Their
Problem and Ours
Asaph
- the Problem of Providence
Psalm 73.
Asaph
was seeking to live a life of holiness, yet he faced trouble, temptation
and agony of mind because the affluent, ungodly society around him was
prospering. Did God not care? In Psalm 73, Asaph tells us honestly how
he felt, how he faced up to his doubts, where he found the answer and
how his faith was renewed.
1. Asaph
was resentful. v. 3-16.
Asaph was
looking in the wrong direction and this left him with -
(a) Distorted
Vision "they" had no troubles! v.4,5.
(b) Defective
Values "they" prospered and were rich! v.3,7,12
(c) Devastating
Verdict was it worthwhile to be holy? v.13.
Everything
was too painful for Asaph until he went into the sanctuary of
God. The Presence of God, the people of God and the precepts of God
spoke to his heart.
2. Asaph
was rebuked. v. 17-20.
(a) about
his failure to look back. v.18. See the past victories
(b) about
his failure to look forward. v.19. See "their" end.
(c) about
his failure to look up. v.17-20. See the Lord God.
3. Asaph
was repentant. v.21,22.
(a) Asaph
saw himself "so foolish and ignorant" v.22
(b) Asaph
saw what God saw. "before You" v.22
Note these
two experiences in David's repentance. Ps. 51:3,4.
4. Asaph
had his faith renewed. v.23-28.
(a) He
saw how much he needed God. v.23,24.
God redeemed
him, restrained him, restored him, rewarded him.
(b) He
desired to know God. v.25,26.
(c) He
longed to be near God. v.27,28.
"Truly
God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart
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