Psalm 73

by T.J. Sands, Burrow-in-Furness, U.K. | Category: The Psalms Of Asaph | May 1984

Last month we were thinking from Psalm 50 of the problem of wrong behaviour among God's people. Now, in Psalm 73, we look at the problem of unpunished wickedness in the world. "Is there any point in living a godly life," some were beginning to ask, "when God doesn't seem to know about, or to punish, wrongdoing?"

Early in the psalm, in verses three to five, we have vividly sketched for us the path of the wicked. Verse 3 reveals their lifestyle. They had prosperity. The most evil men had thriving businesses, plenty of money and a carefree time, while saints of God were often struggling along. Then verse 4 pictures their health. They appeared to be strong and fit, and then as now, some of the godliest saints were knowing the most painful and drawn-out illnesses. And thirdly, verse 5 mentions their apparent lack of troubles. The common day-by-day trials of family griefs, employment difficulties and so on just seemed to pass them by.

Asaph had seen how these three facets of the experience of the wicked had moulded their attitude to life. "Pride is as a chain about their neck," he tells us. And flowing from that love of self were acts of violence to obtain their own ends; threatening words and evil scheming. To summarize, they were, in every way, gratifying their own lusts without any concern for others. But it is their attitude to God and His things which amazes the psalmist most. "They have set their mouth against the heavens," (RVM) is surely a most graphic portrayal of the words of man usurping the Word of God.

Asaph, as led by the Holy Spirit, is very frank and helpful in showing us the development of his own attitude to these things. Let's look first at verse 3. "I was envious at the arrogant." If there is a single temptation which Satan places before every one of us, it is surely envy. How eager he is to point out to us the mediocre worker in our class at school who is now a senior executive. Or a much younger relative who has a house or car so much better than our own. Sometimes shady dealing and unfair tactics seem to have paid off. But deep down Asaph knew where true blessing lay. "Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart."

Asaph's second reaction to the wicked (after envy) was perplexity. "Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency." He was unable to see into the future and trace the purpose running through God's dealings with him. Why does God allow painful things to confront us? Maybe He's taken a loved one, not very old, from by your side; perhaps you're in fear every time you leave your home. Have redundancy and unemployment come upon you? Like Asaph we are often perplexed.

But, his third and final reaction to the wicked was enlightenment. Yes, light from God gave him help and peace, though there was still much he could not grasp. However did this come to pass? "I went into the sanctuary of God," he tells us, "and considered their latter end." There the reality of the lost eternity, facing the man who mocks God and persecutes His people, was seen stark and terrible, and the present successes of the wicked were seen in their true light hollow and transient.

If we look at verses 22 to 24 we can see the threefold blessing of God which brought reassurance to Asaph even in the midst of much perplexity. Number 1: "Thou hast holden my right hand." God has never let us down in the past, has He? Number 2: "Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel." That's a promise for every remaining moment of our lives here on earth. And Number 3: "Thou shalt. . . afterward receive me to glory." There is, like a bright strong light at the end of a narrow dark place, the abiding place in heaven that Jesus is preparing for us.

Surely, with such thoughts as these, we can praise God with Asaph and say, "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever."

T.J. Sands, Burrow-in-Furness, U.K. | May 1984
The Psalms Of Asaph