WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE
Based on the work of Warren Wiersbe
Read Psalms 73 “Almost Gone”
It's important that we gird ourselves with basic truths. Life isn't free of painful experiences. Because we don't understand all things in life, we must fall back on things we do understand. I understand that God is in control of my life and is working in all circumstances (Romans 8:28). Chuck Smith
I. HE LOOKS BACK -- GOD IS GOOD
He cannot part with this truth, but he doubts God’s providence and provision for him.
Though wicked people receive many of the gifts of His providential bounty, yet we must own that
He is, in a peculiar manner, good to Israel; they have favors from Him which others do not.
(M. H.)
II. HE LOOKS AROUND WITH AN EARTHLY VIEWPOINT:
Keep in mind that these things had existed around him for an unknown period of time. However, his view point changed due to his focus on the wicked and their prosperity and not on God.
He saw:
A. The prosperity of the wicked v. 3
But he failed to see the prosperity of others even within difficulties.
1. Gen. 39:23 Joseph -- The LORD made him prosper
“The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing [that was] under
his hand; because the LORD was with him, and [that] which he did, the LORD made [it] to prosper.”
Prosperity in a Prison? It sounds like an oxymoron. Joseph went from the pit, to Potiphar’s house, to the prison, to the Prime Minister.
With the right viewpoint, you can put a man like Joseph in prison and he will come out as a Prime Minister.
You can put a man like Paul in prison and he will write a large part of the New Testament and do it with joy (Philippians). You can put a man like John on the isle of Patmos and he will see the Lord and pen the Revelation of Jesus Christ. You can put a man like John Bunyan in prison and he will write what was the second best selling Christian book to the Bible, Pilgrim’s Progress. You can let a woman like Fanny Crosby lose her eyesight as a child and she will write dozens of hymns praising His name. Think of Brother Whaley. I didn’t hear him complain. He had a great attitude.
2. Daniel 6:1-3
“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;”
Dan 6:2 “And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel [was] first: that
the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.”
Dan 6:3 “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes,
because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set
him over the whole realm.”
But then comes the den of lions. What next? What now?
Dan 6:28 “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus
the Persian.”
Daniel had been taken from his home and imprisoned as a teenager after his country and people had been conquered by a hostile invader. He became a prince among princes yet his troubles did not end. He landed in the lions den, but came out victorious. When the chapter ends, Daniel is prosperous, his enemies are destroyed. It was all because of God.
3. Deut. 29:9 Keep the covenant -- prosper
“Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.”
4. Joshua 1:7 Observe the law -- prosper
5. II Kings 18:1-7 Hezekiah -- clave to the Lord -- prospered
6. II Chron. 20:20 believe His prophets -- prosper
7. Neh. 2:20 The God of heaven -- prosper
8. Psalms 1:1-6 (READ) Righteous prosper
9. Job 9:1-4 (READ) without Him, who can prosper?
10. Then who causes or how does it happen that the wicked prosper?
a. The Psalmist Asaph considers it
b. Job considers it: Job 12:6; Job 21:7-15
c. Jeremiah considers it: Jer. 12:1-4
B. He saw that they had no bands (pangs, pain) in their death.
C. He saw that they are not "troubled . . . and plagued like other men" v. 5
The psalmist observes characteristics about the wicked. These remarks about prosperity and case of life aren't always true. Satan often exaggerates appearances in our minds in order to deceive us. Chuck Smith
D. He saw that "pride was to them as a chain ornament about their neck" v. 6
E. He saw that "they have more than heart could wish" v. 7
F. He saw that they "speak loftily and set their mouths against the heavens" v. 8-9
G. He saw that they willfully ignorant of God saying, "How doth God know" v. 11
H. Behold, these are the ungodly v. 12
III. RESULTS OF THIS VIEWPOINT
A. His senses were staggered -- feet almost gone; steps well nigh slipped v. 2
B. I was envious at the foolish v. 3
Envy, one of the works of the flesh, occurs when I get my eyes off God and onto people.
Chuck Smith
C. His faith wavered v. 13 “almost gone”
IV. HE LOOKED WITHIN
A. I have cleansed my heart -- in vain?
The psalmist comes to a false conclusion: "It doesn't pay to live the right kind of life."
Chuck Smith
B. All day long -- plagued
C. Chastened -- every morning
D. I can't even talk about it, least I should offend thy children.
When you have these inner struggles, it is good to talk them over with another believer; but even this has its perils. He did not want to cause someone to stumble. (W. W.)
V. RESULT OF LOOKING WITHIN -- IT WAS TOO PAINFUL FOR ME!!!
The psalmist is at a critical crossroad in his life. He has looked back and declared his theology: God is, and God is good. He has looked around and become envious at the wicked. His
Theology did not square with the hard facts of life. He has looked within and found turmoil and
unrest, a growing feeling that he had made a mistake and that it was not wise to trust God and
obey His law. What will he do? [One wrong move at this critical point and he would slip.]
Fortunately, he took the right step. (W. W. pg 38)
VI. HE LOOKS UP WITH A HEAVENLY VIEWPOINT -- In our terms, he goes to church.
Coming into the sanctuary of God changes our perspective. Our present discomfort narrows and limits our outlook, but God is dealing with eternity in view (2 Corinthians 4:18; Romans 8:18). Our perspective broadens as we come into the presence of the eternal. Chuck Smith
The whole situation is, indeed, "painful," apart from the revelation of the sanctuary of God.
Things take on a new and different character when seen in the light of eternity. The visit to
the sanctuary sharpened Asaph's vision.
A. He saw their end v. 17
1. Cut off Psalms 37:38
“But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.”
2. The ways of death Prov. 14:12
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.”
3. According to works II Cor. 11:15
“Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
4. End is destruction Phil 3:19
“Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.”
5. End is to be rejected and burned Hebrews 6:8
“But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.”
6. Lazarus and Rich Man Luke 16
7. Execution will come Eccl 8:11
“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the
heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
B. He saw that they were "set in slippery places" v. 18 High places can be slippery.
C. He saw that they would be brought down in a moment!! v. 19
D. He saw that they would be "utterly consumed with terrors" v. 19
E. He saw that God would "despise their image."
This new view withers of the roots of envy. Who would covet the position of a man who was to be famous for an hour, and a fool for a year? or eternity? HOP
Luke 12:16 "But God said thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee . . . "
Bankrupt in the END!!!
Matt. 16:26 For what is a man profitted, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
VII. RESULTS OF LOOKING UP
A. Asaph reconsiders:
1. Confession of foolish, ignorant worldly viewpoint.
I was as an animal with no reasoning capacities. Chuck Smith
A beast only considers the here and now, just what is before it.
What are you considering?
2. He has the companionship with God.
"Nevertheless I am continually with Thee.: v. 23
3. He receives counsel and guidance v. 24
4. He is sure that God will "Afterwards receive him to glory."
A very different end than the wicked.
5. A greater desire for God. v. 25
6. God is his strength v. 26
7. Good to draw near to God -- look up v. 28
B. Job reconsiders Job 12:5 -- about to slip (READ) Job 21:16-20
C. Jeremiah reconsiders Jer 20:11 wicked shall not prosper
“But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble,
and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: [their]
everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.”
VIII. CONCLUSION
Eccl 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter."
The ultimate test of life is death.
Ps 37:1-11Prov 28:13 "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:"
Remember Eccl 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"
And Eccl 7:14 consider this
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.”
