Maybe Lazarus was tempted to give up HIS faith. Asaph went to "church." He was angry and disillusioned. In light of verse 25 and Psalm 49:15 we are of the opinion that it does.43. Asaph is struggling with the World and the people in it. well researched. I want to talk with you for the next several weeks about the hardest, the most painful, the worst days of your life. 7. Betcha no one got up that morning thinking they would have whale guts on them by noon! Your family. Why pray, when I pray these same prayer requests day after day, but it doesnt seem like they are being answered? Message. 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. But it WILL change suddenly and even more dramatically, the moment they enter eternity. God, I was like an animal. 15-16; 17-20; 21-22; 23-26; and 27-28. Study Psalm 73 using Charles H. Spurgeon's Treasury of David to better understand Scripture with full outline and verse meaning. However, the Hebrew verbs of verse 17 are not in the past tense. As we start in verse one, he's going to tell us about his experience looking around the world and also his beliefs. We can also affirm the future because God's Presence companions us. It's remarkable how inefficient these actions are. So what good is it to be a believer? The third word we need to see became a private obsession for this worship leader: it was the prosperity these God-rejecters enjoyed. or why have I looked for sympathy but there was none. (Psalm 69:20) 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. Thats a good word for some of us. That spoke to a need in my life, or a question on my heart. And I am grateful that God speaks to us through His word! 13-14), the poet first embarks on an extensive and vivid description of the actions and words of the wicked in verses 4-12.18. "You are guiding me with your counsel," he said . NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 73:1-9 1 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! This happened for Asaph in verses 16-17: "But when . Youll only regret it if you do. Survey respondents noted that temptations When you did the right thing, but got the back of the hand anyway. Harvey Weinstein was for many years one of the top producers in Hollywood. Asaph was eaten up with it. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. I thought you reap what you sow! 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. Asaph had let envy in the door, and now it colored everything he saw. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. And it shows us that we can do that with God too; these Psalms give us permission to bring our honest hurts and feelings to God, and say like these Psalmists: Therefore, the speaker claims in verse 10 (the Hebrew text is difficult) that the wicked enjoy popularity and attract a crowd of people. Moreover, it helps them transition from radical doubt to a robust reaffirmation of faith. His big concern is immediate gratification. 21ff. Clarke's Commentary. 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. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. 9. But heres the thing: what if they hadnt been here to hear that word? D. The book of Job and Psalm 37 deal with the same problem, but in this life; Psalm 73 deals with it in light of Matthew 25. History is not going to end with secular humanism on the throne. :17 If I had said, I will speak thus, behold I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. Why did the close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, lift up his heel against me? (Psalms 73:15-16 RSV) Here he is, filled with doubts and despair and almost ready to give up, but something stops him. I just know that suddenly, Asaph started paying attention, and his confusion deepened. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. These subdivisions will be used in our exposition. Who did something unfair to you at work? She said: It should end better for this kid. 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. 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. But then he begins to tell his own personal testimony in :2, "But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling.". Job had questions like this, didnt he? In 21:17, Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? 18-20). Although the text of verses 4, 7 and 10 is uncertain,20 the general picture is clear. Before you bail out on God, Asaph wants you to sit with him and learn from his experiences. 5. Change). Looking back, Im glad I didnt send it! [1] Psalm 73 is written by Asaph a Temple musician. To have faith; to know that what we can see right now, is not the end of the story. Why do good people suffering, and wicked people prosper? v1 I am sure that God is good to (the people of) Israel, to the people whose hearts are clean. May 29, 2017 The Psalms help us express our pain to God, knowing that he hears our cries. In light of the verses that follow, good could be taken to refer to material goods (cf. It's not fair.". 6, 10). Like Asaph, come into the sanctuary of God.. Two weeks later, on January 29, authorities decided to truck the dead whale to a laboratory where they could do an autopsy. While the first half of the Psalm is marked by a man-oriented perspective, he now sees things from a God-oriented perspective. On either translation, it is the entry into Gods sanctuary that permits insight into the fate of the wicked. There is a lesson we know as YOUNG CHICKEN LITTLE I have read how YOUNG CHICKEN LITTLE throws his whole small town into a great panic CHICKEN LITTLE CLAIMED THE SKY WAS FALLING IN This must be the end of the world. 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. Psalm 25:2 E-Mail Challenge. it seemed to me a wearisome task. But in the act of prayer I enter as it were into His presence. Psalm 73. History will not see the wicked ultimately prosper. Psalms 73. John Piper Dec 4, 1988. At least that seems to be the meaning of the emphatic summary conclusion of the lengthy description of the wicked in verse 12, which echoes verse 3 and, together with it, frames verses 4-11: Look (hinneh) at the wicked always at ease, they increase their wealth. Before he recounts his time of doubt he begins with what he now knows to be true: God is good and He is good to those who are His. In fact, in rather strong language, he acknowledges that he behaved as a brute beast38 with God. Because ONE SECOND after they died, it all changed suddenly, didnt it? Video for Psalm 73: The title of this psalm ( A Psalm of Asaph) tells us that it was written by the great singer and musician of David and Solomon's era ( 1 Chronicles 15:17-19, 16:5-7, 25:6 ). Moreover, the opening behold (hinneh) at the beginning of verse 27a matches the behold in the summary description of the wicked in verse 12.50 This obvious cross-reference to verse 12 shows that through his transforming temple experience the psalmist made the startling discovery that his earlier perception about the wicked was false.51 The prosperity (shalom) of the wicked is not forever! The psalmists realization of Gods presence in verses 22-24 leads to a reflective spin-off in verses 25-26,44 in which he articulates a supreme confession of trust.45 In verse 25 he confesses that the antidote to his previous envy (vs. 3) is his hold-guide-receive experience of Gods persistent presence (vv. ( Psalm 73:1-3) The contradiction between the goodness of God and the prosperity of the wicked. My God, my God; why have You forsaken me? Like David in Psalm 22 Scripture: Psalms 73:24. 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.). Envy means "I want what you have." 2-3; vv. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. 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. I want answers, God." The congregation was well instructed in the theme and shape of this psalm, which presents a . Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around . Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28, Tags: Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! Asaph realized that "the world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." Hang on to Him! How to Live with God as Your Portion By Kristine Brown . God is waiting to talk with you. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. Why do violence-endorsing rap singers, arrogant executives, and God-mocking people get their own TV shows? Verse 25-26. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. Anger/Bitterness (Tie) God can handle our hardest questions and still love us. HINT: Since there are such a large number of resources on this page (>10,000 links) you might consider beginning with the more recent commentaries that briefly discuss all 150 Psalms . Each of these sections is dominated by they and concludes with a very important therefore (vv. Gluttony Moreover, it is important to remind them that the essence of faith is not our grasp of God but Gods sure grasp of us61 through the nailed hands of his crucified Son. In every fiber I rebelled. You are an awesome preacher! We'll see that they don't necessarily sync up very well. Listen to his confession in v. This Psalm is his very personal testimony. One of the sweetest, finest men I have ever known is in Norwalk hospital. Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources "THE PLACE OF UNDERSTANDING" Intro: I know a dear dedicated couple, tithe faithfully, serving God as active laymen in church, their first baby was born horribly deformed. Ps 26:7-8) in dramatic transformation of the psalmists despairing doubt (vv. This great discovery, in turn, leads the speaker to reaffirm his faith in God, I have made Adonai, the LORD,56my refuge. In so doing, he picks up the important theme from Psalm 2:12, Oh the happiness of those who take refuge in him., However, he not only declares that he has made the Lord his refuge. Then he asked in 13:24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy? Sermon Notes Introduction to Psalm 73: "Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary" by Carl Bosma. Because my wife is out of town visiting her elderly parents, our dog, who is lovesick for her, spends his entire day and night in our bedroom, in some doggie blankets, placed on the He didn't pretend everything was okay. He kept his faith, but I lost mine. 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.) 3. 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most, In a recent survey in Discipleship Journal Magazine, readers reported that their greatest spiritual challenges came from According to verse 18, God will place the wicked on the slippery slope that the psalmist almost experienced (vs. 2). 4-12; vv. Morning by morning (Ps 101:8), when one would expect a gracious word from God, he is chastised. end). Psalm 73 is our passage and the title is "When You Get a Raw Deal." It has all turned around, so suddenly. (1 John 2:17) God completely controls their destiny, not them. If you'll allow me to paraphrase it, it goes like this: "So this is how life really works! There are a million of these kinds of questions. Your sermons are simple but complex with a very good end lesson. WORD AND PHRASE STUDY. Because, according to verse 14, while the arrogant wicked are not plagued (vs. 5), the speaker is plagued constantly. Psalm 145:18 adds that "the Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." 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. This is especially true of Psalm 73. Everything changed. So he says in :13, Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence. In fact, God offers this invitation in Isaiah 43:26: "Take Me to court; let us argue our case together. When I read that story I wrote an article and sent it to the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger, which basically said that because Whitney Hand knows Jesus as her Lord & Savior, that that wasnt the end of the story for her. Sometimes things change very quickly, even here on earth, dont they? In v. 12-14, Asaph's envy had so taken his heart that he was fed up with living a godly life. 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. Hah." Because He kept six crematories working night and day, on Sunday and feast days? Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged Asaph, Bible Reading, church, . Psalm 25:8 Bubbles On The Border. read more, Scripture: Psalm 73:28. It's all backwards." Rover is only concerned with the immediate. He brought his confusion under the truth of God. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. But before he relates his personal experience (vv. As a result, their speech is arrogant and they threaten oppression (vs. 8). Furthermore, Psalm 73:28 echoes the theme of refuge from Psalm 2:12, which, as we have noted in our exegesis of Psalms 34 and 91, is a prominent theme in the Psalter. 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. While the primary source of sermon . He says, God showed me that what I am seeing around me NOW, is NOT how this story is going to end: He says in :18-20 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 3 For I was envious of the . Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. If we are to defeat envy, we need to change our focus. He says God is good; I know that . You're going about your business, and a whale explodes. Tension and struggle flow like lava from a volcano in Psalm 73. : "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you." They are self-promoting, anti-God, and worldly, and they are the ones that are getting a slice of the pie, not me. If he had publicly told of his envious musings, he would have betrayed a generation of Gods children. Several times in recent months I have had individuals say to me: Pastor, that message today was for me! The opening statement that God is good to Israel, for example, recalls Psalm 34:8. How can that be? 4. Cars, people, and local shops were splattered with whale entrails. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. Sep 11, 2018. To get insight into Asaph's struggle here, notice four key words in v. 3. If Asaph had lived our century instead of his own, he might have been looking at the life of Hugh Hefner. 6. 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. Wiesel was a devout Jew before his experience in the Nazi death camps, but his time there destroyed his faith. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. According to Psalm 1:6b, the way of the wicked self-destructs. He probably didn't do this purposefully at the beginning. Have you ever been betrayed? So make the visit that Asaph made; put yourself in the place where God can speak to you about the issues of your life: be faithful in your church attendance; be faithful in your daily Bible reading. The poet introduces his honest confession with the emphatic contrastive phrase But, as for me. This phrase introduces the yes, but factor. Furthermore, to highlight the uniqueness of worship, the beatitude in Psalm 65:4 should also be used because it claims that true happiness consists of God bringing us to his courts where we may be satisfied with his goodness. The author of Psalm 73, Asaph, was almost like Elie Wiesel. Psalms 73:25-26. God showed Asaph that it can all change so suddenly. Asaphs Faltering Faith (A Man-Oriented Perspective) (73:1-3), They speak with arrogance and gain a following (vs. 8-10), Summary: The lives of the wicked are easy and prosperous (vs. 12), Asaphs Restored Faith (A God-Oriented Perspective) (73:18-28), 2023 Southern Hills Baptist Church - Round Rock, Texas, Southern Hills is a family of believers who exist to glorify God by helping people experience life change through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Psalm 73: Remembering the Truth in Times of Doubt. Asaph confessed his self-pitying, self-centered bent. You examples are superb. These are a lot like Asaphs questions, arent they? But the man was a sexual predator. An important step in this process is the recognition of the psalmists strident critique of the economic underpinnings of society in verses 4-11. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Scripture: Psalm 73. Dont give up your faith. According to Isaiah 48:22, there is no peace for the wicked. God wants to do that for you. Wicked emphasizes the guilt of those who are actively choosing that which is offensive to God. Ever been gossiped about? 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. 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." He was used more by Satan than perhaps anyone else in his lifetime. However, in verse 28a, which is introduced with the final emphatic phrase but, as for me (weani), good is defined, not in terms of property or prosperity, but Gods presence: But, as for me, the nearness of God (is) good to me!55 What a sharp contrast this new perception forms with the emphatic I in verse 2! It should just end better. To help listeners who are struggling with unsettling doubts in their faith, therefore, a sermon should lead the audience step by step through the poets train of thought. I cannot go where He is not. You guide me with Your counsel,and afterward You will take me into glory. Be like the disciples in John 6, when Jesus had told the crowds that had been following Him some difficult things about what it meant to believe, and everyone was leaving Him. For this reason they do not fear divine retribution. Ps 30:7) recalls the word shalom in verse 3. Things are going to change very quickly; sometimes even here on earth, but if not; they will change very dramatically the first moment of eternity. 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. So why am I serving God? He didnt understand what was happening to him: 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30 add that Asaph was a prophet in his musical compositions. Shape of this precious Psalm ring true to their experience with me, lift his. End better for this worship leader: it should end better for this worship leader: it end. And local shops were splattered psalm 73 sermon illustration whale entrails you 'll allow me to court ; let us argue case! Plagued ( vs. 5 ), when one would expect a gracious word from,... Pure and washed my hands in innocence so suddenly to those who are pure in heart each of these of... 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