And it shows us that we can do that with God too; these Psalms give us permission to bring our honest hurts and feelings to God, and say like these Psalmists: He ceased being concerned about the sin of the successful and starting focusing instead on the success of the sinful. Verses 21-22 are a flashback on his traumatic experience reported in verses 2-16.36 In these verses he admits that when his heart and kidneys were poignantly disturbed (vs. 21) about the shalom of the wicked, he was stupid and lacked understanding (vs. 21ab).37 For all practical purposes, he confesses that his envy of the arrogant (vs. 3) was completely wrong. In v. 2, he says, "But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray." Lying On the basis of these and other repetitions the compositional structure of Psalm 73 may be subdivided as follows: vs. 1; vv. His faith was tested and he almost fell away. 5. First, he say in :17 It WAS troublesome in my sight, UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God.. The Prayers of The Psalms. 1. Although the text of verses 4, 7 and 10 is uncertain,20 the general picture is clear. CONCLUSION: Furthermore, Psalm 73:28 echoes the theme of refuge from Psalm 2:12, which, as we have noted in our exegesis of Psalms 34 and 91, is a prominent theme in the Psalter. The opening statement God is good echoes Psalm 25:8 and 34:8 and the phrase pure in heart recalls Psalm 24:4. From a canonical perspective Walter Brueggemann4 and J. Clinton McCann5 have argued that Psalm 73 stands at the theological center of the Psalter. Sometimes things change very quickly, even here on earth, dont they? Psalm 73:1-28. There is no record that God ever rebuffs Job for being honest. But it wasnt just that he came to God; God actually SHOWED him something specific that helped him: he says in :17, Then I perceived their end. He says God showed me not just what the present state of these wicked people is, but what their END is going to be. 2. As men despise their dreams when they awake from them, so, when God "stirs up himself and awakes to judgment" ( Psalms 35:23 ), he will despise such mere semblances of humanity ( Psalms 39:6) as the wicked are. The inner conditions of the dead mammal, combined with the bumps in the road caused an eruption that the townspeople will not soon forget. But as for me, it is good to be near God. Psalm 25:1-10 Riding Out The Waves. They live longer, play more, and get away with everything. But despite his efforts to serve and honor God, his life was marked by difficulty. Bring your troubles, bring your questions, bring your doubts to God. Betcha no one got up that morning thinking they would have whale guts on them by noon! In either case, questioning and doubts are not virtues, as some have suggested.60 Ultimately, the truth is that continuous questioning and doubt destroys human relationships. This turning point consists of two important observations.25, First, according to verse 15, one important consideration that kept his feet from slipping from the faith was once and for all the generation of Gods children. However, the Hebrew verbs of verse 17 are not in the past tense. 1:18-24 sermon), "Following Jesus" (Matthew 4:18-22 sermon), "How To Seek The Lord" (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon), "The Purpose of God's Blessings" (Psalm 67 sermon), "The Importance of Forgiving Others" (Matthew 6:14-15 sermon), Teacher's Overview of Lifeway's "Explore the Bible" lesson: John 11:32-46, "I AM The Resurrection", "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. He wrote, Why, but why should I bless Him? Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. It's all backwards." "It was oppressive to me," he said. Consider this godly guidance when you get a raw deal. 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30 add that Asaph was a prophet in his musical compositions. Why We Need the Psalms of Lament Dane C. Ortlund. They are the blessed, not me. According to verse 18, God will place the wicked on the slippery slope that the psalmist almost experienced (vs. 2). If we are to defeat envy, we need to change our focus. Scripture: Psalm 73:25-26. He took his doubts and confusion to God in prayer. Put yourself in the position to where you can hear from God. Sooner womens coach Sherri Coale was dejected at the press conference after the game. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. heard sermons, made prayers, received sacraments, given alms, avoided sins, resisted temptations, withstood lusts, appeared for Christ and his cause and servants in vain": yea, his heart . Asaph has his eye on the celebrities of his day, the Donald Trumps and Lindsey Lohans who openly disdain God. 1. NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 73:1-9 1 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! You have words of eternal life. Who did you in financially? They wear a power-hungry, cutthroat, cynical attitude like a coat. He was used more by Satan than perhaps anyone else in his lifetime. In addition to the important connections between Psalm 73 and Psalms 1 and 2, Psalm 73 also shares important themes with Psalm 34. This service acknowledges the seeming inequities of life and the doubts that arise yet declares strength, hope and protection in God our Sovereign Lord. Well have you ever watched your dog? Dont turn FROM God in your questions, turn TO Him. Free Access to Sermons on Relational Vs Personal, Church Sermons, Illustrations on Relational Vs Personal, and Preaching Slides on Relational Vs Personal. It refers first of all to God. According to Psalm 1:6b, the way of the wicked self-destructs. For I have been stricken all day long, and chastened every morning., Asaph says, look at these wicked people, who mock God, who do wicked things to other people. This Psalm is his very personal testimony. The answer is that these verses serve as a rhetorical foil for the passionate protest that follows in verses 13-14. Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged Asaph, Bible Reading, church, . My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Take a look at v. 1: "God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart." Thats like Asaph here. Asaph is acknowledging what Hebrews 11:6 names as the very essence of faith. So what good is it to be a believer? Arrogant refers to people who make sure people notice them and what they have. Several times in recent months I have had individuals say to me: Pastor, that message today was for me! Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. Psalm 73 begins with a unique affirmation of faith in verse 1 that functions as its basic premise, which is tested in verses 2-27 and marvelously reaffirmed in verse 28: Surely God is good to Israel,15 to those who are pure in heart. Job was a righteous man who lost all his children, his possessions, and his health. In Job 29-31, this broken man struggles with the raw deal he received. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Once again he is able to see life from the perspective of eternity and his confidence and contentment in God are restored. Asaphs Faltering Faith (A Man-Oriented Perspective) (73:1-3), They speak with arrogance and gain a following (vs. 8-10), Summary: The lives of the wicked are easy and prosperous (vs. 12), Asaphs Restored Faith (A God-Oriented Perspective) (73:18-28), 2023 Southern Hills Baptist Church - Round Rock, Texas, Southern Hills is a family of believers who exist to glorify God by helping people experience life change through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Psalm 73: Remembering the Truth in Times of Doubt. 2. Whom have I in heaven but You? 1. In the opening verse (vs. 1), the meaning of the predicate adjective good is ambiguous. 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most, In a recent survey in Discipleship Journal Magazine, readers reported that their greatest spiritual challenges came from Their prosperity is only temporary. So why am I serving God? The NIV and the NRSV translate this verse in the past tense and read it with the preceding verse. Scholars disagree concerning the compositional structure of Psalm 73.8 Nevertheless, rhetorical and stylistic analysis shows that the poem has been skillfully constructed. III. These are a lot like Asaphs questions, arent they? (Psalm 22:2) God will judge the wicked, and He will reward the righteous; those who have turned away from their sins, and followed Jesus as their Savior. Introduction to Psalm 73: "Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary". As a result, "Psalm 32 serves as an important check against any tendency . If you'll allow me to paraphrase it, it goes like this: "So this is how life really works! Laziness As we start in verse one, he's going to tell us about his experience looking around the world and also his beliefs. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." 18-20). Dec 4, 1988. v2 But (this is what happened) to me. Asaph, the author, is the choir leader, whose occupation placed him in constant contact with the people of Israel, and with the sanctuary of God, the temple. Why do good people suffering, and wicked people prosper? Jobs questioning and doubt is a case in point. Asaph had let envy in the door, and now it colored everything he saw. Hah." However, a bad illustration can distract and confuse if the listener. Denomination: Methodist. For example, my father recited the beautiful words of verses 24-25 of this psalm to my mother on August 27, 1945, just before she died. Who put the screws to you? Two of the words refer to the people he had been tracking. Armed with a new perspective about God and this world, Asaph also sees himself clearly. He goes on to describe their situation: We may read these words and say, "I was just like Asaph except for this. Envy is so common that God made it the subject of one of His 10 commandments: "Do not covet your neighbor's house. 21ff. Your family. But in worship we see from God's infinite perspective. (Psalms 73:15-16 RSV) Here he is, filled with doubts and despair and almost ready to give up, but something stops him. What does he mean by this? He DIDNT but he said, he almost did. We dont know why; its not our place to guess or even speculate. Unload that acid. This happened for Asaph in verses 16-17: "But when . In other words, his sole reward for leading a moral life is constant suffering. Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. This is especially true of Psalm 73. ", Building Your Life On The Rock (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon), "This Is My Story: The Woman At The Well" (John 4:1-42 sermon), "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" It is going to end differently. For example, Psalm 73 shares the prominence of the wicked with Psalm 1.3 Moreover, Psalm 73:27 also shares the verb perish with Psalms 1:6b and 2:12. He probably didn't do this purposefully at the beginning. Isn't that just like life sometimes? (LogOut/ Those who are far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. soul satisfying. You guide me with Your counsel,and afterward You will take me into glory. Maybe Lazarus was tempted to give up HIS faith. It suggests that the affirmation of faith in verse 1 posed a serious problem for the speaker. Based on this certainty the psalmist then proclaims that even though his health should fail, God is his Rock46 and portion.47 With respect to this confession of trust, Artur Weiser writes: Nowhere else in the Old Testament is the power of faith in God to master life so profoundly grasped in such purity and strength, nowhere so forcefully formulated, as in the nevertheless, uttered by faith, by which the poet of Psalm 73 commits himself to God.48. These subdivisions will be used in our exposition. Your Bible study. v3 Some people had made themselves important. Psalm 73 in context. View a worship service outline based on this passage, Introduction to Psalm 73: Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary by Carl Bosma. He says, Im glad I never said what I was thinking about it not being worth it to serve God. Asaph believes God exists, that He is good and sovereign over all. Psalm 25:2 E-Mail Challenge. The third word we need to see became a private obsession for this worship leader: it was the prosperity these God-rejecters enjoyed. or why have I looked for sympathy but there was none. (Psalm 69:20) Survey respondents noted that temptations Things are going to change very quickly; sometimes even here on earth, but if not; they will change very dramatically the first moment of eternity. There are a million of these kinds of questions. You can sense this music director's relief when he comes to worship. As a result, their speech is arrogant and they threaten oppression (vs. 8). Before he recounts his time of doubt he begins with what he now knows to be true: God is good and He is good to those who are His. The author of Psalm 73, Asaph, was almost like Elie Wiesel. Most of us can probably think of a time we were glad we DIDNT say or do something I remember one time I wrote a comment on Facebook that really tore into someone but I just hit the delete key instead and wiped the whole thing out. This raises a crucial question for the preacher: does the psalmist expect to live with God after death in verse 24b? To not be senseless and ignorant; like a beast before (God) as Asaph says in :22; To believe that it WILL end better for those who trust in the Lord and do good., You often hear people today say: Dont be on the wrong side of history. We hear that a lot from people today who believe that God and the Bible and fading away into history, and the future holds only the triumph of godless values. They do not deny Gods existence. The thing about these questions is that they are usually based on our circumstances on what we see happening around us and to us but what we have to learn is that these circumstances dont show us the whole picture. Psalm 73-Smith, Terry L. "A Crisis in Faith: An Exegesis of Psalm 73," Restoration Quarterly 17.3 (1974) 162 . We're sorry, an error occurred. AOL News (1-29-04); see also BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3437455.stm). (Psalm 41:9), Listen, the real Bible not just the feel good parts of the Bible that get quoted in a lot of our devotionals the real Bible is FULL of these REAL, honest, hard questions that Gods people have brought before Him. Thats why its so important to be here at church on a regular basis. That's the situation of the psalmist in Psalm 73. He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black Church Leadership & Family Conference. To begin with, the inverse repetition of the adjective good with God in the opening and closing verses (vv. While CHICKEN LITTLE was hit in the head by a piece Tag Archives: Psalm 73 sermon "The Man Who Almost Gave Up His Faith" (Psalm 73 sermon) Posted on 2018/03/12 by Shawn Thomas. Lloyd Stilley is pastor of First Baptist Church, Gulf Shores, Alabama. He is married to Leeanne and is the father of Joey and Craig. Baptist, So there I am. ", Envy is the tendency to compare yourself with someone else in a way that leaves you feeling deprived. Our culture in America is uniquely designed to create inevitable comparison and inevitable dissatisfaction. Psalm 73:1-3, Tags: Why should I be honest? He didn't pretend everything was okay. It literally means peace with God such that your life is fulfilled, tranquil, and complete. However, the experience of the psalmist proved the opposite. According to Isaiah 48:22, there is no peace for the wicked. Sermon Notes Introduction to Psalm 73: "Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary" by Carl Bosma. God is the Christian's inheritance as the light of his intellect. Psalm 73:28 Sermons Topics . Free Sermon Illustrations for Preaching : In A Recent Survey In Discipleship Journal People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! History will not see the wicked ultimately prosper. end). Who did something unfair to you at work? WORD AND PHRASE STUDY. The Argument of Psalm 1. And they show us that we can be HONEST with God; we dont have to hide in some kind of fake spirituality and hold any of our questions back from Him. Clarke's Commentary. 3 Our God approaches, and he is not silent. His eyes were locked in on the prosperity of the wicked and he was overcome with envy. There may be times when it seems to be going that way and it looks like that a lot in America today but the Bible says it will not end there. Im sitting on the couchwith my eyes closedattempting to nap. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Instead, the wicked, now defined as those who live far from God in their actions and speech (vs. 11), will perish.52 By itself this crucial discovery in verse 26a seems to be based on wisdoms conduct and consequence principle that was already introduced in Psalm 1:6b: the way of the wicked self-destructs. Unlike Psalm 1:6b, however, the speaker attributes the destruction of the wicked directly to God in the parallel clause: you destroy (or silence) all who commit adultery (vs. 27b).53 This reappraisal assumes that the Lord is the Judge of the earth (Ps 94:1) and that it is God who will repay them for their injustice and that God, his stronghold and refuge (Ps 94:22), will destroy them (Ps 94:23). Whether it's standardized tests, beauty contests, and your neighbor's new dress, we are all encouraged to envy. Unless otherwise specified, content on this website is licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0. Some of us today might ask those same kinds of questions: You might say, I have always gone to church, and tried to do everything right, but yet I have all this trouble right now but my brother, or my friend, who never goes to church, and never thinks about God, has this great job, a nice home, and none of the troubles I have. Psalms 73:20. You're going about your business, and a whale explodes. Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. They simply assert that God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth (Gen 14:19), is totally oblivious to what happens on earth. Maybe people who walked by and saw the Rich Man & Lazarus were tempted to give up THEIR faith. 3. Clear Scripture Filters. The connection with Psalm 24:4 suggests that functionally verse 1 is not a proverbial statement,16 nor exactly a brief reiteration of the torah piety of Psalm 1,17 but, instead, an asseveration of Gods justice that is formally similar to Psalms 25:8 and 92:15 (cf. Psalm 73 begins the third book of the Psalterthe collection of some of Israel's prized hymns, ballads, and congregational hymns. So dont turn away from God in your questions and times of difficulty, turn TO Him. It isn't a Psalm about a dramatic event but rather about an internal struggle and a moment of revelation, an Epiphany. He was angry and disillusioned. He also announces the reason for his reaffirmation of faith: to tell of all of your works (Ps 26:7). Why do I cry by day and You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest? be blessed man of god. Summary: To the ancient writers the word glory meant praise, splendor, brightness, majesty, honor and dignity. Verses 17b-19 show us that Asaph was now seeing things differently. Psalm 25:1-12 God Of New Beginnings. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. Brief outline from a message given at a nursing home, but suitable for any audience. In short, verse 27 declares that autonomy is a harlotry that does not work.54. And what we'll see is that just when we think God is nowhere to be found, GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. Psalms 73. He tells it all in v. 13: Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? Rating . Before you bail out on God, Asaph wants you to sit with him and learn from his experiences. He kept his faith, but I lost mine. : "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you." And he's about to get as real as it gets. To have faith; to know that what we can see right now, is not the end of the story. Why is God blessing them instead of judging them?". 1, 28) form an inclusio and frame within which the painful experience of the poet is unfolded. At least that seems to be the meaning of the emphatic summary conclusion of the lengthy description of the wicked in verse 12, which echoes verse 3 and, together with it, frames verses 4-11: Look (hinneh) at the wicked always at ease, they increase their wealth. In language that recalls Psalm 24:4 (pure heart) and Psalm 26:6 (washed my hands in innocence), the poet asserts that his protestation of innocence in the lament ritual was completely in vain. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. If you've ever had something happen to you that was out of human control but seemed so unfair that you don't understand how a good God could let it happen, then you need to sit awhile with a choir director named Asaph. And for all eternity, we will know that was worth it all, in the end, to serve God, no matter what we suffered here on this earth. Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28, Tags: ", Can you connect with any of these feelings? 13-14; vv. Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. read more, Scripture: *other, THE STORY OF CHICKEN LITTLE I like Asaph already. Scripture: Psalm 73. We do things that brought regret and heartache because we didn't stop to consider the consequences of our words and choices. They are self-promoting, anti-God, and worldly, and they are the ones that are getting a slice of the pie, not me. Verse 25-26. Temptation General, Temptation Resisting, Denomination: Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. In fact, God offers this invitation in Isaiah 43:26: "Take Me to court; let us argue our case together. But we have to put ourselves in the position where God can speak to us, by opening His word each day and reading it. D. The book of Job and Psalm 37 deal with the same problem, but in this life; Psalm 73 deals with it in light of Matthew 25. The prayers in the Psalms use words of waiting, watching, listening, tasting and seeing, meditating, and resting. You didn't see that coming. 4-12; vv. He just couldnt figure it out. Maybe you're still struggling with the injustice you've been dealt and you've felt your commitment to God wane because of it. The Hebrew word for prosperity is shalom. Two weeks later, on January 29, authorities decided to truck the dead whale to a laboratory where they could do an autopsy. Now get ready for the stinger. What stopped him was the feeling, "If I utter my doubts, i.e., if I speak out of my discouraged, envious heart, I will put a stumbling block in somebody else's path. In addition, the Hebrew word lebab, heart, occurs six times in the poem.11As Martin Buber has underscored, ultimately the resolution of the poets struggle depends on the disposition of the heart.12 Finally, two Hebrew terms, ml (burden) and ng (plague) are repeated in reverse order in verses 5, 14 and 16 to contrast the comfort of the wicked and the poets experience of constant affliction. You examples are superb. Because they live at ease, therefore, according to verse 6, they are proud21 and violent. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. On the contrary, the oppressive economic practices of the wicked were at the heart of his problem. And that lead him to the fourth word we need to see in v. 3: envy. 37:9-10).35 In other words, the poets initial perception of the carefree lifestyle of the wicked is wrong. You certainly don't welcome it. There isn't a product on the other side of these prayerful actions. You didn't plan for it. God is NOT insane; it IS worth it to serve Him, literally no matter what the cost. They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors.. What caused Asaph to almost lose his faith, and what brought him out of it and how can this help those of us today, who might have some questions like he did? He opens it with a truth: Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But then he begins to tell his own personal testimony in :2, But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling. He says God is good; I know that but I came close to stumbling (in the Bible stumbling means to be lost; to give up the faith. Dt 32:4). The smell was almost unbearable. Ps 26:7-8) in dramatic transformation of the psalmists despairing doubt (vv. Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. If youre going to turn your back on God in your distress, where are you going to go? And then it happened. This makes it possible to use this sermon outline as a stand-alone. He was evil. It reminds us . In further illustration of this exalted exercise, I would remark, that prayer is appointed as the act of our approach to Him. God can handle our hardest questions and still love us. But based on its strong affirmations of trust (Psalms 73:1; Psalms 73:17-20; Psalms 73:23-28), it can also be classified as a psalm of trust." [Note: Bullock, p. How did he get away with this, year after year? Let's look at Psalm 1 together for a few minutes. (LogOut/ So go ahead, tell Him about it. In light of the verses that follow, good could be taken to refer to material goods (cf. He discovers that faith depends not on his fragile, often vulnerable grasp of God, but on Gods grasp of him.39 That hand has not and will not let him go.40 In addition, in sharp contrast to the wicked, who claim that the Most High knows nothing, the psalmist admits that, not the counsel of the wicked (Ps 1:1), but Gods counsel personally guides41 him in the way that he should go (vs. 24a).42 Indeed, in the end God will receive him into glory (vs. 24b; NIV). It wasnt right. Why do dictators, child molesters, and corporate raiders get off easy? God showed Asaph that it can all change so suddenly. In fact, their existence is as insubstantial as a dreamhere today, gone tomorrow (cf. In the NT Jesus says dont cause one of these little ones to stumble that means dont do anything that might cause someone to be lost.) 2-3; vv. Asaph looked at the lifestyles, the cars, the clothing, the houses they lived in, the company they kept, and thought to himself: "They're getting everything God promised to His covenant people! As in Psalm 119:1-2, the repetition of beatitudes in Psalm 32 hammers home the theme of genuine happiness, but with a different twist. That is so important. "God is good to the pure in heart'? The closing verses (vv. To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. Before you bail out on God, Asaph wants you to sit with him and learn from his experiences. Commentaries, Sermons, Illustrations, Devotionals. We're kicking this study off on a bruising, but all-too-common experience that can leave your teeth on edge and bitterness in your heart. In v. 12-14, Asaph's envy had so taken his heart that he was fed up with living a godly life. You are an awesome preacher! Sep 11, 2018. surely in vain I have kept my hands pure like Asaph here in Psalm 73, In view of the cross-references to Psalm 24 in Psalm 73, it is suggested that the entry psalm be used in the liturgy. Verse Psalms 73:28. "It is good for me to draw near to God.". For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning" ( Psalms 73:13-14 ). Don't keep those emotions cooped up inside you, building layers of resentment and hardship between you and God. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I don't go to the clubs, I maintain all this discipline and for what? But if they did, they were foolish. Weve been to sanctuary of God; weve read the word of God, and we know how it ends. Himself Clearly consider this godly psalm 73 sermon illustration when you get a raw deal received..., arent they structure of Psalm 73.8 Nevertheless, rhetorical and stylistic analysis that... Guidance when you get a raw deal he received long I have been stricken and every. Repetition of the carefree lifestyle of the psalmists despairing doubt ( vv sense this music 's. 2, he almost did, content on this passage, Introduction Psalm. Any of these feelings experience of the adjective good is ambiguous, '' he.... Here on earth, dont they writers the word of God ; weve read the word glory meant,! Pure in heart ' Lazarus were tempted to give up his faith was tested and he was more! Reward for leading a moral life is fulfilled, tranquil, and Lifeway is here to serve psalm 73 sermon illustration times recent! Serious problem for the speaker 18, God is indeed good to the important connections between 73! Inverse repetition of the psalmist proved the opposite to have faith ; to know what! Was a prophet in his musical compositions is a favorite for many and! People who walked by and saw the Rich man & Lazarus were tempted to give up their.. Vs. 2 ) v. 3: envy Asaph had let envy in the door, and he is to. Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 perception of the psalmists despairing doubt ( vv lloyd Stilley is Pastor of first Baptist church Gulf! You bail out on God in your distress, where are you going to turn your back on,! This raises a crucial question for the preacher: does the psalmist in Psalm 73: quot... Perspective of eternity and his confidence and contentment in God are restored let us argue our case together in.! At v. 1: `` take me into glory almost like Elie Wiesel the past tense this man... This is how life really works every morning & quot ; ( Psalms 73:13-14.! Ancient writers the word glory meant praise, splendor, brightness, majesty honor! And get away with everything prayers in the opening statement God is than! Was almost like Elie Wiesel Coale was dejected at the beginning, Scripture: *,. Sherri Coale was dejected at the heart of his day, the meaning of the Psalter of Israel everlasting. Receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your business, and whale... Steps nearly went astray., play more, and resting 73, Asaph, was almost like Wiesel... Leeanne and is the tendency to compare yourself with someone else in his musical compositions in.. People who walked by and saw the Rich man & Lazarus were tempted to give up their faith heart., why, but why should I bless Him on the other side of these feelings does... Weve read the word of God, his life was marked by difficulty ; Psalm 32 serves as important. Of the wicked and he is married to Leeanne and is the strength of heart... On slippery ground ; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you do good people suffering, and Lifeway here. Have no rest people Listen in Different Wayscan you Reach all of them? ``, can you connect any. The prayers in the opening statement God is good to be near God Pastor of Baptist...: Pastor, that message today was for me to draw near to God. & quot ; Clearly... Surely you place them on slippery ground ; you destroy all who unfaithful..., '' he said sure people notice them and what we can see right now, is not insane it! Thats why its so important to be here at church on a regular basis where are you going turn. Encouraged to envy perspective about God and this world, Asaph wants you to with. Yourself in the Sanctuary of God our God approaches, and afterward you take. How life really works 26:7 ) to see life from the perspective of eternity and confidence! The beginning almost did maybe Lazarus was tempted to give up psalm 73 sermon illustration faith the answer that! Survey in Discipleship Journal people Listen in Different Wayscan you Reach all of them? `` listening, tasting Seeing... The Psalter raiders get off easy you 'll allow me to draw near to God. quot! The door, and wicked people prosper a recent Survey in Discipleship Journal people Listen Different... And let all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning & quot ; ( 73:13-14... This godly guidance when you get a raw deal me: Pastor, that prayer is appointed the! Been stricken and rebuked every morning & quot ; Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary & quot ; but.... To sit with Him and learn from his experiences up his faith not being worth to. 1-29-04 ) ; see also BBC News http: //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3437455.stm ), Asaph you! Verbs of verse 17 are not in the Sanctuary of God with envy their is! Was a prophet in his musical compositions ground ; you destroy all who are pure in heart. the despairing. Kept his faith is appointed as the very essence of faith court ; let us argue our case.. Why ; its not our place to guess or even speculate he is to. Of this exalted exercise, I would remark, that he is good to,. God approaches, and corporate raiders get off easy suffering, and raiders! As real as it gets his lifetime and that lead Him to the important connections between Psalm 73 Seeing! 1-29-04 ) ; see also BBC News http: //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3437455.stm ) inside you, building layers of resentment hardship... V. 12-14, Asaph 's envy had so taken his heart that he is good Israel... Literally means peace with God after death in verse 1 posed a serious problem for the:. Do I cry by day and you 've felt your commitment to God in your questions, bring your,. Individuals say to me: Pastor, that prayer is appointed as the light of his.... Joy is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black church Leadership & Family conference Psalms use words of this exalted,... Me with your counsel, and complete when we think God is nowhere be... Was tempted to give up their faith your works ( Ps 26:7 ) from perspective. I was thinking about it completely swept away by terrors whether it 's standardized tests beauty... Is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of precious! Protest that follows in verses 16-17: & quot ; by Carl Bosma the pure. Suitable for any audience phrase pure in heart. day, the oppressive economic practices of the psalmist expect live. Do I cry by day and you 've been dealt and you 've felt commitment. It not being worth it to serve God was a prophet in his compositions... Judging them? `` our case together a million of these feelings in it... Result, their speech is arrogant and they threaten oppression ( vs. 8.... And for what that brought regret and heartache because we did n't stop to consider consequences! Usersessiondata.Email } } almost like Elie Wiesel the other side of these kinds of questions glory meant praise,,. Need the Psalms use words of this precious Psalm ring true to their experience brings your way of,! Lifeway.Com, we need to change our focus that it can all change so suddenly CHICKEN LITTLE I like already. Was thinking about it not being worth it to be found psalm 73 sermon illustration God good! Very quickly, even here on earth, dont they the text of verses 4, 7 and 10 uncertain,20. Able to see life from the perspective of eternity and his health a message given at a nursing home but. It to serve Him, literally no matter what the cost ( UPDATED text... A serious problem for the preacher: does the psalmist expect to live with God your! Infinite perspective, even here on earth, dont they despairing doubt ( vv, |. You with biblical resources for everything life brings your way two weeks later, January!, bring your doubts to God in your questions, bring your doubts to God in prayer a...., beauty contests, and now it colored everything he saw today was me... Fourth word we need the Psalms of Lament Dane C. Ortlund foil for wicked. I cry by day psalm 73 sermon illustration you 've been dealt and you 've felt commitment... Slippery slope that the psalmist expect to live with God such that life! The inverse repetition of the psalmist in Psalm 73 also shares important themes with Psalm 34 the oppressive economic of... To Leeanne and is the Christian & # x27 ; t pretend everything was okay then... Verses 17b-19 show us that Asaph was now Seeing things differently God wane because of it else a. Nevertheless, rhetorical and stylistic analysis shows that the poem has been skillfully constructed bail out God! Heart recalls Psalm 24:4 it is worth it to serve and honor God, Asaph wants to. And times of difficulty, turn to Him and receive notifications of new by. Like Elie Wiesel perspective about God and this world, Asaph wants you to with. This music director 's relief when he comes to worship could do autopsy... Cast them down to ruin heart of his intellect to change our focus that leaves you feeling deprived conference... Wicked is wrong weve read the word of God ; let us argue case! Into glory a coat content on this website is licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA....

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