Psalm 73:1-14 MSG No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people At the top, envying the wicked who have it made, Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world. Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, Pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words. They’re full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace. People actually listen to them—can you believe it? Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words. What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches. I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? A long run of bad luck, that’s what— a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.
Have you ever wondered whether your faith was worthwhile? Have you ever looked around at extraordinarily successful people who have no faith and wondered why they are better off than you? Have you even been tempted to be envious of them?
In Psalm 73 the writer has kept his heart pure, but he had had struggles and had been because of them he had been tempted, he was afraid and anxious and had doubts. He looked around at those who were doing well financially and envied them even questioning if there were any benefits of his being obedient to God’s commands. He saw people who seemed to be doing well without God. They were rich, they were healthy, and had no apparent burdens while on the other hand he was struggling.
Many of us, I know that I have had the same thoughts as this psalmist. Why am I struggling although I spend time with God in prayer and in reading and studying His word, I fellowship with other believers, and yet I can’t seem to get ahead in fact I am losing ground. Yet I see my friend, neighbor, family member and others who don’t even acknowledge God and they are prospering.
Like the psalmist we need to change our perspective from our limited view of life to the eternal view of God. Everything changes when we change our perspective from one based on our human frailty to God’s view. We must realize how small we are and how big God is. We must realize how short our time of existence is compared to eternity.
As the psalmist shows us our perspective on everything changes when we get into God’s presence. The psalmist calls that presence the “the sanctuary of God”. Once his perspective changes, he has a complete change of heart. He sees, as can we that there is a tremendous difference in his destiny and the destiny of those who refuse to acknowledge God.
The psalmist starts by acknowledging that God is good to those who are pure in heart.
Psalm 73:1 MSG No doubt about it! God is good - good to good people, good to the good-hearted. (Emphasis mine)
He ends by acknowledging that the presence of the Lord makes all the difference and that he will let the world know it.
Psalm 73:28 MSG But I'm in the very presence of God - oh, how refreshing it is! I've made Lord God my home. God, I'm telling the world what you do!
Today through the Holy Spirit God is always present with his people.
1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Get into the presence of the Lord and change your perspective. It makes all the difference in the world.
Have you ever wondered whether your faith was worthwhile? Have you ever looked around at extraordinarily successful people who have no faith and wondered why they are better off than you? Have you even been tempted to be envious of them?
In Psalm 73 the writer has kept his heart pure, but he had had struggles and had been because of them he had been tempted, he was afraid and anxious and had doubts. He looked around at those who were doing well financially and envied them even questioning if there were any benefits of his being obedient to God’s commands. He saw people who seemed to be doing well without God. They were rich, they were healthy, and had no apparent burdens while on the other hand he was struggling.
Many of us, I know that I have had the same thoughts as this psalmist. Why am I struggling although I spend time with God in prayer and in reading and studying His word, I fellowship with other believers, and yet I can’t seem to get ahead in fact I am losing ground. Yet I see my friend, neighbor, family member and others who don’t even acknowledge God and they are prospering.
Like the psalmist we need to change our perspective from our limited view of life to the eternal view of God. Everything changes when we change our perspective from one based on our human frailty to God’s view. We must realize how small we are and how big God is. We must realize how short our time of existence is compared to eternity.
As the psalmist shows us our perspective on everything changes when we get into God’s presence. The psalmist calls that presence the “the sanctuary of God”. Once his perspective changes, he has a complete change of heart. He sees, as can we that there is a tremendous difference in his destiny and the destiny of those who refuse to acknowledge God.
The psalmist starts by acknowledging that God is good to those who are pure in heart.
Psalm 73:1 MSG No doubt about it! God is good - good to good people, good to the good-hearted. (Emphasis mine)
He ends by acknowledging that the presence of the Lord makes all the difference and that he will let the world know it.
Psalm 73:28 MSG But I'm in the very presence of God - oh, how refreshing it is! I've made Lord God my home. God, I'm telling the world what you do!
Today through the Holy Spirit God is always present with his people.
1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Get into the presence of the Lord and change your perspective. It makes all the difference in the world.
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