I just taught the ladies in my Sunday School Class Psalms 73,and I guess I will share~
Psalm is about Asaph, who was a levite, and a leader of David's choir.
WHEN I HAVE DOUBTS
73:1-3
Truly God is good to Israel!
to such as are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked,
Asaph began this by affirming that though God is good to those in Israel, who trust Him and are pure in heart, he himself nearly slipped in his confidence in the Lord.
He almost slipped because he was envious of the prosperity of the wicked.
This problem was so over whelming; he almost lost faith in God's goodness.
Why should the people who oppose God be better off than those who trust Him?
73:4-12
For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
violence covers them like a garment.
Their eyes bulge with abundance;
they have more than heart could wish.
They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They speak loftily.
They set their mouth against the heavens.
And their tongue walks through the earth.
Therefore his people return here,
and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
And they say, 'How does God know?'
and is there knowledge in the Most High?'
Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches,
Asaph explained the prosperity that troubled him.
He observed that the wicked seem not to suffer trouble as other people do.
They cover themselves with pride and violence.
Their evil devices are unbounded.
Their speech is scornful, malicious, and arrogant, as if they owned the earth.
Many people are carried away by their evil(they turn to them) and thinking God does not know of their sin.
With no cares in the world wicked, arrogant people continue to prosper.
73:13-14
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
For all day long I have been plagued,
and chastened every morning.
Asaph said he was confused over the value of his salvation.
He felt that he had cleansed himself in vain because since trusting the Lord he had been plagued and chastened.
Like many saints before and after him, Asaph was puzzled that God seemed to prosper the wicked and punish the righteous.
73:15-20
If I had said, I will speak thus,
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
When I thought how to understand this,
It ws too painful for me--
Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
Oh, now they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake.
You shall despise their image.
Asaph overcame his doubts by considering the destiny of the wicked.
His words are like a confession, for he knew the treachery his words could have been to the congregation.
The entire conflict was painful to him, till the sanctuary he understood what will happen to the wicked.
God will set them in dangerus slippery places where they will stumble and fall, be cast...down in ruin, and suddenly destroyed.
When God finally sets things right the wicked will be like fantasies, counterfeits of reality. This was the negative aspect of the solution to Asaph's problem.
73:21-26
Thus my heart was grieved,
and I was vexed in my mind.
I was so foolish and ignorant,
I was like a beast before You.
Nevertheless I am continually-
with You;
You hold me by, my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel.
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth
that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fall;
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
The positive aspect of the solution was Asaph's conviction of his own glorious destiny.
He confessed that his perspective had been dulled by brutish ignorance.
If he had not been so ignorant, he admitted, his heart would not have been so bitter.
His true position was in stark contrast with the wicked, for he knew God was always with him and will guide him wisely with His counsel and receive him into glory.
God would guide him through his troubles so that he would enjoy honor in this life.
Aseph was probably looking for deliverance in his lifetime.
This would demstrate that he was in God's favor.
Of course, believers today know from the NT that God's punishment of the wicked and blessing of the righteous extend beyond death.
In addition, Asaph affirmed that God was his only possession in heaven or on the earth.
Though Asaph was overwhelmed, God was his strength.
Some wicked peole prosper materially but only the spiritual possessions of the righteous will last.
73:27-28
For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
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 Your works.
Asaph concluded that those who are far from God and are unfaithful will be destroyed, but that those who are near God find joy and safety.
Though he had nearly slipped in his confidence in God. He now as reassured that God was keeping him secure.
God was is refuge. His shelter from danger.
Nearness to God always help believers maintain a balanced perspective on material things on the wicked.
Ask: What kinds of circumstances today cause people to almost slip and go astray?
What doubts or difficult questions trouble people today?
Why should we be obedient Christians if we will still face suffering?
How can we keep our doubts from driving us away from God and ensure we will draw closer to Him?
Hope you enjoy....
