The Storm Of Doubt Series

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.