Psalm 73
Introduction:
1. In Psalm 73, Asaph details a time when his soul nearly stumbled.
2. Asaph was a chief musician and a seer who served under king David (1 Chronicles 6:31-39; 25:1; 2 Chronicles 29:30), credited with writing twelve Psalms (Psalms 50; 73-83).
3. Such closeness to the Lord makes his crisis of faith more jarring, as well as making the study thereof particularly beneficial for all who seek to remain faithful to God.
Discussion:
I. Asaph’s Near Disaster (vv. 1-2)
A. The opening line foreshadows the reality of Asaph’s faith having been restored.
B. Notice the true meaning of “Israel” as indicated by the synonymous parallel: Israel, such as are pure in heart (Romans 2:25-29; 9:6-8).
C. Asaph then confessed a time when he almost stumbled and slipped away from the true Israel.
II. The Root of the Problem (vv. 3-14)
A. The cause was a faulty perception of life based on the seeming prosperity of the wicked.
B. Asaph, a man living near to God and in His favor became envious of the wicked.
C. The conditions did look squirrely: (vv. 4-12)
1. Comfort right up to time of death (vv. 4-7).
2. Such ease fills them with pride, arrogance, and pompous speech towards both their peers and even God (vv. 6-9).
3. They were so comfortable they assumed God did not notice their deeds (vv. 10-12).
D. Seeing such conditions made Asaph’s life of self-restraint appear foolish (vv. 13-14).
III. Seeing Things Clearly (vv. 15-22)
A. Asaph’s problem demanded renewed vision.
B. He was viewing things from the “under the sun” vantage point Solomon warned against in Ecclesiastes (1:3, 9; 9:11).
C. Seeking to understand this seeming disparity was too painful for him, until he entered the presence of God (vv. 15-17).
D. With God’s revealed wisdom, he learned the ease that seemed like they were wrongly favored was actually a snare (vv. 18-20; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
E. Grieved and vexed over his folly, Asaph’s attitude would change permanently (vv. 21-22).
IV. Asaph’s Reinvigorated Faith (vv. 1, 23-28)
A. With his now clear-eyed recognition of the way things really are, Asaph leaned into God and His counsel, knowing glory awaits (vv. 23-24).
B. He now held God in His proper place at the center of his being (vv. 25-26).
C. Such is the result of knowing the true endings of life’s story for the only two classes of people who ever live: those who reject God perish, but those who draw near are preserved (vv. 27-28).
Conclusion:
1. To quote Solomon from Ecclesiastes 1:9 above, “There is nothing new under the sun.”
2. We must obtain the same clarity Asaph did to avoid the same snare he faced.
3. God is still good to the pure in heart, and He will put things right in the end.
4. Which class of people will we be? Will we draw near or dwell apart from the Lord?
Further Food for Thought
1. Have you ever looked around at the frequent material prosperity of the wicked and the frequent struggles of the Lord’s people and struggled as Asaph did?
2. How often do you come into the presence of God as he did to regain clear vision?
3. How can we cultivate greater spiritual vision individually and collectively?