3 For I was envious of the . Have you ever been betrayed? God is waiting to talk with you. Message. 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. Ever been gossiped about? In the deepest part of your heart you just want it to end better for her. That is so important. Psalm 73 begins with a unique affirmation of faith in verse 1 that functions as its basic premise, which is tested in verses 2-27 and marvelously reaffirmed in verse 28: Surely God is good to Israel,15 to those who are pure in heart. Sometimes things change very quickly, even here on earth, dont they? God is big enough to take your anger, your pain, and your questions. In 21:17, Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? However, such is clearly not the case. It suggests that the affirmation of faith in verse 1 posed a serious problem for the speaker. Who did something unfair to you at work? For the psalmist worship and economics were not separated. He did what Job did. (John 3:16 sermon), "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. We can also affirm the future because God's Presence companions us. 15-16), After this passionate protest the speaker switches audience and addresses God for the first time. Why do I serve in ministry, week after week, but it doesnt seem like it is doing any good, and no one is responding or changing? Verses 21-22 are a flashback on his traumatic experience reported in verses 2-16.36 In these verses he admits that when his heart and kidneys were poignantly disturbed (vs. 21) about the shalom of the wicked, he was stupid and lacked understanding (vs. 21ab).37 For all practical purposes, he confesses that his envy of the arrogant (vs. 3) was completely wrong. Scripture: Psalm 73:21-26. Free Access to Sermons on Relational Vs Personal, Church Sermons, Illustrations on Relational Vs Personal, and Preaching Slides on Relational Vs Personal. Hang on to Him! Why? It doesnt seem to pay? For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. Dont turn FROM God in your questions, turn TO Him. Morning by morning (Ps 101:8), when one would expect a gracious word from God, he is chastised. What Asaph Knew. ", 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?" I want to talk with you for the next several weeks about the hardest, the most painful, the worst days of your life. Asaph had been checking out the people playing for the other team. Scripture: Psalm 73. 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. The Psalms, maybe more than any other part of the Bible, help us to explore the depths of our hearts. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. 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. And earth has nothing I desire besides You. Psalm 24 Back On The Farm. The speaker of Psalm 73 admits that he was envious. 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. We know where history is going. (Nik Ripken, the author of the video were going to watch the next several Wednesday nights, was like that. 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. 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. 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). 3 Our God approaches, and he is not silent. This slippery slope leads to utter ruin. We do things that brought regret and heartache because we didn't stop to consider the consequences of our words and choices. Why should I be honest? 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. BOOK III Psalms 73-89 -A psalm of Asaph. That is where we meet Asaph in Psalm 73. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. Thats the story of the Rich Man & Lazarus in Luke 16, isnt 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 . And their end will be terrible. They are healthy (vs. 4) and experience no trouble (amal), nor are they plagued (vs. 5). 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. The challenge for the liturgist and preacher is to incorporate a critical reassessment of our culture in a pastorally sensitive manner. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. So what good is it to be a believer? Psalm 73:28, Tags: He starts out saying, "God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure at heart. This Psalm is his very personal testimony. As Brueggemann rightly notes, this summary is not a condemnation of the wicked. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. Verse 25-26. 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. But before he relates his personal experience (vv. Please see below for details. 6, 10). My God, my God; why have You forsaken me? Like David in Psalm 22 Psalm 25:8 Bubbles On The Border. My feet nearly *slipped and I almost fell over. He says in :16 that all of this WAS troublesome in my sight UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God. The inner conditions of the dead mammal, combined with the bumps in the road caused an eruption that the townspeople will not soon forget. I want answers, God." 8-Week Series for Lent. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. Sexual Lust (Tie) AOL News (1-29-04); see also BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3437455.stm). Psalm 73 in context. He says, Im glad I never said what I was thinking about it not being worth it to serve God. Moreover, it helps them transition from radical doubt to a robust reaffirmation of faith. Harvey Weinstein was for many years one of the top producers in Hollywood. 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. Temptation General, Temptation Resisting, Denomination: or why have I looked for sympathy but there was none. (Psalm 69:20) 22-24). Psalm 73. Psalm 26 A Life Of Integrity. He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black Church Leadership & Family Conference. How do you hold to the conviction that God is good when life stinks? These godless people, they live on easy street! 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. You guide me with Your counsel,and afterward You will take me into glory. Let's look at Psalm 1 together for a few minutes. And is there knowledge with the Most High? He says these people are basically spitting at God and getting away with it! Therefore, although the speaker does not deny wisdoms conduct and consequence principle, ultimately he invokes divine agency in the process of just retribution. A key step in this process, of course, is to make the audience aware of the presence of Gods hand in their lives. Thats a good word for some of us. You live by lust, power, greed, and deceit, and you become a celebrity. Glorification also refers to our elevation to an exalted state in eternity. 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. You can sense this music director's relief when he comes to worship. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. On the basis of these and other repetitions the compositional structure of Psalm 73 may be subdivided as follows: vs. 1; vv. Psalm 73-Smith, Terry L. "A Crisis in Faith: An Exegesis of Psalm 73," Restoration Quarterly 17.3 (1974) 162 . Sometimes questioning and doubt is due to sin. He was, I believe, a godly man during the time of his personal struggle. How did he get away with this, year after year? "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." Join Plus; Plus . 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. They are the blessed, not me. 5 stars; 4 stars or more; 3 stars or more; Any Rating . Asaph confessed his self-pitying, self-centered bent. Why did the close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, lift up his heel against me? How is that right? Change). Im sitting on the couchwith my eyes closedattempting to nap. 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 fact, he was a worship leader. So dont cave in to your doubts. Then he asked in 13:24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy? Is it really worth it to serve God? You certainly don't welcome it. Psalms 73. Asaph had let envy in the door, and now it colored everything he saw. From a canonical perspective Walter Brueggemann4 and J. Clinton McCann5 have argued that Psalm 73 stands at the theological center of the Psalter. Or: I have always tried to do the right thing, and not drink, or smoke, or do drugs, but I have all these health problems; while people I know who dont care, but go and do whatever they want are totally healthy and able-bodied. 2-3; vv. One of the best known memoirs of the Holocaust is Night by Elie Wiesel. This raises a crucial question for the preacher: does the psalmist expect to live with God after death in verse 24b? Others, however, claim that it is a song of thanksgiving by an individual. (LogOut/ Your family. He was fired from his company, kicked off of the Hollywood Academy, his wife left him, and criminal charges are being investigated. Elmer A. Martens. 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. This turning point consists of two important observations.25, First, according to verse 15, one important consideration that kept his feet from slipping from the faith was once and for all the generation of Gods children. The Thesis: God is Good (vs. 1) Psalm 73 is written as Asaph looks back at his time of struggle and doubt. He was a faithful follower of God. 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. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. Psalm 73 belongs to the didactic psalms, conveying personal wisdom and faith. Clarke's Commentary. Now get ready for the stinger. However, a bad illustration can distract and confuse if the listener. They simply assert that God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth (Gen 14:19), is totally oblivious to what happens on earth. He goes on to describe their situation: This Psalm is his very personal testimony. read more, Scripture: Do you ever think to yourself, "Does it pay to serve God? This statement represents his settled conviction after the trouble he recounts in the Psalm. Your community. Self-centeredness Still others assert that it is a wisdom psalm, similar to Psalm 49. 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. Its the same thing with our daily Bible reading. In short, verse 27 declares that autonomy is a harlotry that does not work.54. 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. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 6. 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.. How they are destroyed in a moment! Because they live at ease, therefore, according to verse 6, they are proud21 and violent. 13-14; vv. First, he say in :17 It WAS troublesome in my sight, UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God.. 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 . He was used more by Satan than perhaps anyone else in his lifetime. 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. God can handle our hardest questions and still love us. State your [case], so that you may be vindicated." 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. Who did you in financially? Bring your troubles, bring your questions, bring your doubts to God. It seemed to many people like he was just continuing to sin and get away with it. We may read these words and say, "I was just like Asaph except for this. They can take care of themselves. Asaph has his eye on the celebrities of his day, the Donald Trumps and Lindsey Lohans who openly disdain God. SO WHY SERVE GOD? Why is God blessing them instead of judging them?". . Wicked emphasizes the guilt of those who are actively choosing that which is offensive to God. 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. Psalm 73 is the first psalm of Book III of the Psalter. What does he mean by this? You didn't plan for it. Sermon Central Share a Sermon; Try PRO Free; Help . With an eternal perspective, everything looks different. Walk Through the Text. He said in :3, For I was envious of the arrogant He said the wicked in his land seemed to prosper, and he was jealous of them. He didn't pretend everything was okay. In the midst of suffering believers often feel cheated and begin to question and doubt God's goodness. by Carl Bosma. Why do dictators, child molesters, and corporate raiders get off easy? This is what a lot of these Psalms are about. He kept his faith, but I lost mine. How the Psalms Speak to All of Our Emotions Dane C. Ortlund. Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. The second correction in verses 21-22 concerns the poet himself. He said in Job 10:18, Why then have You brought me out of the womb? In other words, his suffering was so great, why would God allow him to be born if he was going to have to go through all of that? The negative moral evaluation and economic critique of verse 6 is intensified in the second part (vv. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. He was really troubled by what he had seen in the world around him, and it raised questions which bothered him. It took 50 laborers and three lifting cranes 13 hours to hoist the 56-foot behemoth onto a flatbed trailer truck. Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Psalm 73. But the man was a sexual predator. In addition to the important connections between Psalm 73 and Psalms 1 and 2, Psalm 73 also shares important themes with Psalm 34. Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28, Tags: Why do I cry by day and You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest? In the opening verse (vs. 1), the meaning of the predicate adjective good is ambiguous. Psalm 25:1-10 Riding Out The Waves. In addition, as he looked around he saw those who had no regard for God living in prosperity and apparent happiness. 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. Take a look at v. 1: "God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart." Psalm 73 is our passage and the title is "When You Get a Raw Deal." Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. Or maybe he does business with an ungodly person in town who seems to have the Midas touch. He DIDNT but he said, he almost did. Psalm 73 tells the story of a godly man who felt his faith slipping away. He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. To help us, we will turn to the Psalms, where the raw emotions of real people who just hit the wall are expressed, and where deep reservoirs of truth are found that can help you through. The envy he had of the wicked was like blinders to his eyes. Such a condition is contrary to the basic belief that God rewards the good with good. 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! 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. :17 If I had said, I will speak thus, behold I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. Job was a righteous man who lost all his children, his possessions, and his health. Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance According to verse 18, God will place the wicked on the slippery slope that the psalmist almost experienced (vs. 2). "You try to honor God and stay humble and do good, you'll have a tough, mediocre life. He wrote, Why, but why should I bless Him? 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. Verses 17b-19 show us that Asaph was now seeing things differently. Psalm 25:2 E-Mail Challenge. 2 From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Psalms 73:20. Baptist, So there I am. In v. 4-12, he breaks down what he had observed. Ps 26:7-8) in dramatic transformation of the psalmists despairing doubt (vv. I like Asaph already. 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. Asaph is acknowledging what Hebrews 11:6 names as the very essence of faith. In every fiber I rebelled. 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. There is a sense in which we cannot be nearer to God in one view than another. 173.] Psalm 50:1-5 A psalm of Asaph. Verse 27 summarizes his new reorientation concerning the wicked. Isn't that just like life sometimes? What do you do when with your theology clashes with reality? 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. Blessed be the Lord for evermore. The centrality of the worship experience (cf. You didn't see that coming. Free Sermon Illustrations for Preaching : In A Recent Survey In Discipleship Journal People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? Two of the words refer to the people he had been tracking. But if they did, they were foolish. a. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." WHEN a man is sick, everybody knows what is good for him. But from the perspective of eternity, from the point of view in worship, there is a quick ride to the bottom.

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