IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY
Psalm 73: 1-28
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A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe |
After the opening declaration of confidence, we may note four further segments in this psalm of Asaph. The largest segment in verses two to fourteen describes the temptation of Asaph. Then the psalmist searches for words to speak in confession in verses fifteen to seventeen before he moves on to verses eighteen to twenty where he describes the fate of the ungodly. Finally, Asaph condemns his own folly and adores the grace of God in verses twenty-one to twenty-three as he concludes by renewing his allegiance to the Almighty.
Let us meditate upon our own sinful condition as we review the contrite heart of this ancient and honorable psalmist. He begins by affirming the true goodness of God to His own covenant people. Their name here is Israel but the second phrase qualifies and limits the grace to those who would be pure in heart. As the psalmist notes that limitation to those who have a clean heart he is moved to confess his own battle with sin. There in the first words of verse two we may find ourselves as well: "But as for me ..."
He has admitted that the Lord is good to His saints, but momentarily he wonders "Am I one of them?" He has seen the depth of his own depravity and is frightened just as we all should be on occasion! Can we hope to share in God's grace? Yes, we can if we will but learn from Asaph. You see there the "almost and nearly" of verse two, Asaph thus noted his own fearful situation. What was it that tormented Asaph so? We continue to see that Asaph had violated in Spirit the tenth commandment against covetousness! Many people today would laugh at such a peculiar concern. After all we have almost forgotten this particular commandment. In fact we are regularly encouraged to wild binges of covetousness by the advertising media in our land today.
Do we feel the anguish of Asaph as we really ought to feel it? Haven't we wanted and desired the worldly goods hawked at every single opportunity? Just this week I received an referral offer of new residents if I would only advertise their moving service in our Church publications! There we are most certainly in verse three. "For I envied the arrogant" or as an older translation has it "For I was envious of the foolish". And who are the arrogantly foolish? wonder what Asaph would have to say if he had a turn at hosting that once popular television show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?
Isn't it a pitiful situation when a son of heaven should have to admit that he was envious of the prosperity of the wicked? Indeed it is sin, and like Asaph we too must repent of our own coveting as well. Just look at the long list Asaph has collected. he has meditated long on his envy. He notes that they do not have the same struggles of the less prosperous! They rise above the common problems of working men and women. They pride themselves in jewelry and are complacent with evil, violence and oppression. They even think to have a first claim on heaven and by that claim they lord it over the powerless peoples of the earth. They are even feted and sought by the weak and powerless who desire their protection and security.
Given the strength of their position the wicked even question the presence and power of God who allows them to be carefree and to increase their wealth. Asaph is brought low by his envy and covetousness. "Lord", he wonders aloud, "have I kept my heart pure and my hands innocent in vain?" Thus far Asaph has not allowed his heartfelt covetous desires to guide his hands. But we can see in verses thirteen and fourteen that his desires have plagued him and he has meditated regularly on the advantages of the ungodly in this life. But, Asaph like us has missed a point here in his envy. His eye beheld the present prosperity and he forgot the eternity of our God. In truth, the wicked have their rewards in this life, but what of the life to come?
We move on to the next segment of this psalm where Asaph realizes the error of his desires. At least he admits he had not bothered the brethren in the faith with his doubts and fears. After all, with his position within the Church of David's time, such open covetousness could have harmed the cause of God. Yes we are encouraged to confess our sins through Christ to God, but we should be very circumspect about our revelations to each other. A story is told of three ministers who having finished a round of golf got very serious about their spiritual life around a restaurant table. One of the men confessed that a weakness for gambling. The second confessed a weakness for alcohol. The third man stood up, as he put his coat on he confessed that he was an incurable gossip and could hardly wait to get away.
Asaph could not bear to scandalize the family of God, yet his desires and doubts overburdened his soul. Until ... in verse seventeen we see God's revelation bestowed upon him. Asaph entered into the sanctuary and there his anxious heart understood the final destiny of the worldly. For the human viewpoint he has seen too little. Just as our human view today is limited, so was his. Like Asaph we have to consider our present in the light of God's eternity.
The blessedness of this worldly life is only temporary and our own fervent desires to be just as worldly as those around us must be turned over to God as we seek God's understanding of all things. It is God's own revelation and purpose that gives our life in Him meaning. Pity, the poor wretched wicked. They have but one life to live in pleasure with their pathetic material playthings. Asaph's God given understanding allows him to see the danger of acquiring all the vain things that would charm life the most. See the danger there described in verses eighteen to twenty? He sees that the prosperity of this life is not totally a blessing. That prosperity can in fact be a deadly curse. The psalmist in an earlier verse had almost slipped into the dilemma of the wicked. And he sees here how ruinous will be their destruction because they have not God!
The lifestyles of the foolish and prosperous is all but a dream. We are encouraged to let them flaunt their vanities, let them act out their temporary dreams. When this age comes to an end and the Almighty God of creation judges in righteousness, of what heavenly good will the foolish wealth and prosperity of the wicked by? O Lord our God, let us not stumble into the madness of coveting the object of Asaph's desires. Instead teach us your wisdom. Teach us the wisdom of Asaph's heart as we realize our own ignorance. See Asaph's description there in verses twenty-one to twenty-two? How often have we all acted as such brute beasts like him? How often have we let our own hearts be grieved and our own spirits embittered with the desires of our flesh?
May we today have the blessings of God described in the next two verses. Here we see that Asaph did not give up the faith, but he remembered who was with him and who it was who held his hand. Then in verse twenty-four Asaph yields still another point. Not only has he admitted his own sin of covetousness and repented of that, but he goes even further in dedicating his life to God. There in verse twenty-four we must add another word to our modern translation. We must add this thought: "You guide me with your counsel". Look at the eternal promise of God if we willingly follow Him all the way. "And afterward you will take me into glory."
As we like Asaph turn away from the fascinating glitter of temporary wealth and the appearance of power we gain a greater appreciation for the true treasure of our own God. "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you." is Asaph's prayer. No longer will Asaph's wishes ramble, no other object will tempt him, henceforth the Everlasting God will be his portion and his eternal home. In verse twenty-six Asaph acknowledges the eternity of God as he realizes the temporary nature of his earthly life. he observes in the next verse the way of all the wicked. Their lot is destruction because they do not have the Lord our God. how tragic that will be, but they have their wealth, such as it is.
It is evident from Asaph's experience in seeing god's revelation that to have knowledge of our Holy God is life, life eternal, to not have that knowledge and assurance leads to death. Can you pray with Asaph this last verse today? "But 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." For this purpose Asaph shares the struggles of his heart. For this purpose he details his tendency towards sin. For this purpose he affirms the sovereignty of God in the life of man both good and foolish. For this purpose of witness Asaph tells us what we need to know about our own relationship with the Almighty and Holy God we worship and are now leaning to serve. May He be our refuge, our strength, our savior and our Lord each and every day forever. Amen.
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Resources Used: |
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Spurgeon, C. H. |
The Treasury of DAvid. | |
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Foundation for Reformation. New Geneva Study Bible . (1995) Thomas Nelson, Inc. New King James Version. (1982) | ||
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Psm 073a |
18 June 89 & 23 October 94 | |