Read
Psalm 73:27
For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
25Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
26My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
28But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
Notice
The words “shall perish” make distance from God a grave matter, within a psalm that ends by naming God as refuge.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What do you notice about the link between being far from God and being unfaithful to him?
Write on thisWhat would coming close to God, as verse 28 describes, look like in one choice this week?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
James 4:4You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world …Both passages describe unfaithfulness toward God, with James naming friendship with the world as hostility toward him.
Numbers 15:39It shall be to you for a fringe, that you may see it, and remember all the LORD’s commandments, and do them; and that you don’t follow your own heart and your …Both texts describe unfaithfulness to God; Numbers warns against following the heart and eyes away from his commands.
Psalm 119:155Salvation is far from the wicked, for they don’t seek your statutes.Both psalms connect distance with danger: distance from God leads to perishing, and salvation is far from those rejecting his statutes.
Jeremiah 17:13LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be disappointed. Those who depart from me will be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, …Both passages declare consequences for abandoning God, naming destruction in the psalm and disappointment for those who forsake him in Jeremiah.
Exodus 34:15“Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one call you and you …Both texts concern unfaithfulness to God, with Exodus warning against joining the sacrifices offered to other gods.
Leviticus 20:6“‘The person that turns to those who are mediums and wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him …Both passages name God’s judgment against unfaithfulness; Leviticus specifies turning to mediums and wizards and being cut off.
Proverbs 15:29The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.Both passages speak of distance from God, associating that distance with unfaithfulness in the psalm and wickedness in Proverbs.
Deuteronomy 31:16The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers. This people will rise up and play the prostitute after the strange gods of the land where …Both passages name unfaithfulness to God; Deuteronomy describes it through forsaking him, following strange gods, and breaking his covenant.
Ephesians 2:13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.Both passages speak of being far from God; Ephesians names Christ’s blood as the means of being made near.
Revelation 17:1–5One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on …Psalm 73 declares destruction for unfaithfulness to God; Revelation announces judgment on the great prostitute.
Psalm 106:39Thus they were defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds.Both psalms describe unfaithfulness, with Psalm 106 naming deeds through which the people defiled and prostituted themselves.
Psalm 104:35Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, my soul. Praise the LORD!Psalm 73 declares that the unfaithful perish, while Psalm 104 asks that sinners be consumed and the wicked cease to be.
Where this verse fits
Temptation. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Destruction is the warning here, and the next verse names God as refuge. The psalm ends with the goodness of coming close to him.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 73:27. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 73 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).