God, Good, Evil, and Me Psalm 73

 

God, Good, Evil, and Me Psalm 73

Introduction:

God’s perspective, it goes without saying,  is not the same as ours. He sees all of time and history through the lens of omniscience and eternity, we can only see through the lens of our lives and a short amount of history. Today’s text is found in Psalms 73 and this Psalms deals with the problem of our perspective compared to God’s. It was a problem in David’s day, just as it was in Job’s and just as it in our ours. It comes down to one of the most fundamental questions about God and man. If we could put it in the form of a question instead of a Psalms, it would be, “God why do you allow evil to exist and why do you not punish those who practice evil?”

Some Background: 

The 5 Books of the Book of Psalms / The divisions of the book of Psalms.

Our book of Psalms is actually a collection or five separate books. These books are arranged by category or subject and that arrangement was probably done over time but especially finalized by the great Hebrew scribe Ezra, during the time period when Israel was return back to their homeland after their release from Babylonian captivity, around 450 BC.

I. Psalms 1–41. Theme is Adoring Worship, Genesis/ Man

II. Psalms 42–72. Wondering Worship, Exodus/ Israel

III. Psalms 73–89. Ceaseless Worship, Leviticus/ Sanctuary

IV. Psalms 90–106. Submissive Worship, Numbers/ Moses and Wilderness

V. Psalms 107–150. Perfected Worship, Deuteronomy / Law and Land

The major types or categories of the Psalms.

1. Didactic / Teaching or Wisdom. Psalms of instruction.

2. History. psalms composed of references to historical events of the nation of Israel.

3. Hallelujah, Praise To The Lord.

4. Penitential. Confession to God.

5. Supplication. Seeking God’s help.

6. Thanksgiving. Giving Thanks to God

7. Messianic. Prophetic Psalms Looking for Christ.

8. Nature. Seeing God in Creation

9.  Pilgrim. Sung during pilgrimages for Passover, Tabernacle and Trumpet Holy Days.

10. Imprecatory. Psalms Seeking Justice from God

Author and Theme:

Psalms 73 Is a didactic or wisdom Psalms. Written by Asaph, who was one of King Davids three chief Psalm writers. Psalms 73–83, along with the 50th Psalm, are all attributed to Asaph, who wrote more of the Psalms than anyone other than David.

Theme of the 73rd Psalm. Why do the wicked prosper?

Secure Stand To Slippery Slope – Psalms 73:1-3

A Believer With Questions

Asaph begins with a strong statement of faith. He is not doubting God’s existence or His goodness, but he is having doubts about God’s administration of justice. First notice his statement of faith.

Psalms 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. There is no doubt here. Asaph declares with full assurance and faith, “Surely, absolutely, God is good to Israel, to his covenanted people, his chosen nation.”  

Asaph further qualifies that statement because not all of the people within the nation of Israel would be blessed by God, so he adds, “even to such as are of a clean heart.” The idea of a clean heart is one that is pure in its purpose of obeying and following the Lord. It doesn’t mean sinless or never having doubts. Later in this very Psalms Asaph is going to confess to both those things.

Jesus may have been thinking of this verse or many others like it when he was preaching the sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. This is where the true follower of God turns his eyes, his life and his purpose toward God and Jesus said that would be their reward.

So far so good, Asaph. God is good toward his people, those who live righteously and seek Him. Asaph wants it understood, “I know this is true. I have no doubts about God and his goodness, his love, his mercy or his grace.”

That would have been a pretty short Psalms if he had stopped there. But he didn’t because the theme of the Psalms isn’t God’s goodness, it is God’s dealings with wickedness. Its about God, Good, Evil and Me. (that would make a good title for a sermon, I think.)

Now look at Psalms 73:2-3 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity (Hebrew: the shalom) of the wicked.

Asaph expresses a real danger personal danger. My feet were almost gone, I was close to falling. His feet, which had stood upon such solid ground in vs. 1, now were in danger of slipping because he couldn’t understand why the wicked had prosperity, peace, seemingly blessings. He was having a hard time trying to walk on the righteous path. Why, he asks, does the holy God, who hates sin, let those who pursue it the most flourish? Why does He let His own people suffer in contrast to the wicked who prosper?

Asaph’s is asking …

 A Legitimate but Dangerous Question

If Asaph’s questions and doubts haven’t occurred to you, then you probably haven’t been around very long. We face this question as soon as we step out into the wide world. From grade school though the rest of our life, we can see what Asaph saw and if we are honest, we will ask the same question.

“Why does that little girl in Kindergarten get away with knocking down my blocks and stealing them for her tower?” Later on, we ask, “Lord, why do you allow arrogant, evil, wicked, corrupt people to prosper as entertainers, athletes, businesspeople, politicians, internet moguls and so many other high places in society?” That little girl in kindergarten who stole your blocks is probably now in Washington DC getting inside stock tips and take bribes from lobbyists. Maybe not, but you get the idea.

The wider and deeper you look at the world, the more wicked and despicable are the people who are running it. Like Job, Elijah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel, Asaph is struggling with this issue. He is being honest with God and through God’s word, honest with us even today. When you think about that it makes the Bible a little dangerous, doesn’t it?

If we try and deal with this problem from our own perspective, we wind up in the situation our nation is in today. Trying to equate or equalize all disparities of justice, wealth and privilege and making the situation so much worse than it was. Movements like LGBTQ, DEI, ESG, phrases like “being woke” or what a SJW does are all attempts by man without God to try and fix the problem Asaph is talking about. (If you don’t know what all those acronyms mean, you’re probably better off than I am and I’m not going to use precious time in the pulpit to define them)

But I will say this, those movements and the social justice warriors who try and ram them down our throats, don’t see God, goodness, or evil as Asaph did. They see the problem but not from Asaph’s beginning solid ground. Asaph had an anchor in his faith, but this present society is adrift in a sea of anarchy with no chart, compass or anchor. Trying to fix the world’s wickedness or your own wickedness while swimming in that wickedness is like trying to throw out an anchor with the rope tied round your neck. The result, because it lacks the solid standing of faith in God, is why our society and lives are so divided, broken, bitter and hopeless today. Seeing the problem but lacking the proper perspective can only destroy not restore.

Asaph goes on and addresses the full depths of this question of God’s justice in vv. 4-12.

Struggling With Sinners Prosperity – Psalms 73:4-13

Bewildered By Bad People’s Prosperity

Asaph sees the ungodly, those who aren’t even pretending to follow the Lord and is astounded because they are coasting through life, while the righteous are struggling.

Asaph records five area that he see the wicked being blessed instead of punished.

In vs 3 we already read, he sees their Prosperity In Life – Psalms 73:3 I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

He can’t help but ask, Why should the wicked have it so good, while those who follow God struggle.

In vs 4 He is upset by Their Peace At Death  - Psalms 73:4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

Even when they do die, it is quick and painless, no suffering.

In vs 5 By their Placid Living - Psalms 73:5 They are not in trouble as other men;
neither are they plagued like other men.

He is amazed that the wicked live in sin and yet don’t seem to have any difficulties or problems. The just go from party to party, good time to good time.

 In vss. 6-9 By Their Pride Against God - Psalms 73:6-9 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.  7 Their eyes stand out with fatness:
they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

These people are proud of their wealth, their possessions, their fame and fortune. They flaunt it like the jewelry they wear. Nor are they ashamed of the Violence they use to acquire their wealth. Asaph says they wear violence like a garment. They are corrupt, they set their words against the word of God. They dare to yell in the day, the wicked things, that used to be whispered in the darkest of night.

In vss. 10-11 by their Power over God’s People. Psalms 73:10-11 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. Asaph sees the final consequence of God not taking action against the evil, he says as this continues without intervention from God, then God’s people turn to these wicked evil people, they are given a full cup from the resources of the wicked. The end result is in vs. 11. Psalms 73:11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? How will God found out? Does God really know anything at all about what is happening on earth?

Job expressed this same thought, in Job 21:13-15 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.  15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Asaph sees all this and even though the evidence is probably amplified by his own feelings, still there is no denying the truth of what he sees. And here is the real danger to Asaph and his faith in God. It’s a danger we face today as much or more, than Asaph.

Asaph’s Peril Psalms 73:12-14 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

His near spiritual fatal fall, his dangerous conclusion is this, “Why am I even trying to live for the Lord? Having a pure heart is worthless and I’m cleansing my life for nothing, because I am suffering and being even being corrected by the Lord all the while the wicked prosper without God.

Now that is brutally honest, and it can be brutally fatal to a person’s walk with God. It brings us down to this question.  

Is it worth it?

This is a question we all must answer. Even if we don’t see everything with the same emotions and filters that Asaph saw, we often come to this same conclusion. Maybe it isn’t worth it to believe in God. Maybe it’s not worth it to try to live a good life and follow God’s word or walk in God’s way.

Is it? Is it worth it to go to church, to share the Gospel, to raise my family as God directs? Is it worth it to read your Bible. Is it worth it to pray to God who doesn’t punish the wicked? Is it worth it to be a child of God?

The last book in the Old Testament written by the prophet Malachi shows that this danger to one’s faith was still strong, and growing stronger because here the people are talking back to God’s prophet, and they say in Malachi 3:14-15 … It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

To the people of Malachi’s time, they tripped over Asaph’s peril and now believe it not worth serving God, the wickedness of the world produces a better reward than serving God.

But, before you answer that question for yourself, let me tell you a true story.

Have you ever heard the story of William Borden?

William Borden was born in 1887 and was the heir to a silver mining fortune, that his father had accumulated in Colorado. He often joked about being mistaken for the guy who created condensed milk, but the family’s money came from metal not milk. In today’s money, William Borden would have been worth millions if not billions of dollars.

While still young, his mother took him to Chicago Avenue church, where R.A. Torrey was preaching. William heard the Gospel and gave his heart to Jesus Christ. Then around 1900, after he graduated high school, his parents sent him with a chaperone on a trip around the world before he would start college. What he saw in places like China broke the young boy’s heart. So many people and none seemed to know anything about the Lord who had died for them. He traveled to London where once again R. A. Torrey was preaching and once again William answered the call, but this time to serve his Lord as a missionary back to China.

He entered Yale Divinity School, when Yale Divinity school still taught the Bible. He began having prayer groups and through those groups a revival broke out that sent from the freshman class right to the oldest senior. He was an athlete, president of Phi Beta Kappa and with his own money he funded a rescue mission in New Haven, where he would go and preach an pray with the derelicts, outcasts and alcoholics.

He went on to Princton in 1909, there he impressed his professor and fellow students with his humbleness and dedication. At only 22 he took charge of the National Bible Institute, was a board member of the Moody Bible Institute, oversaw the operation of four rescue missions and was a member of the North American Council of the China Inland mission society, from which was ultimately sent out as a missionary to the Muslims of northern China. Before he went to China he wanted to learn the Arabic language and went to Egypt to live with a Syrian family.

Doesn’t it make you wonder why most people have never heard of William Borden? This young man before he was 25 had done more for the cause of Christ than most of will ever do in our lifetime. Surely, he would be the greatest missionary to China that ever preached the Gospel. Perhaps it would have been that way, but something happened in Egypt in 1913, William Borden contracted cerebral meningitis and died in less than three weeks. His mother who all those years before had taken him to church and watched him give his life to the Lord, arrived just in time for her son’s burial in Cairo. He never made it to China but instead was  buried away from his family and away from his the mission field where he so desired to serve the Lord.

Was it worth for William Borden, after all he did, after all he sacrificed? Was it really worth it, just to die so far away and seemingly without reaching his goal.

Perhaps, William Borden is just more evidence of what Asaph was seeing, the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. Asaph has expressed his questions and doubts, but something is about to change and make the issue not only very clear but instead of weakening Asaph’s faith, it would become stronger than when he began his questions.

Go to vs. 15.

Sanctuary Insight - Psalms 73:15 – 22

Back To Solid Ground

Asaph begins to pull back from the edge in vs 15-16 Psalms 73:15-16 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

He knows that not only is he on dangerous ground but if he starts turning his questions and doubts into exclamations and diatribes, he is going to damage more than just himself. He will hurt others in his generation. This leaves Asaph in a terrible dilemma; he can’t say anything and he can’t resolve the wickedness of men and the justice of God. He says, “I tried to understand, but it was just too painful for me to keep trying.”

And yet we have Psalms 73 right before us. Asaph did speak out and that means he did come to an understanding, but it wasn’t due to his own reasoning or observations. No, it came when he went to the Lord’s house. Psalms 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Going into the sanctuary, the temple, gave Asaph the perspective he needed to find the right answer and to keep from slipping into the trap of wickedness and evil.

Asaph went to church so to speak. He was a song leader, a Psalm writer in the service at the Temple and as he went to where God was praised and God was worshipped, he began to understand. His perspective lifted from the wickedness of men around him to the wonder of God above and beyond him. He saw eternity instead of immediacy, He saw the failing of  riches and the wicked who pursue them, and he saw the reward of those who pursue God.

Psalms 73:18-20 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.  19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest,
thou shalt despise their image.

When he went to the Lord’s house, he saw that God wasn’t ignoring the wicked but had allowed them to reach a level and then like someone trying to walk up an ice-covered hillside, they would be completely brought down. God had given them enough rope to hang themselves, is how Asaph would say it, if he was from East Texas.

Asaph’s perspective changed when he considered, not the prosperity of the rich around him, but the promises of God before him, not the wickedness of men in effect now but the will of God that affects eternity.

Centuries later, John the aged apostle would write it in a letter to his “little children” of the faith, 1 John 2:16-17 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Asaph was humbled in the sanctuary and repented before His God and regained his spiritual solid ground. Look at Psalms 73:21-22 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

I was like an animal unable to see the truth. That is a very strong statement of confession.

Sanity in the Sanctuary

You want to make sense of this world? Do you want to understand how all this mess and anarchy around us can be changed, or endured or fought against? The answer isn’t in who you vote for next November, it’s not in planning a civil war or using violence against all those idiots on TV and in your news feed. What you need is perspective because What you see depends on where you stand. And you need to stand on the solid, sure, steadfast ground of faith in God.

What will give you that perspective is being in the Lord’s house. It is hearing praises sung to Him and His people fellowshipping with Him and with one another. It is hearing His word proclaimed and taught as He meant it to be heard then and now. You need to hear God speak, not some pale false prophet of prosperity or personal visions.

This world and its wickedness will never make any sense, it has been saturated in sin, anchored in anarchy and poisoned by perversion though Satan cunning and power but in the midst of that wickedness, stand the Lord’s churches like cities of refuge, like islands in a hurricane, like shelters in a terrible storm.

In The Lord’s House We Can See Later in Psalms 77:13, Asaph would write, “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?”

Jesus said, “Matthew 16:18 upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Do you need a foundation that will stand against the attacks of this world? Then stand with the church on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ!

Paul said, Ephesians 2:21-22 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Do you need a shelter from sin where you can meet with God? Then shelter in the church, because it is his dwelling place.

Peter talking to the Gentiles who were the Lord’s church, his new house of witness, his sanctuary, “1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (a special, possessed by God) people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

Do you need to have a powerful sense of purpose and belonging when the world tosses you away like so much garbage, then be a part of God’s chosen generation, his royal priesthood. Know you are precious to Him because he possesses you and will never let anything take you from His love.

You know I could have preached this whole sermon in just one sentence, “If you want to understand God plans, then go to church.” But what’s the fun in a one sentence sermon?

Look at what going to God’s house did to Asaph’s attitude in vs 23

Singing of God’s Goodness - Psalms 73:23–28

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.  But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all thy works.

Better Than Before

Asaph started in faith, but as he walked out in the world and saw it's wickedness and what he thought was God’s unwillingness to execute justice, his faith wavered. He began to wonder, "Is following God  really worth the effort, the suffering and the sacrifice?"

But, then he went to church, aren’t you glad he went. We have this incredible wisdom Psalm today, because Asaph when to church and understood. His perspective changed, His vision was lifted and his heart came back even stronger in faith to his God. Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Will it be worth it?

With the change of perspective comes a change in the question. Instead of asking is it worth, we should ask will it be worth it? Life is short but eternity is forever.

Will it be worth it, in eternity? Will what you sacrifice, suffering, accomplish for God today, count for eternity? Listen to the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I know it’s often hard to see this truth, much less live it and I believe the only way you can is by doing what Asaph did, stand in the sanctuary and understand. Come to the Lord’s house today and find hope for tomorrow.

Conclusion

Remember the story I told you of William Borden?

Let me tell you the end and then you must decide if it was worth it for him, and more importantly you must decide if following the Lord, despite the wickedness around us, is worth it for you.

I told you his mother arrived just to watch her son buried in Cairo, Egypt. On his grave were inscribed words suggested by Charles Erdman: "Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation of such a life." Memorial services were conducted for Borden at Princeton University and at a little African Methodist church where Borden had taught Sunday school for two years. Other services were held at Yale Hope Mission, at Moody Church, at Marble Collegiate Church in New York, and in Japan, Korea, India and South Africa.

In his will Borden left $800,000 to the China Inland Mission and other Christian mission agencies. China Inland Mission built and named the Borden Memorial Hospital in Lanzhou, Gansu, in his memory.

At his bedside they found a note in his Bible, that he had written while he was dying. It simply read, “No reserve, no retreat, and no regrets.”

Borden’s life and death in this world seemed short and wasted but his sacrifice, and the lives he touched with the Gospel are still paying dividends in eternity.

Will it be worth it? As we stand this morning in God’s house, with God’s people, hearing God’s word we can see that the answer is Oh, yes! 10,000 times 10,000 times over yes!