Envy had poisoned him and had powerful effects on him. Sometimes, however, questions and doubt are not directly the result of sin. As Brueggemann rightly notes, this summary is not a condemnation of the wicked. 3 Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Elmer A. Martens. We're going to say the things that sometimes go unsaid about our struggles, our depressions, when we feel so alone and have no ready answers. Psalm 24 Back On The Farm. There is a sense in which we cannot be nearer to God in one view than another. In view of the cross-references to Psalm 24 in Psalm 73, it is suggested that the entry psalm be used in the liturgy. There is no record that God ever rebuffs Job for being honest. Verse Psalms 73:28. "Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him." Even though these words were written 3000 years ago, they might as well have been written today. Second, the psalmists solidarity with the community did not solve his perplexing problem. (This is) a psalm of *Asaph. It is just like Psalm 73 says: You have set them in slippery places How they are destroyed in a moment.. Hah." They help us put words to our doubts and frustrations, but at the same time they give us reminders of the help and hope we have in God. 4-12; vv. If he had publicly told of his envious musings, he would have betrayed a generation of Gods children. 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. We know where history is going. One of the best known memoirs of the Holocaust is Night by Elie Wiesel. One of the sweetest, finest men I have ever known is in Norwalk hospital. How to Live with God as Your Portion By Kristine Brown . They enjoy their sin for a time, perhaps from a human perspective for a lifetime. 7. Sermon Notes Introduction to Psalm 73: "Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary" by Carl Bosma. He brought his confusion under the truth of God. So go ahead, tell Him about it. Asaph had been checking out the people playing for the other team. For this reason they do not fear divine retribution. View a worship service outline based on this passage, Introduction to Psalm 73: Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary by Carl Bosma. God is on trial in this lament psalm, but ironically, the psalmist functions more as the defense attorney than the prosecuting attorney. And that lead him to the fourth word we need to see in v. 3: envy. It should just end better. 3 Tests Of Plagiarism: Do Your Sermons Pass Them. For the psalmist worship and economics were not separated. It suggests that the affirmation of faith in verse 1 posed a serious problem for the speaker. In addition, the Hebrew word lebab, heart, occurs six times in the poem.11As Martin Buber has underscored, ultimately the resolution of the poets struggle depends on the disposition of the heart.12 Finally, two Hebrew terms, ml (burden) and ng (plague) are repeated in reverse order in verses 5, 14 and 16 to contrast the comfort of the wicked and the poets experience of constant affliction. His big concern is immediate gratification. The Hebrew word for prosperity is shalom. Scripture: Psalm 73:25-26. He said, I was so foolish for almost giving in to these questions, and almost giving up my faith. He just couldnt figure it out. He wrestles with the tension of holding onto God's goodness and sovereignty while dealing the tragedies he was experiencing. Summary: To the ancient writers the word glory meant praise, splendor, brightness, majesty, honor and dignity. Hugh Hefner may well have been one of the most evil men in the world in the last generation. How they are destroyed in a moment! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A Southern Baptist pastor for almost 35 years, I currently serve as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Angleton, Texas, and post my weekly sermons on this site, as well as a brief overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson. I want to talk with you for the next several weeks about the hardest, the most painful, the worst days of your life. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. They are self-promoting, anti-God, and worldly, and they are the ones that are getting a slice of the pie, not me. 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. Keep up the good work. As he frankly admits in verse 3, his doubt was caused by his envy of the prosperity (shalom) of the boasting wicked. Study Psalm 73 using Charles H. Spurgeon's Treasury of David to better understand Scripture with full outline and verse meaning. In :11 he says they say: How does God know? While the first half of the Psalm is marked by a man-oriented perspective, he now sees things from a God-oriented perspective. In v. 2, he says, "But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray." So what good is it to be a believer? 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). There may be times when it seems to be going that way and it looks like that a lot in America today but the Bible says it will not end there. In v. 12-14, Asaph's envy had so taken his heart that he was fed up with living a godly life. [1] Psalm 73 is written by Asaph a Temple musician. As men despise their dreams when they awake from them, so, when God "stirs up himself and awakes to judgment" ( Psalms 35:23 ), he will despise such mere semblances of humanity ( Psalms 39:6) as the wicked are. Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. The connection with Psalm 24:4 suggests that functionally verse 1 is not a proverbial statement,16 nor exactly a brief reiteration of the torah piety of Psalm 1,17 but, instead, an asseveration of Gods justice that is formally similar to Psalms 25:8 and 92:15 (cf. Thats like Asaph here. A sermon on Psalm 73 should also underscore the role that doubts and questioning plays in this psalm.59Questions and doubts are part and parcel of human experience, especially during painful suffering. Psalm 73 is the first psalm of Book III of the Psalter. Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! Therefore, although the speaker does not deny wisdoms conduct and consequence principle, ultimately he invokes divine agency in the process of just retribution. Here is where Asaph's perspective is expanded. As we will see shortly, this is a man who is resting in God's goodness. God is NOT insane; it IS worth it to serve Him, literally no matter what the cost. This psalm is a brutally honest confessional, from the heart of Asaph to the God he felt had given him a rip off. Psalm 26 A Life Of Integrity. Sooner womens coach Sherri Coale was dejected at the press conference after the game. 2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. So here Asaph says, basically, I almost gave up the faith! Asaph confessed his self-pitying, self-centered bent. Asaph realized that if he went public with his inner struggles, letting his cynicism and anger out in words, he would become a tool of Satan's for the ruin of God's people. Hang on to Him! But because there is an eternity, what happens in this life is not even a speck on the timeline of eternity, and we know that things will be different there. 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.). John Piper Sep 11, 2018. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Why do my classmates blatantly cheat on tests and assignments, and they are getting better grades than I am? My feet nearly *slipped and I almost fell over. Please see below for details. Looking back, Im glad I didnt send it! Asaph goes on to tell us here in Psalm 73 that God did show him the whole picture, and what he learned kept him from giving up . Asaph is acknowledging what Hebrews 11:6 names as the very essence of faith. It's all backwards." Relationship To God, Great Expectations, Denomination: He was used more by Satan than perhaps anyone else in his lifetime. The smell was almost unbearable. A good illustration can paint a picture in the imagination to help clarify the truth of a passage. Several times in recent months I have had individuals say to me: Pastor, that message today was for me! He opens it with a truth: "Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.". 13-14) to praise of Gods handiwork (Gen 2:2).57 Now he speaks no longer as an ignorant beast; instead, through Gods guiding counsel he has now become a spiritually enlightened witness.58. NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 73:1-9 1 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. If you've ever had something happen to you that was out of human control but seemed so unfair that you don't understand how a good God could let it happen, then you need to sit awhile with a choir director named Asaph. In Psalm 73 a man named Asaph expresses a frustration that many have shared. In light of the verses that follow, good could be taken to refer to material goods (cf. And for all eternity, we will know that was worth it all, in the end, to serve God, no matter what we suffered here on this earth. 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. Who did you in financially? God will judge the wicked, and He will reward the righteous; those who have turned away from their sins, and followed Jesus as their Savior. Scripture: Psalm 73:21-26. That is where we meet Asaph in Psalm 73. Tension and struggle flow like lava from a volcano in Psalm 73. The envy he had of the wicked was like blinders to his eyes. 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.) See, what we have to remember is that this life is not all there is. And what we'll see is that just when we think God is nowhere to be found, GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. But it wasnt just that he came to God; God actually SHOWED him something specific that helped him: he says in :17, Then I perceived their end. He says God showed me not just what the present state of these wicked people is, but what their END is going to be. These are a lot like Asaphs questions, arent they? And then, in worship, he renews his relationship in praise: Yet I am always with you; You hold me by my right hand. 1. v3 Some people had made themselves important. And through it all, he stayed real with God. 13-14; vv. 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. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Ps 30:7) recalls the word shalom in verse 3. Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. Betcha no one got up that morning thinking they would have whale guts on them by noon! Still, in v. 15, he stops to consider the impact his next steps will have: "If I had said, 'I will speak thus,' I would have betrayed your children." Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I just know that suddenly, Asaph started paying attention, and his confusion deepened. Gluttony Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. 3. "You are guiding me with your counsel," he said . I try to be faithful and do right, and I have to fight for every inch. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. He opens it with a truth: Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But then he begins to tell his own personal testimony in :2, But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling. He says God is good; I know that but I came close to stumbling (in the Bible stumbling means to be lost; to give up the faith. This Psalm is his very personal testimony. In fact, in their boldness they lay claim to heaven and earth (vs. 9). 15-16; 17-20; 21-22; 23-26; and 27-28. Sermon. He could see both God's judgment of sin as well as God's solution offered to sinners. Those who are far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. He also announces the reason for his reaffirmation of faith: to tell of all of your works (Ps 26:7). First, he say in :17 It WAS troublesome in my sight, UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God.. it seemed to me a wearisome task. And then it happened. read more, Scripture: Baptist, So there I am. Job had questions like this, didnt he? In 21:17, Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? He became depressed. 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA State your [case], so that you may be vindicated." A person may say, well I just dont feel like being there today but that may be the day that God is going to speak to you. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 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. Survey respondents noted that temptations 3 For I was envious of the . Intro: One day, six blind men decided to go to the zoo.They hired a guide to tell them about all the exotic animals they couldn't see. What do you do when with your theology clashes with reality? Then he asked in 13:24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy? Temptation General, Temptation Resisting, Denomination: Join Plus; Plus . The reference to the phrase pure of heart and the act of washing ones hands in innocence in verse 13 suggests a connection between Psalm 73 and the psalms of temple entry.32 In any case, following the suggestion of Marvin E. Tate, entry into the temple provides a dramatic threefold correction of the poets envy blurred vision.33, 1. Psalm 73:23-24 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. Do you ever think to yourself, "Does it pay to serve God? In addition to the important connections between Psalm 73 and Psalms 1 and 2, Psalm 73 also shares important themes with Psalm 34. If you'll allow me to paraphrase it, it goes like this: "So this is how life really works! Look at v. 3: "For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Your Emotions Matter to God Learning from the Bible's Songbook. God can handle our hardest questions and still love us. It's not difficult for that to happen, by the way. He was one of the great worship leaders in the OT. The author of Psalm 73, Asaph, was almost like Elie Wiesel. 1. When they came to the elephants, the zoo keeper wanted them to have more than a verbal description, so he allowed them each to feel the elephant. Psalm 73:28, Tags: He goes on to describe their situation: In Job 29-31, this broken man struggles with the raw deal he received. But on the other hand, HE, who was trying to obey God and do what is right, has been stricken all day long, and chastened every morning.. 9. He didn't pretend everything was okay. Weve been to sanctuary of God; weve read the word of God, and we know how it ends. He did what Job did. 4. All he could only see their immediate pleasure. You have words of eternal life. In fact, their existence is as insubstantial as a dreamhere today, gone tomorrow (cf. This Psalm is his very personal testimony. In v. 4-12, he breaks down what he had observed. Because God has showed me that things are going to end differently than they are right now. Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged Asaph, Bible Reading, church, . Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Psalm 73. 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. (Nik Ripken, the author of the video were going to watch the next several Wednesday nights, was like that. It is good for me to draw near We have already seen that those who are far off shall perish; therefore, it is ill for them. Such a condition is contrary to the basic belief that God rewards the good with good. You didn't see that coming. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. AOL News (1-29-04); see also BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3437455.stm). I heard a sermon last Sunday on Psalm 73. Each of these sections is dominated by they and concludes with a very important therefore (vv. Sermon: When You Get a Raw Deal - Psalm 73. I hadnt felt good all day. He said these people mock at God (:8). They wear a power-hungry, cutthroat, cynical attitude like a coat. Job was a righteous man who lost all his children, his possessions, and his health. 21-22). My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. This is important because, according to George Barna, people, even church people, are searching to be near to God, but frequently they are not finding it in the organized church.63Yet, after a sermon on Psalm 73, no one should leave church without being able to affirm that it is good to be near God, particularly in this season of Lent. On the basis of these and other repetitions the compositional structure of Psalm 73 may be subdivided as follows: vs. 1; vv. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. Anybody here know what I'm talking about? They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors.. You are an awesome preacher! But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. It isn't a Psalm about a dramatic event but rather about an internal struggle and a moment of revelation, an Epiphany. He was angry and disillusioned. Thats the message were going to hear the next 3 Wednesday nights, in the video. Let's look at Psalm 1 together for a few minutes. by Carl Bosma. In the midst of suffering believers often feel cheated and begin to question and doubt God's goodness. The strength of my heart and my Portion forever literally no matter what cost. One got up that morning thinking they would have whale guts on them by noon real. Children, his possessions, and he is not a condemnation of video! From common human burdens ; they are free from common human burdens ; they are right.. In:2, but God is good to Israel, to those are. 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