Psalm 73 - GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART
Terrorist attack on New York’s World Trade Centres and Pentagon, 11 Sep 2001.
This is one of the most difficult week for all. Much worse for those in the States. We’ve come to see the truly ugly side of what human beings are capable of. In the face of this kind of evil, we look for words to comfort, even for ourselves. Psalm 73 describes how we feel today - when evil seems to proper.
Written by Asaph, a Levite; one of the leaders of David’s choir (1 Chron 6:39). He shares his inner struggles in this psalm, when he saw the things the ungodly people were doing.
Psalm 73:4-1
4They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. 6Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.8 They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" 12This is what the wicked are like-- always carefree, they increase in wealth.
- The ungodly trains themselves to fight for their cause. They are fit and strong.
- They take pride in what they do. Openly proclaim the success of evil deeds.
- No limits to their evil plans - unbelievable.
- They think by doing so they’ll enter heaven - a glorious thing.
- They are not afraid of anything, not death, not even God.
When he saw all these, the psalmist says in 73:2-3
2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
He almost fell... into the devil’s trap - doubting God, as if He has lost control of things - that the ungodly has triumphed. He says (73:13-16),
13Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
He almost wanted to say, "It’s no use doing right." The wicked seemed to be prospering, but the righteous suffering. The psalmist describes the agony. He was greatly oppressed by what he sees.
He was going through such a struggle until verse 17
17till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
When he entered the sanctuary of God - in order words, when he comes into God’s presence. His perspective changes completely. When he seek God, when he prays, he began to understand God’s will and purposes. Then he realised... all that he was thinking is not true. Evil did not triumph. All evil-doers will be punished. Satan and his devils will be judged. "...then I understood their final destiny."
Psalm 73:18-20
18Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
One day, God will set things right. The wicked will be judged. Previously the psalmist’s heart was grieved and his spirit embittered (v.21), because he was ignorant, without the right understanding (v.22). Now he understands.
This is actually the theme of his psalm - that’s why he puts it in the first line - v.1 "Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart." God has never changed - He is One who is righteous and just. God is the sovereign Lord who is still in control. The wicked will not stand. God is giving them time to realise their wrongs and repent, because He is merciful, He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).
In the midst of all the evil around him, he puts his faith in God (Psalm 73:23-28)
23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. (all the way until I die...) 25Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.28But 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.
As we draw comfort in this Psalm, we are reminded of TWO needed responses:
(1) DRAW NEAR TO GOD NOW
And pray like never before. We need to come back to God... we need to spend time in His sanctuary - to pray, to seek His will, to find strength in times of need.
The psalmist says at the beginning he almost slipped and fell... until he entered the sanctuary of God (v.17), and finally, he understands - the wicked, unfaithful will perish. God is his refuge. God is good to those who are pure in heart (v.1).
The events that happened this past week woke us up - to see things in a new way. People everywhere - in America, England, Europe, Asia... getting into churches to pray. Ultimately, God is our only true refuge. We need to enter the sanctuary of God (v.17) - not just physically, but to go before the throne of grace with confidence - on our knees, whether at home, office or church. We must seek God and pray, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb 4:16).
In just a couple of minutes, what you have and what you loved, can disappear before your eyes. In fact, if you just blink your eyes, and the gigantic tower is gone. What you take years to plan and build, can be destroyed in seconds. Wise people - CEOs, professors, lawyers, top executives - all gone in one breath. Position and success mean nothing when death strikes suddenly.
Where is your security today? Where can you find safety? Suddenly everybody is looking for something they can hold on to, something that will make them feel safe.
Let us return to God. Enter the sanctuary and into God’s presence. Our security is in Jesus. No place on earth is safe. Nothing in this world can give us security.
28But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge...
This world is not our home, we’re just passing through. We need to set our priorities right.
(2) SEEK TO DO HIS WILL NOW
Jesus’ words served as a reminder: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given" (Matt 6:33).
We are in the last days. Jesus is coming soon. We see the signs today. 2 Tim 3:1-41 says:
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -
6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
Matt 24:6-86 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Jesus said, 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-- and never to be equaled again. 22If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
CONCLUSION
So let us (1) draw near to God now - and pray; (2) seek to do His will, and fulfilled the task Jesus has entrusted us.
For "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." (1 John 2:17)
