Asaph declared, “It is good to be near God” (Ps. 73:28). It is good to be near God because He is infinitely and unfailingly good. Any movement or state away from him in attitude or ambition (one cannot actually be away from God – Ps. 139) is inherently evil. This is why a son of Korah declared, “A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” (Ps. 84:10). He would rather be a doorkeeper and be near God than anywhere else because the lowest position near God is far better than being in the highest ranks among those who are alienated from God.
The Psalmist delves into specifics on God’s goodness, “The LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor” (Ps. 84:11). God dwells in unapproachable light and is a consuming fire. He possesses all wisdom and defines justice according to His infinite goodness; He encases the objects of His love with an insurmountable defense, and what would destroy has no access to them. He lavishes grace upon us by investing Himself in us: His self-disclosure, His Son, His Spirit, His righteousness, His love, His power – His presence! The glory He bestows (“honor”) is that we can be near Him, that He makes us partakers of the divine nature and has purposed to transform us into the image of His perfect Son.
The Psalmist encapsulates the benefit of being near God by saying: “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps. 84:11). This confident, settled satisfaction is echoed by others, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1); “…those who fear Him have no lack…those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (Ps. 34:9-10); “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33); “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory” (Phil. 4:19). Your highest good and your greatest satisfaction is God Himself. Nothing else is good if it draws you away from Him; nothing else will satisfy you. So to walk uprightly is to draw near to God, to follow in Jesus’ steps and to keep in step, filled with His Spirit, having your attitudes and desires saturated with what He has made known of Himself.
A necessary caveat surrounds the phrase “no good thing” – sometimes the “good thing” may have a sting to it because it is designed for healing, or to yield greater fruit. Indeed, all things work together for good to those who love God. Hence, to be near God is better than anywhere else.
It makes a great deal of sense with this knowledge of God that one of His children would declare:
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Ps. 84:1–2
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