This service acknowledges the seeming inequities of life and the doubts that arise yet declares strength, hope and protection in God our Sovereign Lord. The Bible says Jesus turned to His disciples and asked if they were going to go away too. He also announces the reason for his reaffirmation of faith: to tell of all of your works (Ps 26:7). This switch marks a major turning point in the poem. Why pray, when I pray these same prayer requests day after day, but it doesnt seem like they are being answered? Perspective is God's gift to our inward sight, and with it we have a surefootedness to move ahead confidently as we live, learn, and labor. Envy is so common that God made it the subject of one of His 10 commandments: "Do not covet your neighbor's house. Asaph realized that if he went public with his inner struggles, letting his cynicism and anger out in words, he would become a tool of Satan's for the ruin of God's people. Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28, Tags: So why am I serving God? 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen ( Psalm 72:18-19, ending Book 2). Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. 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). As the truck crawled through that downtown region, with crowds looking on, the whale exploded. 3. 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. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Such a condition is contrary to the basic belief that God rewards the good with good. He says, Im glad I never said what I was thinking about it not being worth it to serve God. Message. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! Using the imagery of clothing in this verse, the psalmist boldly engages in shrewd moral and economic criticism.22 According to this verse, the affluent are well-off because of pride and violence. Psalm 73 in context. Hugh Hefner may well have been one of the most evil men in the world in the last generation. Because He kept six crematories working night and day, on Sunday and feast days? And is there knowledge with the Most High? He says these people are basically spitting at God and getting away with it! But she had great character; she worked hard and came back, and was an inspiration to many. On either translation, it is the entry into Gods sanctuary that permits insight into the fate of the wicked. Denomination: Methodist. Thank you so much for that blessing Peter! Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. Why should I be honest? Hah." 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. It took 50 laborers and three lifting cranes 13 hours to hoist the 56-foot behemoth onto a flatbed trailer truck. Weve been to sanctuary of God; weve read the word of God, and we know how it ends. Why did the close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, lift up his heel against me? Sometimes questioning and doubt is due to sin. My God, my God; why have You forsaken me? Like David in Psalm 22 And earth has nothing I desire besides You. Reorientation with Respect to Self (vv. 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30 add that Asaph was a prophet in his musical compositions. Because they live at ease, therefore, according to verse 6, they are proud21 and violent. BOOK III Psalms 73-89 -A psalm of Asaph. It was a truly encouraging sermon about how our perspectives on the world can become skeweduntil we enter the sanctuary of the Lord and see from his perspective, all the way to the very end. But in worship we see from God's infinite perspective. 6. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A Southern Baptist pastor for almost 35 years, I currently serve as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Angleton, Texas, and post my weekly sermons on this site, as well as a brief overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson. It literally means peace with God such that your life is fulfilled, tranquil, and complete. Asaph confessed his self-pitying, self-centered bent. Psalm 73 moves from radical doubt to a robust reaffirmation of faith. 89:52, ending Book 3). Wicked emphasizes the guilt of those who are actively choosing that which is offensive to God. He gives the soul (1) security; (2) happiness; (3) support in the hour of death. They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors.. His eyes were locked in on the prosperity of the wicked and he was overcome with envy. Under these circumstances, Psalm 73 helps believers to be honest with God. But as for me, it is good to be near God. Intro: One day, six blind men decided to go to the zoo.They hired a guide to tell them about all the exotic animals they couldn't see. Materialism Envy means "I want what you have." Yet over the years they bring steadfastness . Sermon Notes Introduction to Psalm 73: "Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary" by Carl Bosma. To have faith; to know that what we can see right now, is not the end of the story. Sometimes, however, questions and doubt are not directly the result of sin. Scripture: Psalms 73:24. John Piper Dec 4, 1988. 8. On the contrary, the oppressive economic practices of the wicked were at the heart of his problem. This wonderful psalm may be best understood by the . What troubled the psalmist is that their lifestyle works.23. We'll see that they don't necessarily sync up very well. Look at v. 3: "For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Psalm 73-Smith, Terry L. "A Crisis in Faith: An Exegesis of Psalm 73," Restoration Quarterly 17.3 (1974) 162 . If it is, then just eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you may die. If this life is all there is, then it may not be worth it to serve God, because there are people who sin, and cheat, and steal, and seem to get away with it while people who obey God sometimes suffer. They make sure the cameras are clicking and the interviewers are there to fawn over them. It's all backwards." In fact, in rather strong language, he acknowledges that he behaved as a brute beast38 with God. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threate Several times in recent months I have had individuals say to me: Pastor, that message today was for me! He probably didn't do this purposefully at the beginning. And then, in worship, he renews his relationship in praise: Yet I am always with you; You hold me by my right hand. You are an awesome preacher! Recognize it? This is what a lot of these Psalms are about. In v. 4-12, he breaks down what he had observed. Laziness What Asaph Knew. One of our daily Bible readings as we started off the year was the Book of Job. Verses 17b-19 show us that Asaph was now seeing things differently. So make the visit that Asaph made; put yourself in the place where God can speak to you about the issues of your life: be faithful in your church attendance; be faithful in your daily Bible reading. It refers first of all to God. If we are to defeat envy, we need to change our focus. He didnt understand what was happening to him: These subdivisions will be used in our exposition. You can sense this music director's relief when he comes to worship. 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. Amen, and Amen ( Ps. Gluttony The psalmists realization of Gods presence in verses 22-24 leads to a reflective spin-off in verses 25-26,44 in which he articulates a supreme confession of trust.45 In verse 25 he confesses that the antidote to his previous envy (vs. 3) is his hold-guide-receive experience of Gods persistent presence (vv. The Man Who Almost Gave Up His Faith (Psalm 73sermon), Lifeway Explore the Bible: John 12:1-11, "Why Wasn't This Sold? Survey respondents noted that temptations Once again he is able to see life from the perspective of eternity and his confidence and contentment in God are restored. Consequently, the solution of the psalmists heart-rending problem transcends human wisdom. In the deepest part of your heart you just want it to end better for her. He took his doubts and confusion to God in prayer. Psalm 25:1-10 Riding Out The Waves. God wants to do that for you. Verses 4-5 of the first part detail why the wicked enjoy shalom. Maybe Lazarus was tempted to give up HIS faith. 37:9-10).35 In other words, the poets initial perception of the carefree lifestyle of the wicked is wrong. :17 If I had said, I will speak thus, behold I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. A person may say, well I just dont feel like being there today but that may be the day that God is going to speak to you. According to verse 18, God will place the wicked on the slippery slope that the psalmist almost experienced (vs. 2). Asaph believes God exists, that He is good and sovereign over all. State your [case], so that you may be vindicated." This happened for Asaph in verses 16-17: "But when . I try to be faithful and do right, and I have to fight for every inch. Study Psalm 73 using Charles H. Spurgeon's Treasury of David to better understand Scripture with full outline and verse meaning. He said in :3, For I was envious of the arrogant He said the wicked in his land seemed to prosper, and he was jealous of them. Verse 25-26. 2. 2-3; vv. 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. History will not see the wicked ultimately prosper. "I nearly lost my grip on what I believe. He opens it with a truth: "Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.". This little song is worth several sermons so don't feel bad if we emphasize some parts tonight and not others. Publisher's summary: Confraternities were the most common form of organized religious life in medieval and early modern Europe. Video for Psalm 73: The title of this psalm ( A Psalm of Asaph) tells us that it was written by the great singer and musician of David and Solomon's era ( 1 Chronicles 15:17-19, 16:5-7, 25:6 ). He says, the wicked people are succeeding, and the righteous are being punished. He did what Job did. These are a lot like Asaphs questions, arent they? The prayers in the Psalms use words of waiting, watching, listening, tasting and seeing, meditating, and resting. Have you ever been betrayed? Tag Archives: Psalm 73 sermon "The Man Who Almost Gave Up His Faith" (Psalm 73 sermon) Posted on 2018/03/12 by Shawn Thomas. Psalm 25:2 E-Mail Challenge. In 21:17, Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? In fact, God offers this invitation in Isaiah 43:26: "Take Me to court; let us argue our case together. They were at once the lay face of the church, the spiritual heart of civic government, and the social kin who claimed the allegiance of peers and the obedience of subordinates. Thats like Asaph here. They have no trouble; they succeed at everything they do; they are so well off they are bulging with fatness; and are at ease and have increased in wealth. Wiesel was a devout Jew before his experience in the Nazi death camps, but his time there destroyed his faith. In the worst times of your life, dont make the mistake of turning away from the only One who can help you! Brief outline from a message given at a nursing home, but suitable for any audience. 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. Your Bible study. Because He had had thousands of children burned in His pits? Our culture in America is uniquely designed to create inevitable comparison and inevitable dissatisfaction. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around . SO WHY SERVE GOD? 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. The basis for the speakers short admission is the realization of Gods presence, the third reorientation, which is introduced by weani. Maybe it happened at home with a parent or grandparent, your husband or wife or best friend. The repetition of the verb to tell (sfr) from verse 15 in verse 28c shows that the psalmists speech has now changed dramatically from self-pity (vv. The opening statement God is good echoes Psalm 25:8 and 34:8 and the phrase pure in heart recalls Psalm 24:4. 15-16; 17-20; 21-22; 23-26; and 27-28. CONCLUSION: That may also have been the reason that occasioned his doubt. While the first half of the Psalm is marked by a man-oriented perspective, he now sees things from a God-oriented perspective. Looking back, Im glad I didnt send it! There is no record that God ever rebuffs Job for being honest. First, he say in :17 It WAS troublesome in my sight, UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God.. And he's about to get as real as it gets. Glorification also refers to our elevation to an exalted state in eternity. God has SO much to say to us and so many of us are getting so much out of His word every day. Battling the Unbelief of Despondency. Psalm 73 begins the third book of the Psalterthe collection of some of Israel's prized hymns, ballads, and congregational hymns. v3 Some people had made themselves important. You're going about your business, and a whale explodes. You didn't see that coming. The Psalms, maybe more than any other part of the Bible, help us to explore the depths of our hearts. Even though these words were written 3000 years ago, they might as well have been written today. In fact, in their boldness they lay claim to heaven and earth (vs. 9). May Gods word continue to bless your life! Asaph is acknowledging what Hebrews 11:6 names as the very essence of faith. Psalm 50:1-5 A psalm of Asaph. 1, 28) form an inclusio and frame within which the painful experience of the poet is unfolded. Asaph was one of three directors who worked under King David. 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. 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. May 29, 2017 The Psalms help us express our pain to God, knowing that he hears our cries. There he was reminded of God's attributes, character and power. Dt 32:4). Psalm 73 Sermon Illustrations; Free Sermon Illustrations for Preaching : In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 73" showing 1-4 of 4 Filter Results Sort By. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning" ( Psalms 73:13-14 ). C. A Significant Turning Point (vv. Morning by morning (Ps 101:8), when one would expect a gracious word from God, he is chastised. That's the situation of the psalmist in Psalm 73. Your family. That is so important. The poet introduces his honest confession with the emphatic contrastive phrase But, as for me. This phrase introduces the yes, but factor. Just like Asaph, bring your doubts to the Lord, and let Him show you in His word that although it may not look like it now, it is going to end better if youll hang in there, and learn the lesson of the man who almost gave up his faith. 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). It has all turned around, so suddenly. Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Before you bail out on God, Asaph wants you to sit with him and learn from his experiences. Job had questions like this, didnt he? He found God again. Moreover, Psalm 73:28 also repeats the important theme of Gods nearness (Ps 34:18) and the key refuge metaphor (Ps 34:8, 22). Although the text of verses 4, 7 and 10 is uncertain,20 the general picture is clear. Your sermons are simple but complex with a very good end lesson. An important step in this process is the recognition of the psalmists strident critique of the economic underpinnings of society in verses 4-11. Verse Psalms 73:28. He was used more by Satan than perhaps anyone else in his lifetime. However, the Hebrew verbs of verse 17 are not in the past tense. This is important because, according to George Barna, people, even church people, are searching to be near to God, but frequently they are not finding it in the organized church.63Yet, after a sermon on Psalm 73, no one should leave church without being able to affirm that it is good to be near God, particularly in this season of Lent. They do not need God. The section as a whole concludes with a summary statement in verse 12, a verse in which the term wicked is repeated from verse 3 and the phrase at ease (NRSV; cf. 5:3-12), Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog). Psalm 24 Back On The Farm. When you did the right thing, but got the back of the hand anyway. (Nik Ripken, the author of the video were going to watch the next several Wednesday nights, was like that. And their end will be terrible. v1 I am sure that God is good to (the people of) Israel, to the people whose hearts are clean. Im sitting on the couchwith my eyes closedattempting to nap. Asaph realized that "the world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." The fact that this vigorous protest is introduced by the same adverb surely as verse 1 and the fact that the phrase pure in heart is a repetition from the asseveration of divine justice in verse 1 suggest that verses 13-14 function as a counter claim to verse 1. Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure ( Psalm 73:1 ). Envy Walk Through the Text. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Because God has showed me that things are going to end differently than they are right now. Verse 17 marks a pivotal transition to a new understanding. According to Psalm 1:6b, the way of the wicked self-destructs. He took his doubts and confusion to God in prayer. In light of verse 25 and Psalm 49:15 we are of the opinion that it does.43. Each of these sections is dominated by they and concludes with a very important therefore (vv. So he says in :13, Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence. Your Emotions Matter to God Learning from the Bible's Songbook. That poor man was carried away to eternal comfort, but the rich man found himself in agony in this flame. It is just as Psalm 73 says: You cast them down to destruction, How they are destroyed in a moment. He was a faithful follower of God. It can only be understood from an eschatological perspective.31, Surprisingly, the psalmist does not report how entry into the sanctuary would provide the necessary insight. He was, I believe, a godly man during the time of his personal struggle. We do things that brought regret and heartache because we didn't stop to consider the consequences of our words and choices. And what we'll see is that just when we think God is nowhere to be found, GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. He can handle it! 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. Let's look at Psalm 1 together for a few minutes. The opening statement that God is good to Israel, for example, recalls Psalm 34:8. God is the Christian's inheritance as the refuge of his conscience. But on the other hand, HE, who was trying to obey God and do what is right, has been stricken all day long, and chastened every morning.. a. It should just end better. There is a sense in which we cannot be nearer to God in one view than another. Keep up the good work. The speaker of Psalm 73 admits that he was envious. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind.

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