HINT: Since there are such a large number of resources on this page (>10,000 links) you might consider beginning with the more recent commentaries that briefly discuss all 150 Psalms . In fact, God offers this invitation in Isaiah 43:26: "Take Me to court; let us argue our case together. He says, Im glad I never said what I was thinking about it not being worth it to serve God.
Psalm 73:28 Sermons Topics . I thought you reap what you sow! Why did the close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, lift up his heel against me? God, I was like an animal. "God is good to the pure in heart'? What Asaph Knew. But before he relates his personal experience (vv. In fact, in rather strong language, he acknowledges that he behaved as a brute beast38 with God. Why is God blessing them instead of judging them?". He became depressed. Asaph had let envy in the door, and now it colored everything he saw. God allowed Satan to test Job. Psalm 73:1-28. (1 John 2:17) God completely controls their destiny, not them. end). Whom have I in heaven but You? 9. It refers first of all to God. How did he get away with this, year after year? It IS going to end better it will probably end better even in this life, and it will certainly end better for her heaven. 2 From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Life has a way of suddenly altering its course down hard paths, leaving us hurt, confused, and weak, with lots of unanswered questions. 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. But the man was a sexual predator. Maybe you're still struggling with the injustice you've been dealt and you've felt your commitment to God wane because of it. They recommend specifics by the score; salts from the earth, herbs of the field, drugs from the east, minerals from the rock, extracts, compounds, simples, cordials, decoctions, quintessences, and I . Asaph was getting more and more into despair and perhaps wondering walking by faith was worth it, but all this changed when he changed his focus. In the end, it is these nailed hands that will receive us into glory, according to his promise: Oh the happiness of the pure in heart; they will see God (Mt 5:8). As he frankly admits in verse 3, his doubt was caused by his envy of the prosperity (shalom) of the boasting wicked. I just know that suddenly, Asaph started paying attention, and his confusion deepened. Thats the message of Psalm 73. Asaph was eaten up with it. Relationship To God, Great Expectations, Denomination:
He's on the edge of throwing in the towel. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. 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: Sometimes, however, questions and doubt are not directly the result of sin. I cannot go where He is not. Even though these words were written 3000 years ago, they might as well have been written today. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." read more, Scripture:
This is a valuable lesson for us: When you are troubled by something in life, dont turn away from God; turn TO Him. Several times in recent months I have had individuals say to me: Pastor, that message today was for me! Verse 17 marks a pivotal transition to a new understanding. According to the twice repeated expression "Happy are those," in verses 1-2, divine forgiveness of sins is the gateway to happiness. 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. III. Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28, Tags:
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. 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. A sermon on Psalm 73 should also highlight that there is something very unique about going to church that defies the limits of human wisdom. 7-11). You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. It wasnt right. While CHICKEN LITTLE was hit in the head by a piece
In Psalm 73 a man named Asaph expresses a frustration that many have shared. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. Introduction to Psalm 73: "Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary". Isn't that just like life sometimes? Furthermore, to highlight the uniqueness of worship, the beatitude in Psalm 65:4 should also be used because it claims that true happiness consists of God bringing us to his courts where we may be satisfied with his goodness. This statement represents his settled conviction after the trouble he recounts in the Psalm. Psalm 73 is the first psalm of Book III of the Psalter. Psalm 73 Sermon Illustrations; Free Sermon Illustrations for Preaching : In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 73" showing 1-4 of 4 Filter Results Sort By. That's right, it blew up. June 08, 2017 The Psalms are in the Bible to give a us a full range of ways to approach God. Baptist, So there I am. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. 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. Look at v. 3: "For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." "I nearly lost my grip on what I believe. Hah." Why pray, when I pray these same prayer requests day after day, but it doesnt seem like they are being answered? Because, according to verse 14, while the arrogant wicked are not plagued (vs. 5), the speaker is plagued constantly. (ESV). The smell was almost unbearable. They simply assert that God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth (Gen 14:19), is totally oblivious to what happens on earth. And what we'll see is that just when we think God is nowhere to be found, GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. Because ONE SECOND after they died, it all changed suddenly, didnt it? Why do violence-endorsing rap singers, arrogant executives, and God-mocking people get their own TV shows? There he was reminded of God's attributes, character and power. Psalm 145:18 adds that "the Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." The NIV and the NRSV translate this verse in the past tense and read it with the preceding verse. 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 13-14) into exuberant trust also underscores the need for careful liturgical planning. But her sophomore year, she suffered a knee injury that took her out for some time. 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. 21ff. He just couldnt figure it out. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. While the first half of the Psalm is marked by a man-oriented perspective, he now sees things from a God-oriented perspective. He did what Job did. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. : "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you." 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. Psalm 73-Smith, Terry L. "A Crisis in Faith: An Exegesis of Psalm 73," Restoration Quarterly 17.3 (1974) 162 . 2-3; vv. An important step in this process is the recognition of the psalmists strident critique of the economic underpinnings of society in verses 4-11. Close Filters Scripture . Reorientation with Respect to the Wicked (vv. He tells it all in v. 13: Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? How could I say to Him: Blessed art Thou, Eternal, Master of the Universe, Who chose us from among the races to be tortured day and night, to see our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, end in the crematory? (Night, 64-65). 13-14), the poet first embarks on an extensive and vivid description of the actions and words of the wicked in verses 4-12.18. God wants to do that for you. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. The concluding verse, verse 28, summarizes the new vision the speaker obtained in verses 23-25 and, what is more important, it serves as a clearer definition of what it means that God is good to the pure in heart (vs. 1). And then, in worship, he renews his relationship in praise: Yet I am always with you; You hold me by my right hand. He says in :16 that all of this WAS troublesome in my sight UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God. The challenge for the liturgist and preacher is to incorporate a critical reassessment of our culture in a pastorally sensitive manner. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. Psalm 25:6-9 All The Wrong Notes. He could see both God's judgment of sin as well as God's solution offered to sinners. 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. Lloyd Stilley is pastor of First Baptist Church, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Moreover, it is important to remind them that the essence of faith is not our grasp of God but Gods sure grasp of us61 through the nailed hands of his crucified Son. Psalm 73 begins the third book of the Psalterthe collection of some of Israel's prized hymns, ballads, and congregational hymns. He was watching how the ungodly were getting along. 4. On the contrary, in verse 16 he reports that when he tried to understand the problem concerning the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous, when he tried to develop a theodicy, it became a burden (vs. 5) in his eyes. The visit he made: Pedestrians and shop owners poured into the streets to watch the spectacle of a whale carcass driven through the streets of downtown Tainan. Consequently, the solution of the psalmists heart-rending problem transcends human wisdom. Still, in v. 15, he stops to consider the impact his next steps will have: "If I had said, 'I will speak thus,' I would have betrayed your children." But because there is an eternity, what happens in this life is not even a speck on the timeline of eternity, and we know that things will be different there. Psalm 73:1-3, Tags:
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. This is what a lot of these Psalms are about. 2. 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. The reference to the phrase pure of heart and the act of washing ones hands in innocence in verse 13 suggests a connection between Psalm 73 and the psalms of temple entry.32 In any case, following the suggestion of Marvin E. Tate, entry into the temple provides a dramatic threefold correction of the poets envy blurred vision.33, 1. But as for me, it is good to be near God. In the midst of suffering believers often feel cheated and begin to question and doubt God's goodness. They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!. v3 Some people had made themselves important. Please see below for details. SO WHY SERVE GOD? There isn't a product on the other side of these prayerful actions. Who put the screws to you? As such, it has proved to be an enduring source of comfort amidst suffering. To get insight into Asaph's struggle here, notice four key words in v. 3. Is it really worth it to serve God? He was one of the great worship leaders in the OT. BOOK III Psalms 73-89 -A psalm of Asaph. In light of the prosperity of the wicked, the poet concludes that his attempt to lead a moral life has been absolutely in vain: Surely, in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence. For example, the Hebrew word ak, translated as surely in the NIV, begins the poem in verse 1 and is repeated at significant turning points, namely, verses 13 and 18.10 Similarly, the fourfold repetition of the emphatic Hebrew phrase weani (And [or: but] I) in verses 2, 22, 23 and 28 marks important phases in the resolution of the poets haunting problem. Your community. We're sorry, an error occurred. v1 I am sure that God is good to (the people of) Israel, to the people whose hearts are clean. 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. Hugh Hefner may well have been one of the most evil men in the world in the last generation. May 29, 2017 The Psalms help us express our pain to God, knowing that he hears our cries. The Psalms, maybe more than any other part of the Bible, help us to explore the depths of our hearts. Blessed be the Lord for evermore. 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