Psalm 73 O God, why do the wicked prosper in their wickedness and enjoy life while I, the righteous, suffer?
Intro
Can you imagine a scenario where a renowned preacher from a national church or a well-known evangelist loses faith in God? As the spiritual leaders of our church, at some point, we may face a crisis of belief in our leadership. We all have a weak stumbling moment that makes us doubt about our faith. As God's servants, who have a clearer understanding of the scriptures and God's will compared to ordinary Christians, we should be able to resolve such weakness. In Psalm 73, there is such a person who doubted his faith in God and finally resolved his doubt. Today we are going to study Psalm 73 as an example of facing such a problem and find out how to come out of it. Shall we pray?
Psalm 73 (using the ESV text displayed according to the sermon sections)
When we read this Psalm, we can identify six major themes that emerge from this Psalm:
Verse 1 The Conclusion of this Psalm.
Verses 2-3 The Psalmist's profound doubt.
Verses 4-12 His Puzzlement about the prosperity of the wicked.
Verses 13-14 His Reason for Stumbling.
Verses 15-20 His Quest for the answer from the Lord.
Verses 21-28 His Enlightenment at the end.
Now, let’s dig into the words as the Holy Spirit guides us!
1.0 The Conclusion of Asaph's Quest for Justice vs 1
vs 1 ‘ ”TRULY” God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.’ We can see this is the conclusion of the Psalmist’s quest for the answer to the prosperity of the wicked while I the ‘pure heart’ am suffering. ‘Truly God is good to Israel.’ This statement has a qualifier: ‘to those who are pure in heart.’
-> The difference between the people of God in despair and the people without God is that: no matter how bad the situation of God's people is, there is always a dawn of hope and a turning point that they can look up to. In Asaph’s case, he first was bitter to see the wicked enjoying peace & prosperity until he understood their real end. The people without God are truly hopeless. This is repeatedly demonstrated in the Book of Psalms and other scriptures and the believers' lives. This is true in Asaph’s case in this Psalm.
'Surely God is good to Israel.' Israel is the Lord's elected people, and we Christians are the elect of God too. But not every person holds that the name ‘elected people’ is good.
'Surely God is good... to those who are pure in heart.' -> The heart represents the essence of a man, his emotion, his thinking, and his virtue. Men's hearts are evil, our Lord Jesus said,"... But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone." (Matthew 15:18-20). -> Pure hearts are the opposite of the above. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). No one can be pure in heart except filled with the Holy Spirit. No one can be filled with the HS except born again in the Spirit!
2.0 The Darkness of Hour of Unsettling Doubt vs 2-14
In vs 2-3 & 12-14, we see the Psalmist's problem and his reason for stumbling. In vs 3, he confessed that he is not interested in justice but envies the wicked enjoying life. This is the reason for his crisis of faith. His conclusion in vs 13 is that: "All in vain have I kept my heart clean & washed my hands in innocence". Walking God's way had no reward but living wickedly had gained a lot even till death. -> In today’s term… ‘My faith in God is worthless, I want to be like them too!’.
The psalmist in his puzzlement, exaggeratedly concludes 20 things about the wicked in vs 3-12:
In one take about three breaths, he spills out 20 characteristics against the wicked. This shows how bitter he is against the wicked when he thinks of them!
1) vs 3a The wicked are arrogant
2) vs 3b They prosper despite their wickedness
3) vs 4a They have no pangs until death.
-> (We, Christians sometimes have to pray for others for their sickness, yet the wicked have no pain until death?)
4) vs 4b Their bodies are sound & sleek. (They are healthy & happy. -> enjoy golfing all the time?)
5) vs 5a They are not in trouble as others.
6) vs 5b They are not stricken or plagued like others. -> (Everything goes their way smoothly!)
7) vs 6a As a result of their prosperity, pride is their necklace to show off.
-> (There are many of these people around. You may grow up with them but when they are rich, they despise you. When they walk off the street, they make sure everyone takes notice.)
8) vs 6b Violence covers them as a garment. Violence is their character statement like the garment they wear. Come with pride there is also violence in their act. -> (Their attitude is: "If you offended me, I'll kill you!" and they follow through.) In Ps109:18 ‘He wore cursing as his garment…’ shows that it is a curse.
9) vs 7a Their eyes bulge out with fatness. -> (This is not a statement against the fat but with pride & violence, their countenance turns scary or ugly with fatness as a figure of speech.)
10) vs 7b Their hearts overflow with follies. -> (They do not know what it means to have needs because what they gain exceeds what they have asked for.)
11) vs 8a They mock people with no respect.
12) vs 8b They speak with nastiness & meanness. -> (In the sense that they try to elevate themselves with pride.)
13) vs 8c They threaten oppression with arrogance.
14) vs 9a They set their mouths against the heavens. -> (Even God will not escape their blasphemy or jokes.)
15) vs 9b Their tongues (pride empty talks) parade through the earth. -> (Like their master Satan (Job 1:7)
roaming all over the earth, you simply cannot hide from their scorn.)
16) vs 10a Seeing how they are getting away with their wickedness, people turn to them and follow them.
17) vs 10b People find no fault in them. -> (People praise for their success as billionaires and follow them.)
18) vs 11 That is why they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?" -> (God will not know about what I did, I can get away with anything!)
19) vs 12a They are always at ease.
20) vs 12b They increase in riches (without working for it). -> But we work hard & do not have enough for our family!
In his eyes, the wicked are arrogant, boastful, and speak with malice. They have no fear of God and openly do evil even scoff at God. Through lies, they cover their tracks and are admired and followed by others. They are violent and use their power to oppress others. But they seem to have no troubles and enjoy life despite their evil deeds. In verse 12, the psalmist concludes that they are always at ease, and always increase in riches is his main complaint!
On the contrary, Asaph as a righteous person was: " … all day long have been stricken and rebuked every morning." vs 14. He may be stricken with sickness (ref. vs 26 about his flesh failing). He may feel physical pain & suffering from illness or lack of sleep. -> We see many examples in our modern days: As a result of bitterness, people suffer from all kinds of sickness such as high blood pressure, stomach disorder, emotional stress, joint pains, etc. Spiritual leaders do not have immunity to disorder or sickness. -> Timothy had stomach problems and Paul reminded him to take care.
You may ask what kind of stress or persecution could Asaph be experiencing.
This, we need to understand who Asaph is. v1 Identifies the writer of this Psalm as Asaph.
In 1 Chron 6:31-33,39; 15:16-17; 16:4-7, 37; 2 Chron 5:2, 12 mentions about the man Asaph. He was a Levi (6:39), a chief choir director who ministered before the ark in David's time to Solomon’s completion of God’s temple. His worship song sung before the Lord was recorded in I Chron 16:8-36. 16:37, Asaph and his brothers were appointed by King David to minister regularly before the ark of the LORD. He is also a seer or prophet as the king's adviser (I Chron 25:2-5). He is a Psalmist and the author of Psalm 50, 73, 76, 78, and possibly 75, 77, 82. Asaph is recognized as the author of Psalms used in worship along with David's that were sung when King Hezekiah revived the temple worship (II Chron 29:30).
Asaph as the king’s worship director and seer, was in a prestigious position that gave him close access to the king and God at the Tabernacle. However, he was still isolated from the upper society and persecuted because of his righteous acts. As the king’s seer, he must speak against evil and perhaps be hated by those wicked who are in power and close to the king that he spoke against. He felt that being good had no reward but suffering and punishment, while wicked people could get away with their evil deeds and enjoy life to the end. This was against what he learned about God’s dealing with the wicked. Asaph could not speak out about his doubt because of his responsibility as a spiritual leader with many people under him, which stressed him out.
-> To better understand Asaph’s feelings, imagine that you were a renowned evangelist advisor to the President. You spoke against certain national policies that you think are against God’s will. However, you were scoffed and attacked with malice by other advisors in the Oval Office. This must be how Asaph felt when he spoke against the wicked who were in power and close to the king.
3.0 The Dawn of Truth vs 15-20
Though a godly man who served God diligently for many years, the Psalmist grapples with a nagging disquiet in his heart. His loyalty and responsibility to both God and the king as seer and worship director weigh heavily upon him. As 1 Chronicles 16:4-5 tells us, King David appointed Asaph chief minister before the ark of the Lord, tasked with invocation, thanksgiving, and praise. He led and trained a large choir of young and old Levites, musicians whose voices resonated with David's divinely inspired hymns. How could he, wracked by doubt, direct them to sing with conviction, "Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Israel his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth!" (1 Chronicles 16:12-14) His inability to fully believe the very words he exhorts the choir to sing creates a profound internal conflict.
In his struggle, he exclaims in vs 15 ‘If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.’ Verse 16 shows that he still has no answer. But as a seer, he turns to God for answers and as a Levite, he has access to the sanctuary of God. Most likely even to the Holy Place of the Tabernacle where the Levites serve the Table of Shewbread daily. -> Imagine that you have access to the Holy Place where the Table of Shewbread, the Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense that is the closest to the Presence of God next to the Holy of Holies. Your prayers are like the incense on the altar reaching to the presence of God! -> Today, we have the same access to God through Christ Jesus our Lord in the Spirit!
Asaph turns his focus from the wicked to himself and then to God to get inspiration. When he thinks of their ends (vs 17) in the presence of God, he then understands. The light breaks through as he turns to God not as the object of speculation but of worship. Against the sovereign and eternal God, these men of the moment are seen as they are. They are set in slippery places that they will quickly fall to sudden ruin! Their end or future will unmake everything that they have lived for even if they are the dictators or presidents of a country. The end of the wicked is like a dream that disappears when one wakes up. When God judges the wicked, he will despise them, and their life works as phantoms or illusions. (vs 18-20). vs19 They are swept away utterly by terrors in a moment of destruction!
-> Today, we witness a live illustration of Psalm 73:18-29 out from the news of northern Myanmar's civil war: The drug warlords in the Kokang region of northern Myanmar have enslaved tens of thousands of victims into telecom fraud, human trafficking, gambling, and sex trade crimes. They are the 4 warlord families of 3 generations of Chinese descent who were the remnants of armed forces left in Myanmar to fight against Communist China back in the 40s.
On October 20, 2023, news leaked out of the region about the terrifying story of 70 victims who attempted to escape and were executed, while four undercover Chinese police officers were buried alive. This was followed by ethnic minority insurgent groups attacking the region on October 27, 2023, leading to the downfall of the scam centers within a week.
Over 31,000 telecom fraudsters/victims, along with 63 slave-driver bosses and organizers of the scam groups, were handed over to the Chinese police authority for processing, as their victims are Chinese and the crimes happened to cross the border into China. The legal processing of these criminals and the rehabilitation of the victims poses a nightmare scenario.
As details emerged in the media, the extent of the atrocities committed by these wicked individuals became clear. They enticed victims to northern Myanmar and unlawfully detained, extorted, tortured, and killed them, forcing victims into activities such as telecom fraud, gambling operations, and sex trades.
The 4 granddaughters of the crime families used their positions as chairs of various charity organizations and their wealth show-offs to lure people into high-paying jobs at their hotels and casinos through popular internet media. Upon arrival, victims were immediately surrounded by a large group of armed guards in uniform, leaving no escape from this point. Subsequently, they were subjected to torture until they succumbed to a life of slavery in telecom fraud and prostitution. Those who resisted them; failed to meet quotas; or attempted to escape were subjected to further torture, eventually leading to their deaths, with their organs harvested and sold. These wicked individuals are followed and praised for their pretended good deeds, while they are committing atrocities and amassing wealth and power.
The warlord crime bosses laughed at justice to hold them accountable as no one could touch them crossing international borders because their family’s sons held positions in the local police, army, and various important government offices. They are the government in their territory, the rule makers and life-takers. However, when rebel forces overthrew the crime region, the crime bosses were either killed or captured in a three-day violent firefight. Their entire empire, built on violence and greed, crumbled, leaving them on “the slippery slops of ruin”. Those who managed to evade capture are now on Interpol’s wanted list worldwide. Their vast billion-dollar empire, once surrounded by the illusion of opulence, has become nothing more than a shattered dream upon waking up!
-> This is a warning to us all too. Don't even try to think that you can get away with your evil deeds & guilt.
-> The Lord is slow in His judgment, is forbearing you; not wishing that any should perish, but all should reach repentance. The description in vs 18-19 is that the wicked will slip into utter terrors of ruin in a sudden moment.
The “utter terror” is eventually the forever exclusion from the presence of the Lord (II Thessalonians 1:9). That's why Jesus Christ died on the cross that sinner may find life by believing in Him.
-> Where is your future lie? Do you have that assurance of eternal life? Proverbs 8:36 Those who hate God love death! Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hebrews 9:7 ‘And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…’ Jesus Christ in His second coming will reward the righteous and judge the wicked. There will be no escape!
4.0 The Full Blaze of Enlightenment vs 21-26
When the Psalmist understands the truth, he exclaims, "My soul was embittered..." as he perceives the grace of God. There are at least 10 blessings from the Lord for those who are pure in Hearts as we can see from vs 21-26. (A sharp contrast to vs2 & 3).
1) vs 23a There is the experience of God's continual presence & availability -> “I am continually with you”.
2) vs 23b There is eternal security – ‘You hold my right hand’. -> Our Lord Jesus said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, & no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, & no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. " (John 10:28-29) This is the Lord’s great assurance for those who believe in Him!
3) vs 24a “You guide me with your counsel”. -> Today, we see our Lord Jesus’ promise in John 14:26 “But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” We see God’s counsel & guidance through the Scripture (Psalm 38:8; 48:14; Is 58:11), and brothers & sisters in Christ.
4) vs 24b There is assurance of ultimate destiny in glory. -> It is the Crown of Life. The glorious hope of resurrection (Psalm 49:15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. 1 Corinthians 15:52-54. … in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”)
5) 25a God is all we have in heaven!
6) 25b God is all we desire on earth! -> He can satisfy all our needs!
7) 26a God is the strength of our heart!
8) 26b God is our portion forever.
9) 28a We feel good to be near God.
10) 28b God the Lord is our refuge!
God is our only hope, the focus of our love & desires. All that was temporal would fail but God the Everlast is our strength, our refuge & eternal portion!
5.0 The True Conclusion of this Psalm vs 27-28
5.1 The Warnings:
1) vs 27a There is the ultimate fate of those who go far from God is death (perish). It is not only physical death but also forever exclusion from the presence of God. (2 Thessalonians 1:9 They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power...) -> The Psalmist at last understands this.
2) vs 27b The Lord Himself will put an end to those wicked and unfaithful. They will be destroyed prematurely by physical death. Asaph must have seen or heard how Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD (1 Chron 10:13-14) and how Absalom rebelled against David and slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel and finally killed by Joab. -> See other examples in the scripture: Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira died because of their lies; 1 Corinthians 11:28-32 People took the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner… For this reason, many are weak and sick, and a number die.
5.2 The Encouragements:
1) vs 28a It is good to draw near to God. What keeps you down is what keeps you up. Example: Paul's thorn on the side and the Flying Kite story...” I don’t want the string that holding me down! I want to cut it for flying wherever I want.” But once the string is cut…? What keeps you down is what actually keeps you up!
2) vs 28b The Lord is and always will be our refuge that we may tell of all His works in good testimony.
When the Psalmist thinks of these, his depressions are all gone and that is why he wrote this Psalm to tell & share with us how privileged & blessed the true children of God who are pure in heart.
“ Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Let Us Pray!
