BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART (PSALM 73)
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Once, truth and falsehood met at a crossroads, and after they had greeted each other, Falsehood asked Truth how the world went with him. “How it goes with me?” said Truth. “Each year worse off than the last.” “I can see the plight you are in,” said Falsehood, glancing at Truth’s ragged clothes. “Why, even your breath stinks.” “Not a bite has passed my lips these three days,” said Truth. “Wherever I go, I get troubles, not only for myself, but for few who love me still. It’s no way to live, this.” “You have only yourself to blame,” said Falsehood to him. “Come with me, You’ll see better days, dress in fine clothes like mine, and eat plenty, only you must not gainsay anything I say.”
Truth consented, just that once, to go and eat with falsehood because he was so hungry he could hardly keep upright. They set out together and came to a great city, and went into the best hotel, which was full of people, and sat and ate of the best. When many hours had gone by, and most of the people had gone, Falsehood rapped with his fist on the table, and the hotelkeeper himself came up to see to their wants, for Falsehood looked like a great nobleman. He asked what they desired.
“How much longer do I have to wait for the change from the sovereign I gave the boy who sets the table?” said Falsehood. The host called the boy, who said that he had no sovereign. The Falsehood grew angry and began to shout, saying he would never have believed that such a hotel would rob the people who went in there to eat, but he would bear it in mind another time, and he threw a sovereign at the hotelkeeper. “There,” he said, “bring me the change.”
Fearing that his hotel would get a bad name, the hotelkeeper would not take the sovereign, but gave change from the reputed sovereign of the argument, and boxed the ears of the boy who could not remember taking the coin. The boy began to cry, and protest that he had not had the sovereign, but no one believed him, he sighed deeply and said, “Alas, where are you, unhappy Truth? Are you no more?”
“No, I’m here,” said Truth, through clenched teeth, “but I had not eaten for three days, and now I may not speak. You must find the right of it by yourself, my tongue is tied.”
When they got outside, Falsehood burst out laughing and said tot Truth, “You see how I contrive things?”
“Better I should die of hunger,” said Truth, “than to do the things you do.” So they parted forever.
Asaph is an interesting person. The grandson of Levi (1 Chron 6:38-39), he was appointed not only to sound cymbals of brass (1 Chron 15:19) but to be the chief of all musicians (1 Chron 16:5). Asaph was a contemporary of David, who delivered his psalm to be performed by Asaph and his brethren. The whole family of Asaph including his brothers (1 Chron 16:7) and sons (1 Chron 25:2) were singers (2 Chron 5:12). Under his leadership were a hundred and twenty priests (2 Chron 5:12). Besides a singer, he was also a seer (2 Chron 29:30). This psalm marks the third book of the Psalms (73-89). These Psalms are classified as "The Asaph Group," composed of Psalms 73-83. Overall twelve psalms bear his name in the psalms (Ps 50, 73-83), the only psalmist King David overshadows..
The psalm can be unofficially and uncharacteristically divided by the first and same word of the psalm, translated as “truly” (Ps 73:1), “verily” (Ps 73:13) and “surely” (Ps 73:18). The three stages also depict the psalmist’s literary progress - before (vv 1-12), during and after his awakening.
How do we praise the Lord when we see so much evil and injustice present in the world today? What is praise to God when we don’t feel like it? Why is God patient in the midst of man’s wickedness and weakness, including ours?
Be Clean in Character
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. 7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. 8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. 9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say, How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?” 12 This is what the wicked are like — always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
Quotes on truth:
Truth is the daughter of time.
Truth is a lonely warrior.
Truth is not decided by the majority.
Truth is what stands the test of experience.
Truth is truth even is no one believes it. A lie is a lie even if everyone believes it.
A lie can travel half way around the world while truth is putting on it shoes.
Daniel Jacobs, the co-Founder and CEO of Avanoo, told how a boy had been picking on his four-year old Becky. Later instead of harassing his sister directly, he spread a false rumor that she’d pooped in her pants. As a result, Becky’s friends then refused to touch and play with her because they said she was “dirty.”
The older brother then took the sister out for ice cream, and told her to order whatever she wanted. She asked for a banana split. As she sat and began to eat, she felt better and her smile returned. Eventually, the brother asked what had bothered her most. “I didn’t poop in my pants,” she explained. “But one stupid boy lied… and everyone believed him. Or if they didn’t believe him, they also didn’t believe me. Now I have no friends.”
Tears formed in her eyes and it was heartbreaking. But in that moment, an old woman with brown eyes and many wrinkles pulled up a chair next to them. She looked at the little girl and spoke: “I couldn’t help but overhear your story,” she said, with sympathy in her voice. “Do you mind if I share some advice?”
She looked up at the woman and nodded.
The woman brushed a piece of hair out of Becky’s eyes, and said: “That boy wants to make you feel bad. If you feel bad, he wins. If you instead feel good and help others feel good, you win. It’s always a choice. And there’s always a winner.” The old woman smiled, gave my sister a hug, stood slowly, and then left. Becky looked at me. Her face opened up with a huge smile. She said, “Thank you for the ice cream. I feel good now. And I win.”
https://www.avanoo.com/evil-preschoolers-business-people/
The first verse seals the theme of the psalm. What is unique is this word “truly” never begins a chapter in the Bible. Surely can be translated as truly (Jer 10:19), verily (Ps 39:5), indeed (Num 12:2) and certainly (Lam 2:16). “Surely” means undeniably, undoubtedly and unquestionably. God is good to those who are pure in heart. No psalm mentions the heart (vv 1, 7, 13, 21, 26 twice) more than chapter 73, doubling the next highest (Ps 101). No psalm speaks to the heart and of the heart like Psalm 73, four times personally as “my heart” (vv 13, 21, 26 twice). To think of it, the heart of the matter is the heart. To be pure (v 1) is translated as clean (Job 11:4), choice (Song 6:9) and clear as the sun (Song 6:10). The root word is derived from chosen (1 Chron 9:22), manifest (Eccl 3:18), polished (Isa 49:2), cleansed (Jer 4:11), brightened (Jer 51:11), purged (Ezek 20:38). It comes from a person who is tested, true and trustworthy. Slip and lost (v 1) are different in that one (slip) is lost balance and the other (lost) is “lost footing.” Feet and foothold/steps are different. One is the body and the other is the steps or going (Ps 17:5).
The first reason (for) for Asaph’s dilemma is given in verse 3 – envy or jealousy (Num 5:14) or zeal (2 Sam 21:2) of the peace (shalom) or prosperity of the wicked. The second reason (for) is in verse 4. The word for “struggle” is bands in KJV, or pain in NASB or pangs (plural) in RSV. Healthy is fat (Gen 41:4), rank (Gen 41:5), fed (Ezek 34:3) and plenteous (Hab 1:16).
Why was the psalmist envious? Because of arrogant/foolish people (v 3, “halal” as in hallelujah) and the peace (v 3, shalom) of the wicked. These two words are most recognizable Hebrew greetings, one (halal) to God and the other (shalom) for men. Arrogant/foolish (3x in the Bible) is a minority translation; the majority translation is praise (117x), glory (14x), boast (10x). Many of our problems are traced to comparison, competition and contradictions. The repeated phrase “like other men” (v 5, NIV, common human burdens; human ills) dominate and depress our mind and ministry. Human burdens and human ills (v 5) are “by human wills/like other men” in KJV. Verses 4 and 5 refer to the physical side. Burden (v 5) is the word for labour. Ill (v 5) is to be sick or stricken or struck or smitten. The verb plagued is touch (Gen 3:3) or strike (Ex 12:22).
“Necklace” and “clothe” (v 6) are verbs in Hebrew. Necklace is chain, cover or compass. Clothe (v 7) is overwhelmed (Ps 61:2), fainted (Ps 107:5), swoon (Lam 2:11). The pattern of both former and latter – necklace and clothes, pride and violence - is the cause and consequences. Pride is excellency (Deut 33:26), swelling (Ps 46:3), highness (Isa 13:3) and haughtiness (Isa 13:11). Violence is wrong (Gen 16:5), cruelty (Gen 49:5), unrighteous (Ex 23:1), false (Deut 19:16) and damage (Prov 26:6).
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After talking about the internal (v 6, pride), Aspah moves to the external. In KJV their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish (v 7). Stand out (v 7) is go out or went forth in Hebrew, and “more” is cross over or pass on. The eyes and the heart (v 7, KJV) are both organs of desire, but the mouth or tongue (v 9) are for declaration.
Verse 8 is from speaking, verse 9 is the mouth and the tongue - They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. There are two “speak” in Hebrew (KJV, Ps 73:8 “They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily”). Heavens and the earth (v 9) are the vertical and the horizontal- no boundary, against God and men. Verse 10 is the second “therefore” (vv 6, 10). Verse 10 talks of maximized profit. Abundance is wrung out (Lev 1:15) or suck out (Ezek 23:34).
The last thing and ultimate purpose the ungodly does is to challenge God. Does He know? Does He care? Does He intervene?
The last conclusion (v 12) of the first stanza is “free of care, they go on amassing wealth.” Free of care means peaceable (1 Chron 4:40), at ease (Job 16:12), quietness (Job 20:20), prosper (Ps 73:12) and wealthy (Jer 49:31). Amassing is increase (Job 8:7) and grow (Job 8:11). Wealth is mostly translated as army (56x), man of valor (37x), host (29x).
Be Circumspect with Choices/Be Clear in Conscience (vv 13-17)
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. 15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. 16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
A man asked God: “Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today? Well, I woke up late and my car took forever to start. At lunch they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait. On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call. And on top of it all off, when I got home 'I just want to soak my feet in my new foot massager and relax, BUT it wouldn't work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did You do that?”
God replied: “Let me see, the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of My Angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that. I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road. The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work. Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered. Oh and that foot massager, it had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.”
The second passage begins again with “surely” or “verily,” as in verse 1. There is at least an “I” in each verse, including two “I” or “me” in verses 13, 14, 16 and 17, and three “I” in verse 15.
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.
15 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;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
KJV
Discrepancy
Duration
Discourteous
Distress
Discovery
Emptiness Enslavement
Embarassment
Endurance Ending
Futility
Forthcoming
Forbiddance
Feeling
Finding
The second passage begins again with “surely” or “verily,” as in verse 1. In vain (v 13) means no purpose (Isa 30:7) and empty (Jer 51:34). Cleanse (KJV) and wash (v 13) are different things. Like hear and hands, cleanse and wash is inside and outside. The psalmist felt being a good, godly and guarded person produces no benefit, blessing or breakthrough in life. The repetition of the phrase “my heart” (Ps 73:13, 73:21, 73:26) means he felt it strongly, steeply and somberly.
Verse 13 is the cleansing, but verse 14 is the chastening. Punishment is rebuke (2 Kings 19:3), chastened (Ps 73:14), punishments (Ps 149:7), reproof (Prov 1:23), correction (Prov 3:11).
“Afflicted” and “punishment” are different. Affliction is the rebuke, the punishment is the reproof. One is condemnation, the other is correction. The first is hurting and the second can be healing. Day and morning (v 14) make a whole. Day and night means currently, consistently, constantly, continually and ceaselessly.
His claim of innocence (v 13) instead of bravery can be seen as a betrayal or offensive (v 15) in KJV. It is also translated as deceitfully (Ex 21:8), treachery (Judg 9:23), transgressed (1 Sam 14:33) and unfaithfully (Ps 78:57). There is no sympathy, no support or sophistication, sagacity and smartness in this view.
Trouble (v 16) is toil (Gen 41:51), perverseness (Num 23:21), labour (Deut 26:7), misery (Judg 10:16), sorrow (Job 3:10), wickedness (Job 4:8), trouble (Job 5:6), wearisome (Job 7:3), travail (Eccl 4:4), grievousness (Isa 10:1), iniquity (Hab 1:13). The verb is found mostly in Ecclesiastes 22 times, translated as labor 21 times. In Job it is trouble (Job 5:6-7) and in Psalms it is mischief (Ps 7:14, 16, 10:7, 14, 94:20, 140:9). It is physical toil, mental torture and emotionally tiring.
Final destiny (v 17) is simply last (Gen 49:1), latter (Num 24:14), last end (Num 23:10), at the length (Prov 29:21). Understood (v 17, biyn) is contrasted with know (v 16, yada). Know is knowledge level, understanding is reason. Know is “what” but understand is “why.” It is the “aha” moment, the x and y, eureka, eye-opener and the exclamation point.
Be Careful of Consequences (vv 18-28)
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20 They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. 21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
I have not been to a movie for close to a year and a half, but recently accompanied a friend to see a Donnie Yen and Andy Lau movie??, although I have no idea what the movie was about. At least an action movie would keep me awake.
In the 1960s Hong Kong rogue cop and chief detective Lui Lok, also known as the “five-hundred-million-dollar inspector,” teamed up with gangster Ng Sik-ho who controlled Hong Kong's heroin trade in the same period. Both had meteoric rise, one in the police department and one in the crime underworld.
Lui retired early in 1968 at 48 and emigrated to Canada with his wife and eight children five years later as the Independent Commission Against Corruption began to investigate him. Lui was the most notorious among four corrupt officers of the same rank at the time and he has remained on the ICAC's most wanted list since 1976. His assets in Hong Kong were frozen. Fearing extradition, Lui once fled to Taiwan, but later settled in Canada. He died recently in Canada on May 13, 2017, but no death notice was published because his family wanted a low key funeral. His funeral was held in a secluded area in Greater Vancouver and his name was not even on the funeral home's list.
http://www.scmp.com/article/714913/corrupt-sergeants-death-canada-leaves-loose-ends
Ng Sik-ho, on the other hand, tried very hard to keep his addicted brother away from drugs that Ng and Lui were the main suppliers. Even his brother was violently killed by a cop who held a grudge against Ho. In the end Everybody, from family to friends and bystanders suffered from their actions.
Verse 18 begins the next “surely.” Slippery ground (v 18) is sometimes translated as smooth (Gen 27:16, Isa 30:10) or flattery (Ps 12:2, 3, Prov 6:24). The wicked (v 3), the proud (v 6) and the ungodly (v 12) slipped on their own banana skin, waxed floors or oily surface. God in His wisdom sets up the proud, the prosperous and profane man to fail. The verb “cast” is to fall, and the debuting noun ruin is desolation (Ps 74:3), destruction or destitution. “Slippery ground” is the fall versus “ruin” for the fury (v 19) and the finish (v 20), or the tumble versus terror (v 19) and termination (v 20), the descent versus the dread (v 19) and the damnation (v 20).
You
18 Thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
20 Thou shalt despise their image.
23 Thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
27 Tthou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
19 They brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
27 they that are far from thee shall perish
21 I was pricked in my reins.
22 I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
25 there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
28 I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.
The first two “for” in verses 3 and 4 (3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked; 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm) was the envious versus the next two fors in verses 21 and 27 are the enlightened, the pained versus the pricked, the closed versus the committed
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
Despise (v 20) is translated as disdain (1 Sam 17:42), scorn (Est 3:6) and comtemned (Ps 15:4).
Embitter (v 21) means sharp (Ps 45:5) and pricked (Ps 73:21).
Heart (v 21) is contrasted with knowledge (v 22) – ignorant.
From verse 3 to 12 the focus is on “they” and from verses 13 to 17 the emphasis is on “I” in Hebrew, but thou (v 23), God (vv 26, 28) and Lord God (v 28) from verses 23-28.
When V 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee
V 24 afterward receive me to glory
V 26 my portion for ever.
What V 23 thou hast holden me by my right hand.
V 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
V 27 thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
Where V 23 by my right hand.
V 25 in heaven … upon earth
Why 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
Who V 26 God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
V 28 Lord God
How V 27 that go a whoring from thee.
Shockingly there are no imperatives in Psalm 73, so the pastor must be very disappointed. Not really. There are two big purpose infinitives (vv 16, 28) – the purpose to know (v 16) which is supplanted by the purpose to declare (v 28). Verse 28 is the climax with a purpose infinitive: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare (purpose) all thy works. Previously he could not “declare” to the generations (Ps 73:15) for fear of offending others, but now he is to “tell/declare” (v 27) God’s praise – same verb. Surprisingly this high point is the only time “works’ is in the plural not only in Psalms but in the whole Bible. The psalms is the only book that teaches God’s people what to declare. What does declare thy works in “plural” include?
Declare….
Ps 9:1 all thy marvellous works.
Ps 9:14 all thy praise
Ps 19:1 the glory of God;
Ps 26:7 all thy wondrous works.
Ps 50:16 my statutes,
Ps 71:15 thy righteousness and thy salvation
Ps 88:11 thy lovingkindness
Ps 102:21 the name of the Lord
Ps 119:13 all the judgments
Ps 145:6 thy greatness.
Conclusion: Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matt 5:8) Are you walking in pain and suffering by yourself or with God? Have you used you time and experience to help others?
