The revelation of Gods word shows us this important truth: that what you see now, of the wicked succeeding and the godly suffering, is not how it is always going to be. Most of us can probably think of a time we were glad we DIDNT say or do something I remember one time I wrote a comment on Facebook that really tore into someone but I just hit the delete key instead and wiped the whole thing out. How did he get away with this, year after year? In the Psalm Asaph recounts a time of wavering faith and growing doubts. However, the experience of the psalmist proved the opposite. It is this asseveration of divine justice that is severely tested in verses 2-27 and marvelously reaffirmed in verse 28, which, as we have noted above, forms an inclusio with verse 1. ", Envy is the tendency to compare yourself with someone else in a way that leaves you feeling deprived. But before he relates his personal experience (vv. One of the sweetest, finest men I have ever known is in Norwalk hospital. Anger/Bitterness (Tie) read more, Scripture: In view of the cross-references to Psalm 24 in Psalm 73, it is suggested that the entry psalm be used in the liturgy. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. That rich man lived in luxury, and wouldnt even give the crumbs from his table to poor Lazarus; and there was that poor man, covered with sores, starving. The inner conditions of the dead mammal, combined with the bumps in the road caused an eruption that the townspeople will not soon forget. Dec 4, 1988. When you did the right thing, but got the back of the hand anyway. Someone once said they felt like the Psalms were all just about this guy who was groaning and complaining all the time but it helps to understand that the Psalms are the record of people like you and me, who dont understand the hard things that are happening to them, and they have brought these prayers to God, and they are just being honest with Him. If Asaph had lived our century instead of his own, he might have been looking at the life of Hugh Hefner. This little song is worth several sermons so don't feel bad if we emphasize some parts tonight and not others. In this strategic location the poem examines one of the most complex and perplexing problems for believers: the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous.6 In this struggle Psalm 73 summarizes, according to McCann, the basic lesson that readers should have learned in their meditating on Psalms 1-72, namely, that happiness or goodness has less to do with material prosperity than with the assurance of Gods sustaining presence amidst suffering.7. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. And earth has nothing I desire besides You. The author of Psalm 73, Asaph, was almost like Elie Wiesel. 15-16; 17-20; 21-22; 23-26; and 27-28. This God-inspired worship leader is ready to walk away. This raises a crucial question for the preacher: does the psalmist expect to live with God after death in verse 24b? Because God has showed me that things are going to end differently than they are right now. 1. 8. In the end, it is these nailed hands that will receive us into glory, according to his promise: Oh the happiness of the pure in heart; they will see God (Mt 5:8). Why pray, when I pray these same prayer requests day after day, but it doesnt seem like they are being answered? 23-26). This statement represents his settled conviction after the trouble he recounts in the Psalm. Close Filters Scripture . Maybe people who walked by and saw the Rich Man & Lazarus were tempted to give up THEIR faith. C. A Significant Turning Point (vv. John Piper Dec 4, 1988. Your community. What Asaph Knew. The author of Psalm 73, Asaph, was almost like Elie Wiesel. In fact, he was a worship leader. *other, THE STORY OF CHICKEN LITTLE The Man Who Almost Gave Up His Faith (Psalm 73sermon), Lifeway Explore the Bible: John 12:1-11, "Why Wasn't This Sold? The closing verses (vv. How is that right? We arent told exactly what Asaph experienced, but we are told that when he went to the place of worship his heart and his perspective were changed. Verse 25-26. "You try to honor God and stay humble and do good, you'll have a tough, mediocre life. In the midst of suffering believers often feel cheated and begin to question and doubt God's goodness. 9. Psalm 73 begins the third book of the Psalterthe collection of some of Israel's prized hymns, ballads, and congregational hymns. He was used more by Satan than perhaps anyone else in his lifetime. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. As the truck crawled through that downtown region, with crowds looking on, the whale exploded. Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28, Tags: 4. There he was reminded of God's attributes, character and power. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the New . Notice how personal, direct, and intimate the psalmist is in addressing God. And he doesn't keep the cause of his troubles a secret. God is the Christian's inheritance as the refuge of his conscience. 21-22). He discovers that faith depends not on his fragile, often vulnerable grasp of God, but on Gods grasp of him.39 That hand has not and will not let him go.40 In addition, in sharp contrast to the wicked, who claim that the Most High knows nothing, the psalmist admits that, not the counsel of the wicked (Ps 1:1), but Gods counsel personally guides41 him in the way that he should go (vs. 24a).42 Indeed, in the end God will receive him into glory (vs. 24b; NIV). III. To not be senseless and ignorant; like a beast before (God) as Asaph says in :22; To believe that it WILL end better for those who trust in the Lord and do good., You often hear people today say: Dont be on the wrong side of history. We hear that a lot from people today who believe that God and the Bible and fading away into history, and the future holds only the triumph of godless values. He says, Im glad I never said what I was thinking about it not being worth it to serve God. Relationship To God, Great Expectations, Denomination: Arrogant refers to people who make sure people notice them and what they have. In light of the prosperity of the wicked, the poet concludes that his attempt to lead a moral life has been absolutely in vain: Surely, in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence. But it WILL change suddenly and even more dramatically, the moment they enter eternity. That may also have been the reason that occasioned his doubt. The admission that his feet almost slipped suggests that perhaps the law of God was not in his heart (Ps 37:30). But he didnt get away with it, did he? He lost his son on the mission field, and he was asking, Is God insane for asking His people to make sacrifices like that? Gods NOT insane; but these kinds of questions are real, and difficult.). It can only be understood from an eschatological perspective.31, Surprisingly, the psalmist does not report how entry into the sanctuary would provide the necessary insight. Why do dictators, child molesters, and corporate raiders get off easy? WHEN a man is sick, everybody knows what is good for him. For I have been stricken all day long, and chastened every morning., Asaph says, look at these wicked people, who mock God, who do wicked things to other people. Apparently he ignored the sound advice from Proverbs 23:17 (Do not let your heart envy sinners but always continue in the fear of the Lord). He goes on to describe their situation: It begins with an emphatic causal statement (ki-hinneh) (vs. 26a): because, look, those who are far away from you will perish.49 The fact that this emphatic statement begins with the conjunction because (k) suggests that verse 27 stands in sharp contrast to verses 23-26. If we are to defeat envy, we need to change our focus. Why is God blessing them instead of judging them?". 18-20). The NIV and the NRSV translate this verse in the past tense and read it with the preceding verse. He was really troubled by what he had seen in the world around him, and it raised questions which bothered him. Like Asaph, come into the sanctuary of God.. Those who draw near -who come in the true spirit of sacrifice, and with the only available offering, the Lord Jesus, shall be finally saved; therefore, it is good for them. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Sometimes things change very quickly, even here on earth, dont they? Using the imagery of clothing in this verse, the psalmist boldly engages in shrewd moral and economic criticism.22 According to this verse, the affluent are well-off because of pride and violence. Psalm 25: Guidance From Above. It doesnt seem to pay? We may read these words and say, "I was just like Asaph except for this. Whitney Hand was one of the best womens basketball players who ever played for the University of Oklahoma, and she is also a Christian. Don't keep those emotions cooped up inside you, building layers of resentment and hardship between you and God. And he's about to get as real as it gets. Whether it's standardized tests, beauty contests, and your neighbor's new dress, we are all encouraged to envy. Reorientation with Respect to the Wicked (vv. Thats a good word for some of us. History is not going to end with secular humanism on the throne. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Who did you in financially? He ceased being concerned about the sin of the successful and starting focusing instead on the success of the sinful. "I nearly lost my grip on what I believe. That's right, it blew up. This happened for Asaph in verses 16-17: "But when . Psalm 73:23-24 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever," ( Psalm 73:26). Perspective is God's gift to our inward sight, and with it we have a surefootedness to move ahead confidently as we live, learn, and labor. Summary: To the ancient writers the word glory meant praise, splendor, brightness, majesty, honor and dignity. For example, Psalm 73 shares the prominence of the wicked with Psalm 1.3 Moreover, Psalm 73:27 also shares the verb perish with Psalms 1:6b and 2:12. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Lloyd Stilley on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM. 3 For I was envious of the . A good illustration can paint a picture in the imagination to help clarify the truth of a passage. They are self-promoting, anti-God, and worldly, and they are the ones that are getting a slice of the pie, not me. It refers first of all to God. In the NT Jesus says dont cause one of these little ones to stumble that means dont do anything that might cause someone to be lost.) Materialism There is a sense in which we cannot be nearer to God in one view than another. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. by Carl Bosma. In v. 2, he says, "But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray." : "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you." Asaph takes his raw deal to the right place and finds out that he didn't have it bad after all. 1 The LORD, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. We'll be back to it some day. Psalm 73 begins with a summary of his theology. Psalm 73:28 Sermons Topics . 1, 28) form an inclusio and frame within which the painful experience of the poet is unfolded. We can also affirm the future because God's Presence companions us. We dont know why; its not our place to guess or even speculate. Traffic was brought to a halt for hours. Asaph looked at the lifestyles, the cars, the clothing, the houses they lived in, the company they kept, and thought to himself: "They're getting everything God promised to His covenant people! He was evil. But based on its strong affirmations of trust (Psalms 73:1; Psalms 73:17-20; Psalms 73:23-28), it can also be classified as a psalm of trust." [Note: Bullock, p. 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