Psalm 73:1-28
“The Storm of Doubt”
Have you ever had a time in your life when you have thought
“What is the point of being a faithful Christian?”
Maybe you have not asked the question exactly that way.
But …
Our family is always struggling with bad health.
What is the point of being a faithful Christian if we have to struggle all the time?
My children and grand-children are not following Jesus.
What is the point of being a faithful Christian if faith doesn’t get passed on?
Everyone seems to be getting ahead, and I am getting left behind.
Why be a faithful Christian if it feels like God keeps ignoring me?
We pray regularly. We study our Scripture faithfully. We joyfully serve God in the church and kingdom.
But there is a situation in our lives which causes the question to arise.
Why be faithful to God when, at times, it doesn’t seem to make a difference?
If you have ever had a thought like this – you are not alone.
We are reading Psalm 73. It is the personal testimony of a man called Asaph.
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.
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.
Why be faithful if it really doesn’t seem to make a difference.
Why make a commitment to God if, in the end, our lives are less blessed than the lives of the wicked?
There is so much doubt.
Now could it be that Asaph is a new convert … or an immature believer … or one of those people who say they trust in God but are not really walking closely to Him?
Let’s see how Scripture describes Asaph.
We are reading some verses from 1 Chronicles 6
31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.
33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons:
… …
39 Heman’s associate Asaph, who served at his right hand:
Asaph son of Berekiah
Who are the sons of Asaph? 1 Chronicles 25:1-2 tells us.
1 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
2 from the sons of Asaph:
Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision.
As a Chief musician Asaph has a specific role.
4 David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to extol, thank, and praise the LORD, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah … (and others) … They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals
1 Chronicles 16:4-5
What a job. All this music going on and singing.
Then – pshu. Cymbals crash.
Everyone is going … yep that is Asaph!
Asaph the chief worship leader. He supervised those who prophesied. His sons are part of the new generation of faith-filled cymbal clangers, who also have a ministry of prophesying.
On top of that
… Psalms 50 and 73-83.
… 12 Psalms in total.
They are all written by Asaph.
That is Asaph.
He is not a new convert or one of those people who say they trust in God but are not really walking closely to Him.
Asaph is a mature, solid believer who is growing in his spiritual life.
He serves at the temple and other worship leaders look to him for direction.
His Psalms are sung by the whole nation.
… …
Then one day he is thinking about all that is happening in the world, and he finds himself in the middle of a storm of doubt.
What causes the doubt?
3 I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psalm 73:3)
The way this reads it sounds like Asaph is envious of their money. But he isn’t.
The Hebrew word behind “prosperity” is the word Shalom.
Shalom is the word you use when you experience completion or fulfilment.
Shalom means having peace in the midst of the chaos of life.
Shalom is wholeness, harmony and physical well-being.
A more telling translation would be something like, I envied the arrogant when I saw the peace-filled well-being of the wicked. (Psalm 73:3)
God allows the arrogant to go through life with the same peace and well-being that is given to a follower of God – and maybe even more so.
What is the point of being faithful when even the arrogant have Shalom?
This is the cause of the storm of doubt.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. (Psalm 73:4)
Asaph looks around.
I have ministry colleagues who have died so young. Who are not healthy and strong.
Even today, many faithful ministry people do you know, who were dedicated to serving the Lord, and died so young. They had so much to give and were such great service.
And the wicked and arrogant just keep going … healthy … strong … old.
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. (Psalm 73:5)
How many people do you know who just sail through life. They are academics and sporty and socially adjusted. Everything just falls in their lap. Not a care in the world.
They don’t acknowledge God, but it doesn’t seem to matter.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. (Psalm 73:8)
They say what they want. They speak like they are experts when, in reality, they have no clue. They are nasty towards those who push back. And, eventually, society just accepts that this is the way.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. (Psalm 73:10)
It never ceases to amaze me how those who should be ignored have the biggest followings. I won’t put a name here … but you all have one in your head don’t you. The arrogant say all sorts of stuff … and people just drink it up.
The storm of doubt. It brings us into a valley of despair.
We see this valley taking shape as the Psalm unfolds.
(Step 1 down)
vss 1-3
I slipped
I took my eyes off God
(Step 2 down)
vss 4-12
I envied the arrogant
I thought I was better off without God
(Step 3 down)
vss 13-15
I had pity on myself
I doubted God
Asaph is getting down to the bottom of the valley.
It seems quite hopeless … until there is a change in thinking.
(Step 4 at bottom of valley)
vss 16-17
I refocussed on the truth
I listened to God
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.
Psalm 73:16-17
I entered the sanctuary of God and found understanding. This is the storm breaker.
In the days of Asaph the sanctuary was the tabernacle, and later the temple.
It is the place where God had His seat on earth.
A place where God’s presence was revealed in the Holy of Holies behind the curtain.
Going to the sanctuary meant meeting with God.
For Asaph it might have been an occasion of worship at one of the many festivals.
Perhaps it happened when he was making a sacrifice before God.
Maybe Asaph just went to the sanctuary to reflect on who God is.
How ever it occurred – by going to the sanctuary – Asaph’s thinking changes direction and, instead of being in the storm of doubt, He starts to gain understanding.
Let’s keep reading the Psalm and see what understanding is given to Asaph.
Psalm 73:18-28
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 afterwards 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 for ever.
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.
This is Asaph coming out of the valley … out of the storm of doubt.
(Step 3 up)
vss 18-20
I had pity on the arrogant
I saw God’s justice
(Step 2 up)
vss 21-26
I came to my senses
I know life is better with God
(Step 1 up)
vss 27-28
I stopped slipping
I held on to God
Asaph’s whole mindset has been transformed.
It happened when Asaph went into the sanctuary and he received understanding from God.
Think about that for a moment.
Asaph is chief musician who works at the sanctuary.
Asaph is at the sanctuary … the tabernacle … the temple … Asaph is there all the time.
It wasn’t just a matter of walking into the sanctuary, and everything is sorted out.
Asaph came to the point of understanding. He saw afresh something about His relationship with God.
If and when we are in the storm of doubt, it is the same understanding that still needs to be received today
The understanding that our journey with God is not a series of transactions.
Where we think in terms of keeping everything balanced and fair.
God, I have given 1000’s of house free in service to You.
I should, at the very least, be better off than the person who does nothing.
Otherwise, what is the point?
God, I have brought so many people to Christ.
At the very least you should hear my prayers for the conversion of my not-yet-believing children and grand-children.
Otherwise, why be faithful?
God You know how often I have come to You in deep and faithful prayer and Bible Study. Surely that puts me in a better position than the unbelievers to experience Your favour.
We might not say it exactly in this way – but it all effectively comes down to the same issue.
God, I feel that You owe me.
And when God doesn’t act in the way we anticipated—that’s when we may step into the storm of doubt.
If that describes you … us.
Today … in the past … in the future.
If we are in the storm of doubt because we feel that being faithful doesn’t make a difference.
If that is us.
Then we need to come back to the sanctuary and find understanding.
For us the sanctuary is our relationship with Jesus. Jesus who is God with us.
We come back to the sanctuary and we understanding afresh … what salvation by grace means.
Our relationship with Jesus is not a transaction … it is a gift.
A gift given while we were still the enemies of God.
A gift given to those who are no deserving at all.
A gift that continues to be given – even when we fall into the storm of doubt.
A gift that eternally defines our relationship with God.
It’s a gift, not a transaction.
It’s a gift, not a balancing act.
A gift which means that no matter what is going on in this world, God’s is with us and for us right here … right now.
Every moment of every day.
When I am healthy, and when I am not.
When I have huge savings, and when I am scrapping by.
When people see me, and when I am invisible.
When those around me submit to God, and when they spit in His face.
When the arrogant are ignored, and when people flock to hear the ignorance of the arrogant.
When Christians are embraced, and when Christians are persecuted.
When my life is long, and when my life is short.
When I have extensive Bible knowledge, and when I don’t.
When I am in a position of great spiritual responsibility and leadership, and when I am not.
God’s relationship with us is not a transaction.
It is a gift of grace.
There might be days when it doesn’t look like being faithful makes a difference.
But that is because we are in the valley
– looking at the here and now.
– the valley where we are allowing the here and now to bring the storm of doubt.
Through Jesus our eternal destination is not the valley … our destination is eternity.
Our flesh and my heart will fail. And when it does God will be our portion forever.
Understand that truth … so that the storm of doubt can be broken.
Pray
