“WHEN LIFE DOESN’T MAKE SENSE” Psalm 73
FBCF – 7/6/25
Jon Daniels
INTRO – The Psalms are a mirror for the soul. “Somehow the psalmists seem to have anticipated all our awe, desires, & frustrations” (Tremper Longman, How to Read the Psalms). Lots of different feelings & emotions found throughout the Psalms:
- Reverence & awe of God – Psalm 8:1 – “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name is all the earth.”
- Shame – Psalm 44:15 – “All day long my disgrace is before me, & shame has covered my face.”
- Grief – Psalm 6:6 – “I am worn out with grief; every night my bed is damp from my weeping; my pillow is soaked with tears.” (GNT)
- Gratitude – Psalm 30:4 – “Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, & give thanks to his holy name.”
- Anger – Psalm 5:10 – “Punish them, God, & let their own plans bring their downfall. Get rid of them! They keep committing crimes & turning against you.” (CEV)
- Happiness – Psalm 32:11 – “So all you people who belong to the Lord, praise Him & be happy!” (EASY)
Today, we are going to look at Psalm 73 & deal w/ our thoughts & feelings of doubt & frustration & resentment when life just doesn’t seem to make sense. Ever feel that way? We love the Lord – we want to live for the Lord - & yet we struggle w/ all sorts of things. Then we look around & see people who don’t care about God at all – they are prospering – look like they have it all together – seem to be doing so much better than us. Just doesn’t seem fair or make sense. Asaph (author of Ps. 73) saw it in his day & we see it all around us in our day. We see some…
- Celebrities – Massive homes & massive wealth, but live depraved, immoral lives
- Athletes – Huge multimillion dollar contracts, but abuse their wives or girlfriends
- Politicians – Pass legislation that will line their pockets but do it through corruption & deceitfulness.
- Business associates – Work for same company as you, sell same products as you, but cut backroom deals & under the table deals that take money out of your pockets
Or maybe life doesn’t make sense to you right now b/c of a major curveball that’s been thrown at you – an unexpected situation that has erupted in your life – a storm that has suddenly blown into your life out of nowhere – or you’ve gotten blindsided by someone in your life & it totally blew you away.
We are all going to experience these things in our lives. Let’s see how to handle it when life doesn’t make sense.
EXPLANATION – Psalm 73:1-3, 23-28
Ps 73 – A wisdom Psalm written by Asaph. And he was struggling. That ought to give us some comfort to know that even a guy whose writings were included in the very Word of God had the same struggles that you & I have today.
- Have you ever questioned God’s goodness & faithfulness at some point in your life? He did, too.
- Have you ever had some doubts about God & what He is up to? He did, too.
- Have you ever had some feelings of envy when you see others doing so well when you aren’t? He did, too.
- Have you ever stumbled & slipped in your walk w/ God? He did, too.
You’re in good company, so don’t beat yourself up. But @ same time, don’t stay there, mired in your discouragement, doubts, & envy b/c here’s the truth for today:
APPLICATION – Remember that when life doesn’t make sense, God always has the answer.
You’ve got to trust Him! Write down these words: “I have to trust God!” And here’s how:
STAND ON HIS WORD – Remember “Cars”? Rascal Flatts song – “Life is a Highway.” Lyrics in 1st vs:
Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind
Life IS like a highway b/c one thing is for sure as you travel down a highway. Things are constantly changing – scenery, speed, traffic, music you’re listening to, gas mileage, distance to your destination, whatever your kids are fighting about in the backseat, the amt of $ you’re going to spend at Bucee’s! It all keeps changing!
Same is true in life: things are going to be constantly changing in your life in every area. But there’s one thing that will never change – the W of G! That’s where you need to stand & DON’T MOVE! When life doesn’t make sense – when the curveballs keep coming, the rug keeps getting pulled out from under you, when the pain just won’t go away or is even getting worse, get into God’s presence & STAND ON THE W OF G! Ps. 73:
- V. 1 – God is good! – STAND ON THAT!
- V. 17 – You need to gather w/ God’s people – STAND ON THAT!
- V. 23 – He is w/ you – He is holding you – STAND ON THAT!
- V. 24 – He will guide you – He will take you home to be w/ Him one day – STAND ON THAT!
- V. 25 – You don’t need anything or anyone else but Him – STAND ON THAT!
- V. 26 – He is your strength & your portion – “God is rock-firm and faithful.” (MSG) – STAND ON THAT!
- V. 28 – It is good to be near God b/c He is your refuge, your safe place, your safe harbor – STAND ON THAT!
SPEAK TO HIM – Get into God’s presence in intentional, intense, incessant prayer! The stronger the storm, the deeper the confusion, the greater the pain, the more desperate is your need to get into God’s presence in prayer & speak to Him! Bill Elliff: “Great demands call for greater prayer” (The Presence-Centered Life, p. 90). That’s exactly what you see Asaph doing in this Psalm.
First 15 verses, he’s talking about his confusion, doubts, disappointments over what he sees as the injustice of evil people prospering so much. But then there’s a shift in v. 16-17.
- First, he gets real honest as he confesses his realization that he wasn’t going to be able to understand it all (that’s a good thing to confess!).
- Then, when he meets God W/ GOD’S PEOPLE IN THE SANCTUARY, he began to get clarity. And he turns from talking about God to talking TO God. AND EVERYTHING CHANGES!
- V. 21-22 – He confesses his ignorance & his “brutish” attitude – Heb word lit means “foolish & stupid, lacking spiritual understanding”
- The rest of the Psalm is his passionate, desperate prayer to the Lord, especially v. 25-26
- Get in the presence of the One who is all you truly need.
- Get in the presence of the One who is your only desire.
- Get in the presence of the One who is the strength of your heart – Heb means “rock”!
Bring ALL your doubts, fears, disappointments, struggles, & pain to Him – AND DON’T STOP!
- Keep praying for that prodigal to come home!
- Keep praying for that habitual sin to be broken!
- Keep praying for that healing you need – healing of your body…mind…marriage…family…
- Keep praying for that freedom you so desperately need
- Keep praying for that wisdom & clarity & discernment & direction you need.
SURRENDER TO HIS PLAN – V. 24 – “counsel” – Heb – “plan” – You need to know His plan so you can surrender to His plan. So how do you get to know His plan?
- Get into His Word!
- Get w/ God’s people!
- Get before His throne in prayer!
God’s got plans for you! Several of you wrote down Jeremiah 29:11 to be put into the foundation of our new sanctuary (Vicki wrote that one, too): “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you & not harm you, plans to give you hope & a future.”
- v. 27 – He has plans for you if you reject Him
- v. 28a – His plan is for you to be near Him – to make Him your refuge
- v. 28b – His plan is for you to tell others about Him
CONCLUSION – Asaph started & ended this Psalm w/ the same phrase: “But as for me…” (v. 2, 28) The 1st time he said it, he was about to stumble, slip, & fall.
Maybe that’s you today. If it is, then get to where Asaph was when he said it the 2nd time as he declared his faith in God’s nearness & provision. It’s time to have a “But as for me” moment.
