Surely God is good to
Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet
had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity
of the wicked.
(Verses 1-3)
This is the place we get at times. We know God has been faithful in the past but right now it looks like everything is going good for those who don’t serve God. Over the next several verses the writer talks about how everything is going well for these people. This again is where we are. We can list the ways people who don’t serve God are doing well. We wonder if it’s really worth it. However, this isn’t where this psalm stops, and it shouldn’t be where we stop either.
When I tried to
understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
till I entered the
sanctuary of God;
then I understood their
final destiny
(verses 16-17)
It is amazing what happens when we begin to study God’s word and attend church regularly. This is when we, like the psalmist, look at the world differently. When we are where God wants us and when we are looking to him, our perspective changes. We realize it might look good now, but things are going to change. It’s like the pale person who spends years maintaining a tan only to find that it might have looked good for a while but now they are wrinkled or fighting cancer.
Are you discouraged by
what you see? Get into the church and into the Bible, it will help straighten
your thinking out.
Psa 73:1-28
(1) A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
(2) But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
(3) For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
(4) For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
(5) They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
(6) Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
(7) Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
(8) They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
(9) They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
(10) Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
(11) And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
(12) Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
(13) Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
(14) For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
(15) If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
(16) When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
(17) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
(18) Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
(19) How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
(20) As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
(21) Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
(22) So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
(23) Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
(24) Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
(25) Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
(26) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
(27) For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
(28) But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
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