Shaken Faith Or Sure Faith? Part 1 Series

Greetings – Thankful to be here

Our text this evening is Psalm 73:1-16

Illustration:

Proverbs from Fourth Graders

A 4th grade teacher collected well-known proverbs. She gave each child in the class the first half of the proverb, and asked them to come up with the rest. Here is what they came up with:

Better to be safe than …… to be punched a 5th grader

Strike while the ………bug is close.

It’s always darkest before ………daylight savings time

Never underestimate the power of ………termites.

You can lead a horse to water ………but how?

Don’t bite the hand that ………looks dirty.

No news is………… impossible.

A miss is as good as ………….a Mr.

You can’t teach an old dog new………math.

If you lie down with dogs……… you will stink in the morning.

The pen is mightier than ………the pigs

An idle mind is …………the best way to relax.

Where there is smoke………there’s pollution.

Happy is the bride who ………gets all the presents.

A penny saved is ………not much.

Two is company, three’s…………The Musketeers.

None are so blind as …………Helen Keller.

Children should be seen and not …………spanked or grounded.

If at first you don’t succeed ………….get new batteries.

You get out of something what you…see pictured on the box.

When the blind lead the blind………get out of the way.

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you; cry and …you have to blow your nose.

The fourth graders finished the second half of the Proverb with their own words based on the experience and education they had…and some of their answers were not bad. Well……I guess their efforts are proof we can all learn more…and tonight we look into the Old Testament to do so…

Introduction

The Bible indicates to us why studying the Old Testament is beneficial. Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Our text in Psalm 73 this evening helps us evaluate the writer’s state of mind. Perhaps God’s word from the Old Testament speaks to us this evening, and meets us where we are.

Scripture - Psalm 73:1-16 (Read)

1Surely 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. [a]

5 They are free from the burdens common to man;

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 [b] ;

the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

8 They scoff, and speak with malice;

in their 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. [c]

11 They say, "How can God know?

Does the Most High have knowledge?"

12 This is what the wicked are like—

always carefree, they increase in wealth.

13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;

in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

14 All day long I have been plagued;

I have been punished every morning.

15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"

I would have betrayed your children.

16 When I tried to understand all this,

it was oppressive to me

It seems the Psalm writer is disillusioned, frustrated, angry and depressed.

Some may say the Bible is an old archaic relic that is not relevant to us today. I submit to you this evening it is very relevant.

I can attest I have felt very much like the Psalm writer in my life time…Perhaps we all can…

Psalm 73:1-16 can be an indicator of Shaken Faith or Sure Faith

Point I - How is my faith today? (Shaken Faith or Sure Faith)

The popular comedian Jeff Foxworthy talks about a test to see if you "Might be a RednecK"

Perhaps we can take our own test, of a more serious nature...

Test:

If you feel God is only good to the pure in heart…

You may have developed a ‘Shaken Faith”

If you judge others as arrogant, and envy you their prosperity…

You may have developed a ‘Shaken Faith”

If you look at non-believers with distain, and assume they have no struggles or burdens, and they are always healthy and strong…

You may have developed a ‘Shaken Faith”

If you see your neighbors or as prideful and callous…

You may have developed a ‘Shaken Faith”

If you view fellow believers as falling short…