;
at Your right hand are pleasures forever.”
Psalm 16:11 (LITV)

“It is good for me to draw near to God…”
Psalm 73:28

“Compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,” let us with firm and cheerful trust endure all trials, discharge all duties, accept all sacrifices, fulfill the law of universal and impartial love, and adopt as our own that cause of truth, righteousness, humanity, liberty, and holiness, — which being the cause of the All-Good, cannot but triumph over all powers of evil. Let us rise into blest assurance that everywhere and forever we are enfolded, penetrated, guarded, guided, kept by the power of the Father and Friend, who can never forsake us; and that all spirits who have begun to seek, know, love, and serve the All-Perfect One on earth shall be reunited in a celestial home, and be welcomed together into the freedom of the universe, and the perpetual light of His presence.”
— W. E. Channing.

NOTE: *Asaph wrote 12 Psalms and was considered an anointed “seer” of God.

“Moreover, Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped”
2 Chronicles 29:30

The Secret

“The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him…“

Related Post:

The Reward of Humility

Brian Troxel