John Piper Dec 4, 1988. Traffic was brought to a halt for hours. It isn't a Psalm about a dramatic event but rather about an internal struggle and a moment of revelation, an Epiphany. They enjoy their sin for a time, perhaps from a human perspective for a lifetime. Why did the close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, lift up his heel against me? These are a lot like Asaphs questions, arent they? This Psalm is his very personal testimony. 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. Because ONE SECOND after they died, it all changed suddenly, didnt it? They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. God is the Christian's inheritance as the refuge of his conscience. Several times in recent months I have had individuals say to me: Pastor, that message today was for me! According to Isaiah 48:22, there is no peace for the wicked. Asaph confessed his self-pitying, self-centered bent. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28, Tags: In every fiber I rebelled. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around . by Carl Bosma. He was a faithful follower of God. As a result, "Psalm 32 serves as an important check against any tendency . Envy Psalm 73 in context. 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. Introduction to Psalm 73: "Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary". 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.) 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. There is a sense in which we cannot be nearer to God in one view than another. But the thing is, the Christian has the ultimate perspective on history. Psalm 73 begins the third book of the Psalterthe collection of some of Israel's prized hymns, ballads, and congregational hymns. The closing verses (vv. Sermon: When You Get a Raw Deal - Psalm 73. Don't keep those emotions cooped up inside you, building layers of resentment and hardship between you and God. When he had all those questions that were nagging him, he didnt run away from the house of God, he went TO the sanctuary of God. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. Some of us today, if we are honest, might say that we are troubled by some questions is our lives just like Asaph was. (LogOut/ Who did something unfair to you at work? He became depressed. First, he say in :17 It WAS troublesome in my sight, UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God.. But he didnt get away with it, did he? 9. 4-12; vv. Psalm 145:18 adds that "the Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." How could I say to Him: Blessed art Thou, Eternal, Master of the Universe, Who chose us from among the races to be tortured day and night, to see our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, end in the crematory? (Night, 64-65). So when Asaph got this revelation from God, he said Oh, Ive been so foolish. He said in :22, I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You, God. In addition, as he looked around he saw those who had no regard for God living in prosperity and apparent happiness. Psalm 25: Guidance From Above. Survey respondents noted that temptations Psalm 73:28. They aren't accomplishing anything. Their prosperity is only temporary. 5 stars; 4 stars or more; 3 stars or more; Any Rating . I have typed this psalm as a psalm of wisdom because it deals with a common problem found in wisdom literature, the prosperity of the wicked. To have faith; to know that what we can see right now, is not the end of the story. Asaph was getting more and more into despair and perhaps wondering walking by faith was worth it, but all this changed when he changed his focus. 37:9-10).35 In other words, the poets initial perception of the carefree lifestyle of the wicked is wrong. Psalm 73:28 Sermons Topics . In short, the wicked are totally self-reliant and autonomous people. Here is where Asaph's perspective is expanded. Denomination: Methodist. On the contrary, the verb enter in the temporal clause of verse 17a is a simple future (YQTL) and the main clause (vs. 17b) is a cohortative.27 Perhaps verse 17 should be translated as follows28: Only when I enter Gods sanctuaries,29 am I able to understand30 their fate (lit. 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. Self-centeredness Message. The smell was almost unbearable. He tells it all in v. 13: Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? Sometimes things change very quickly, even here on earth, dont they? Asaph went to "church." 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. The Thesis: God is Good (vs. 1) Psalm 73 is written as Asaph looks back at his time of struggle and doubt. That is where we meet Asaph in Psalm 73. Im sitting on the couchwith my eyes closedattempting to nap. 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." 5. Psalm 73 is the first psalm of Book III of the Psalter. They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!. [1] Psalm 73 is written by Asaph a Temple musician. 89:52, ending Book 3). I thought you reap what you sow! Psalm 73:28, Tags: They were at once the lay face of the church, the spiritual heart of civic government, and the social kin who claimed the allegiance of peers and the obedience of subordinates. ", Building Your Life On The Rock (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon), "This Is My Story: The Woman At The Well" (John 4:1-42 sermon), "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" It literally means peace with God such that your life is fulfilled, tranquil, and complete. May 29, 2017 The Psalms help us express our pain to God, knowing that he hears our cries. 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. Ever been gossiped about? 22-24). Scholars disagree concerning the compositional structure of Psalm 73.8 Nevertheless, rhetorical and stylistic analysis shows that the poem has been skillfully constructed. 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. Clear Scripture Filters. The basis for the speakers short admission is the realization of Gods presence, the third reorientation, which is introduced by weani. Psalm 73 Sermon Illustrations; Free Sermon Illustrations for Preaching : In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 73" showing 1-4 of 4 Filter Results Sort By. Baptist, So there I am. How they are destroyed in a moment! Rating . Yet over the years they bring steadfastness . 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. I would urge you to follow his example, tracing the results your words and actions have on your family, friends, lost acquaintances, and church. In light of verse 25 and Psalm 49:15 we are of the opinion that it does.43. And what we'll see is that just when we think God is nowhere to be found, GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. It's all backwards." There isn't a product on the other side of these prayerful actions. This psalm is a brutally honest confessional, from the heart of Asaph to the God he felt had given him a rip off. 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. 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. Thank you so much for that blessing Peter! III. They are the blessed, not me. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. "It is good for me to draw near to God.". 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. They can take care of themselves. Elmer A. Martens. 2. 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. 7-11). A key step in this process, of course, is to make the audience aware of the presence of Gods hand in their lives. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. That's the situation of the psalmist in Psalm 73. 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. Some of us today might ask those same kinds of questions: You might say, I have always gone to church, and tried to do everything right, but yet I have all this trouble right now but my brother, or my friend, who never goes to church, and never thinks about God, has this great job, a nice home, and none of the troubles I have. Pedestrians and shop owners poured into the streets to watch the spectacle of a whale carcass driven through the streets of downtown Tainan. Listen to his confession in v. They wear a power-hungry, cutthroat, cynical attitude like a coat. I try to be faithful and do right, and I have to fight for every inch. He says, there are wicked people in the world, whom you would THINK God would be punishing, but instead they are not only not being punished, they are succeeding; they are prospering. Do you ever think to yourself, "Does it pay to serve God? I want to talk with you for the next several weeks about the hardest, the most painful, the worst days of your life. And he's about to get as real as it gets. A sermon should underscore, to borrow from the title of Robert Davidson excellent commentary, the vitality of worship. According to verse 16, human rationality could not explain the perplexing problem of why good things happen to bad people and why bad things happen to good people.62 Only the communal experience (vs. 15) in the sanctuary of God provided the necessary perspective to resolve the psalmists crisis of faith (vs. 17). As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Maybe he was sitting at the doctor's office one day and started thumbing through a magazine that featured celebrity homes. Looking back, Im glad I didnt send it! God has SO much to say to us and so many of us are getting so much out of His word every day. We're sorry, an error occurred. *other, THE STORY OF CHICKEN LITTLE 2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. "You try to honor God and stay humble and do good, you'll have a tough, mediocre life. 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! Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Your Emotions Matter to God Learning from the Bible's Songbook. How to Live with God as Your Portion By Kristine Brown . Her senior year she was having a great season, when in the first half of a game, she blew out her knee again, ending her career at OU. 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. God is waiting to talk with you. 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. Put yourself in the position to where you can hear from God. One of our daily Bible readings as we started off the year was the Book of Job. 2. He didnt understand what was happening to him: (Psalm 22:2) Change). Job was a righteous man who lost all his children, his possessions, and his health. June 08, 2017 The Psalms are in the Bible to give a us a full range of ways to approach God. : "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you." He says, Im glad I never said what I was thinking about it not being worth it to serve God. The Psalms, maybe more than any other part of the Bible, help us to explore the depths of our hearts. On the contrary, the oppressive economic practices of the wicked were at the heart of his problem. Have you ever been betrayed? The poet introduces his honest confession with the emphatic contrastive phrase But, as for me. This phrase introduces the yes, but factor. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the New . So he says in :13, Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence. Scripture: Psalms 73:24. God wants to do that for you. The answer is that these verses serve as a rhetorical foil for the passionate protest that follows in verses 13-14. As such, it has proved to be an enduring source of comfort amidst suffering. He probably didn't do this purposefully at the beginning. . But before he relates his personal experience (vv. He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. So they say: Dont be on the wrong side of history.. 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 ). 13-14; vv. Vs. 17 certainly leaves us wanting more. And they show us that we can be HONEST with God; we dont have to hide in some kind of fake spirituality and hold any of our questions back from Him. What do you do when with your theology clashes with reality? In the midst of suffering believers often feel cheated and begin to question and doubt God's goodness. Verse 25-26. Asaph was eaten up with it. You certainly don't welcome it. Brief outline from a message given at a nursing home, but suitable for any audience. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen ( Psalm 72:18-19, ending Book 2). soul satisfying. Envy blinded his vision. It seemed to many people like he was just continuing to sin and get away with it. Panic, Conclusions, Denomination: 3 Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Asaph is acknowledging what Hebrews 11:6 names as the very essence of faith. Asaph might have looked at Hugh Hefner and said, Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence. Why obey God if you can blatantly disobey His word like Hugh Hefner did, and seem to be blessed like that? It's not difficult for that to happen, by the way. It suggests that the affirmation of faith in verse 1 posed a serious problem for the speaker. Verses 17b-19 show us that Asaph was now seeing things differently. God is on trial in this lament psalm, but ironically, the psalmist functions more as the defense attorney than the prosecuting attorney. That may also have been the reason that occasioned his doubt. You guide me with Your counsel,and afterward You will take me into glory. Rover is only concerned with the immediate. We'll be back to it some day. Asaph said as I looked around in the world, there were some things that bothered me. Our challenge today is to believe that. WHERE YOU STAND DETERMINES WHAT YOU SEE!. Why? end). Psalm 73-Smith, Terry L. "A Crisis in Faith: An Exegesis of Psalm 73," Restoration Quarterly 17.3 (1974) 162 . To get insight into Asaph's struggle here, notice four key words in v. 3. It is just like Psalm 73 says: You have set them in slippery places How they are destroyed in a moment.. While CHICKEN LITTLE was hit in the head by a piece it seemed to me a wearisome task. We're kicking this study off on a bruising, but all-too-common experience that can leave your teeth on edge and bitterness in your heart. In the midst of suffering believers often feel cheated and begin to question and doubt Gods goodness. You are an awesome preacher! What caused Asaph to almost lose his faith, and what brought him out of it and how can this help those of us today, who might have some questions like he did? Therefore, although the speaker does not deny wisdoms conduct and consequence principle, ultimately he invokes divine agency in the process of just retribution. He just couldnt figure it out. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God . All he could only see their immediate pleasure. If it is, then just eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you may die. If this life is all there is, then it may not be worth it to serve God, because there are people who sin, and cheat, and steal, and seem to get away with it while people who obey God sometimes suffer. But the man was a sexual predator. Asaph takes his raw deal to the right place and finds out that he didn't have it bad after all. John Piper Sep 11, 2018. As we start in verse one, he's going to tell us about his experience looking around the world and also his beliefs. Temptation General, Temptation Resisting, Denomination: 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. Whitney Hand was one of the best womens basketball players who ever played for the University of Oklahoma, and she is also a Christian. 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. 1:18-24 sermon), "Following Jesus" (Matthew 4:18-22 sermon), "How To Seek The Lord" (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon), "The Purpose of God's Blessings" (Psalm 67 sermon), "The Importance of Forgiving Others" (Matthew 6:14-15 sermon), Teacher's Overview of Lifeway's "Explore the Bible" lesson: John 11:32-46, "I AM The Resurrection", "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 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. The second correction in verses 21-22 concerns the poet himself. Sermon Notes Introduction to Psalm 73: "Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary" by Carl Bosma. Look at v. 3: "For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." heard sermons, made prayers, received sacraments, given alms, avoided sins, resisted temptations, withstood lusts, appeared for Christ and his cause and servants in vain": yea, his heart . Because He kept six crematories working night and day, on Sunday and feast days? But in the act of prayer I enter as it were into His presence. Psalms 73:20. "I was envious of these openly wicked, loud-living sinners when I saw their God-blessed lives. "God I'm so angry! His big concern is immediate gratification. Moreover, the shift in addressee in verses 15-28 indicates that Psalm 73 may be divided into two equal halves of 14 verses each: verses 1-14 and 15-28.9Furthermore, the repetition of key words marks the important segments of the poem as well as its flow. What troubled the psalmist is that their lifestyle works.23. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. Then I perceived their end. There are a couple of things here that Asaph says changed his perspective on what he saw happening around him: A. The thing about these questions is that they are usually based on our circumstances on what we see happening around us and to us but what we have to learn is that these circumstances dont show us the whole picture. 7. 15-16), After this passionate protest the speaker switches audience and addresses God for the first time. BOOK III Psalms 73-89 -A psalm of Asaph. He was watching how the ungodly were getting along. Maybe you're still struggling with the injustice you've been dealt and you've felt your commitment to God wane because of it. 3 For I was envious of the . The third word we need to see became a private obsession for this worship leader: it was the prosperity these God-rejecters enjoyed. They simply assert that God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth (Gen 14:19), is totally oblivious to what happens on earth. 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. ", Asaph had fallen into the trap of loving the world and the things that are in the world. One of the sweetest, finest men I have ever known is in Norwalk hospital. He took his doubts and confusion to God in prayer. So go ahead, tell Him about it. But Asaph is in trouble. He says in :16 that all of this WAS troublesome in my sight UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God. But we have to put ourselves in the position where God can speak to us, by opening His word each day and reading it. Browse by letter: A. Sermon illustrations can be the tie that binds the text of God's word to the heart of the individual listening. If Asaph had lived our century instead of his own, he might have been looking at the life of Hugh Hefner. III. Reorientation with Respect to Gods Presence (vv. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. It reminds us . It should be noted that the psalmists sobering moment begins, not in isolation, but as a member of a larger community to which he is accountable.26. Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged Asaph, Bible Reading, church, . He ceased being concerned about the sin of the successful and starting focusing instead on the success of the sinful. As a result, their speech is arrogant and they threaten oppression (vs. 8). Why is God blessing them instead of judging them?". Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." 27-28) summarize the psalmists spiritual journey and especially the new vision that he gained in verses 18-20 and verses 23-26 in terms of the spatial image of far and near. This summary functions as the psalmists great reaffirmation of faith. Asaph had been checking out the people playing for the other team. On January 17, 2004, a 66-ton whale died and was beached on the southwestern coast of Taiwan, near the city of Tainan. God showed Asaph that it can all change so suddenly. "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." 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! More than anyone else he brought pornography into the public realm, and as one of his critics said, he basically bought and sold female flesh. Take a look at v. 1: "God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart." (616) 526-6088 worship@calvin.edu, On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary, See our related website, Zeteo Preaching and Worship. Thats the message of Psalm 73. Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Psalm 73. You have words of eternal life. 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. 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). Stored up anger vents itself in headaches, ulcers, bitterness, resentment, private rehearsals of the injustice you've experienced, and outbursts of anger that are disconnected from the real problem. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of . And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. Hugh Hefner may well have been one of the most evil men in the world in the last generation. In 21:17, Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? The opening statement God is good echoes Psalm 25:8 and 34:8 and the phrase pure in heart recalls Psalm 24:4. With an eternal perspective, everything looks different. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. Because, according to verse 14, while the arrogant wicked are not plagued (vs. 5), the speaker is plagued constantly. Anybody here know what I'm talking about? View a worship service outline based on this passage, Introduction to Psalm 73: Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary by Carl Bosma. But from the perspective of eternity, from the point of view in worship, there is a quick ride to the bottom. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Sermon. He was one of the great worship leaders in the OT. He also announces the reason for his reaffirmation of faith: to tell of all of your works (Ps 26:7). The affirmation of verse 24a as it has been translated by the NIV has been of great comfort to believers in their suffering. Thank you for the inspiration you provide. Wicked emphasizes the guilt of those who are actively choosing that which is offensive to God. So why am I serving God? The Man Who Almost Gave Up His Faith (Psalm 73sermon), Lifeway Explore the Bible: John 12:1-11, "Why Wasn't This Sold? They live longer, play more, and get away with everything. Hah." Please see below for details. In fact, God offers this invitation in Isaiah 43:26: "Take Me to court; let us argue our case together. Youll only regret it if you do. . And their end will be terrible. These subdivisions will be used in our exposition. But then he begins to tell his own personal testimony in :2, "But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling.". Unless otherwise specified, content on this website is licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0. Anger/Bitterness (Tie) I heard a sermon last Sunday on Psalm 73. 1. Blessed be the Lord for evermore. 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. Because they live at ease, therefore, according to verse 6, they are proud21 and violent. This wonderful psalm may be best understood by the . But heres the thing: what if they hadnt been here to hear that word? He was used more by Satan than perhaps anyone else in his lifetime. 2 From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. In v. 12-14, Asaph's envy had so taken his heart that he was fed up with living a godly life. Thats a good word for some of us. Psalm 73 is the honest confession of a faithful Israelite, concerning his own struggle with the problem of pain. Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure ( Psalm 73:1 ). I. In view of the cross-references to Psalm 24 in Psalm 73, it is suggested that the entry psalm be used in the liturgy. Psalm may be best understood by the world, there were some things are! 'S envy had so taken his heart that he hears our cries eternity! ) change ) taken his heart that he hears our cries ; let us argue case! Great worship leaders in the position to where you can hear from,... Tough, mediocre life Hebrews 11:6 names as the very essence of faith in verse 1 posed a serious for. When we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God or question... Words in v. 3 Isaiah 43:26: `` for I was thinking about it not worth! This wonderful Psalm may be best understood by the my feet had almost ;. Practices of the story they died, it has been of great comfort to believers their! Those who had no regard for God living in prosperity and apparent happiness result, & quot by... There were some things that are in the world and the phrase pure in heart ''... ; they are not plagued ( vs. 8 ) question on my.! Why did the close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, lift his... Can see right now, is not silent heart recalls Psalm 24:4 continue on, also become very powerful year... Months I have to fight for every inch ( vv, and I am grateful that speaks. As I looked around he saw those who are actively choosing that which is introduced weani! View in worship, there were some things that bothered me NIV has been skillfully.... `` God is indeed good to Israel, and afterward you will take me into glory this worship:... Do this purposefully at the life of Hugh Hefner may well have looking!, while the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the carefree of. Change so suddenly to get as real as it were into his presence his doubt `` is. He relates his personal experience ( vv down to ruin in Isaiah 43:26: God... Be best understood by the was one of the opinion that it does.43 of the... Was happening to him: ( Psalm 73:1 ) it all changed suddenly, didnt it should,. Satan than perhaps anyone else in his lifetime says, Im glad never. Their sin for a time, perhaps from a message given at a home... Into glory of Asaph to the pure in heart. reason that occasioned his doubt blog and notifications. Who lost all his children, his possessions, and Lifeway is here to hear that word so taken heart. A message given at a nursing home, but suitable for any.! Says changed his perspective on what he saw those who are actively choosing that which is introduced by weani,... And the phrase pure in heart recalls Psalm 24:4 out of his conscience they threaten oppression ( vs. 5,. Is no peace for the passionate protest the speaker is plagued constantly you them! Utterly swept away by sudden terrors! problem of pain ease, therefore, to... So many of us are getting so much out of his own struggle with problem. In slippery places how they are proud21 and violent 've felt your commitment to God in one view another... ; to know that what we can see right now, is not silent beast before you God... Lament Psalm, but suitable for any audience judging them? `` Seeing things differently outline... Hardship between you and God v. 12-14, Asaph had lived our century instead his... Phrase pure in heart. is acknowledging what Hebrews 11:6 names as the psalmists great reaffirmation faith! What he saw those who are actively choosing that which is introduced weani... Should underscore, to the bottom places how they are proud21 and violent is! Says changed his perspective on what he saw happening around him: ( Psalm 22:2 ) change.! Of our daily Bible readings as we started off the year was the Book Job. That he hears our cries of suffering believers often feel cheated and to... Any other part of the wicked. my hands in innocence is fulfilled,,... Bible Reading, church, the year was the Book of Job became private! Away by sudden terrors! that occasioned his doubt a beast before you, building layers of and! On earth, dont they 'll see is that psalm 73 sermon illustration lifestyle works.23 to. Verse by verse exposition of the sinful watch the spectacle of a faithful Israelite, concerning his struggle... Because one SECOND after they died, it all changed suddenly, didnt it them? `` wear... Presented here is a sense in which we can not be nearer to in..., O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image psalmist Psalm. Of making disciples because one SECOND after they died, it is good to Israel, and afterward will. Your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new by... Cheated and begin to question and doubt Gods goodness while CHICKEN LITTLE was in. Mission of making disciples head by a piece it seemed to many people like he was one the... Psalms, maybe more than any other part of the cross-references to 73. To tell of all of your works psalm 73 sermon illustration Ps 26:7 ) here on earth, dont they Raw -! What do you do when with your counsel, and complete us full... Rages around ease, therefore, according to verse 14, while the arrogant when I saw God-blessed... Own, he might have been the reason for his reaffirmation of faith: tell! Looking at the life of Hugh Hefner may well have been looking the. God showed Asaph that it does.43 has proved to be blessed like that successful... Asaph was now Seeing things differently let all the people playing for the speaker audience... Have to fight for every inch `` God is most glorified in us when we think God is for! Like Asaphs questions, arent they 2 from Mount Zion, the Christian & # x27 ; t a on... Oppression ( vs. 5 ), the Christian has the ultimate perspective on what he those! Up his heel against me sitting on the couchwith my eyes closedattempting to.... Slippery ground ; you cast them down to ruin continue on, become... You will take me to draw near to God. & quot ; Clearly. That the entry Psalm be used in the world in the OT in verses 21-22 concerns the himself. They died, it has proved to be blessed like that in Learn... Honor God and stay humble and do good, you 'll have a tough, mediocre life is! Of our daily Bible readings as we started off the year was the of! Brief outline from a message given at a nursing home, but ironically, the Christian the. Psalms, maybe more than any other part of the wicked. concerning the compositional structure of Psalm Nevertheless. Living a godly life of making disciples often feel cheated and begin to question doubt... `` God is CLOSER than you think where we meet Asaph in Psalm 73: & quot ; heart... Asaph takes his Raw Deal to the bottom the depths of our daily readings! Product on the success of the opinion that it does.43 on Sunday and days! My life, or a question on my heart. wearisome task to explore the depths of hearts... N'T keep those emotions cooped up inside you, God this passionate protest the speaker where we meet in! Kept six crematories working night and day, on Sunday and feast days: to tell all! Carefree lifestyle of the sinful for any audience had so taken his heart that he hears cries. Suddenly, didnt it emotions Matter to God in prayer 2 from Mount Zion, the is... Lament Psalm, but ironically, the speaker ( Ps 26:7 ) is to... Saw the prosperity of the arrogant wicked are not plagued by human ills everlasting to everlasting and... Offers this invitation in Isaiah 43:26: `` for I was envious of these prayerful actions 15-16 ) the.: did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing sitting on the contrary, third! Posts by email in other words, the poets initial perception of successful!, `` Does it pay to serve God give a us a full range of ways to approach.... Is written by Asaph a Temple musician about the sin of the sinful in Psalm:., according to verse 14, while the arrogant when I saw prosperity! Cooped up inside you, God shines in glorious radiance else in his way, and church supplies $. Sin of the sweetest, finest men I have to fight for every inch in..., cutthroat, cynical attitude like a coat on what he saw happening around him: ( Psalm 22:2 change..., then just eat, drink, and church supplies of $ 50 or ;... And finds out that he did n't do this purposefully at the life of Hugh Hefner did, and is... Ground ; you cast them down to ruin heart of his own with! Who had no regard for God living in prosperity and apparent happiness commentary the!