Tragedy and Blessedness

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 73

 

Psalm 73:27-28

For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
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 Your works.

(NKJV)

 

One of the things about living in a fallen world is that evil is rewarded, while righteousness is looked down upon. The psalmist, Asaph, in this passage almost stumbled when he observed this. But when he entered the sanctuary of the temple, he realized the reward of righteousness outweighed the rewards of evil living. This is because the rewards in this world for living wickedly are only temporary, with the rewards of living righteously eternal.

 

Asaph begins this psalm by declaring God is good to Israel and to those who are pure in heart (Psalm 73:1). Asaph then confesses to almost stumbling upon observing the boastfulness and prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:2-3). Asaph observed that the wicked had no pain in their death but had firm strength without being troubled or plagued like other men (Psalm 73:4-5). The wicked wear pride as a necklace, and violence as a garment, with eyes bulging with abundance, possessing more than a heart could wish (Psalm 73:6-7). Their speech is lofty, with them scoffing and speaking wickedly regarding oppression, speaking against the heavens as they walk through the earth (Psalm 73:8-9).

 

The wicked return to Israel, draining it of its full cup, asking “How does God know?” questioning if there is knowledge in the Most High (Psalm 73:10-11). These are Asaph’s observations of the wicked, with them always at ease and increasing in riches (Psalm 73:12). From these observations, Asaph concludes that he has cleansed his heart in vain and washed his hands in innocence, because he continues to be plagued all day long and chastened every morning (Psalm 73:13-14). However, Asaph knows that if he had spoken this way, he would have been untrue to the generation of Israel’s children, with understanding that this too painful for him (Psalm 73:15-16). Then Asaph went into the sanctuary of God and understood the end of the wicked (Psalm 73:17).

 

Asaph now understood that God sets the wicked in slippery places, casting them down to destruction, with their destruction coming in a moment, and them consumed with terrors (Psalm 73:18-19). When the Lord awakes, He will despise the image of the wicked (Psalm 73:20). Knowing this, Asaph is grieved of heart and vexed in his mind, now understanding that he had been foolish and ignorant, like a beast before the Lord (Psalm 73:21-22). Asaph is continually with the Lord who holds him in His right hand, guiding him with His counsel and afterward receiving him into glory (Psalm 73:23-24).

 

Who does Asaph have in heaven but the Lord with none upon the earth that he desires besides the Lord (Psalm 73:25). His flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of his heart and his portion forever (Psalm 73:26). Asaph now knows that those far from the Lord shall perish with Him destroying those who desert Him (Psalm 73:27). Asaph now knows it is good to draw near to God and put his trust in the Lord God so he can declare the good works of the Lord (Psalm 73:28).

 

We live in a fallen world where it appears evil succeeds and righteousness fails. Asaph struggled when observing this until he went into the sanctuary of God and gained understanding of the end state of the wicked. In the account of Jesus walking on the water, we must remember that Jesus was not the only one walking on the water, with Peter also walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33). However, Peter’s time of walking on the water was shortened when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the turmoil around. Asaph almost sank when he saw the prosperity of the wicked in his world but gained understanding when he observed that their prosperity was only temporary (Psalm 73:17). While he saw them prospering in this world, he now realized their end was destruction (Psalm 73:18-19). Asaph learned the importance of maintaining his focus on the Lord.

 

Like Asaph, we live in a fallen world where the wicked seem to prosper, and the righteous seem to struggle. Jesus even tells us that in this world we will experience trouble, but with the promise that he overcame the world (John 16:33). Add to this the presence of social media where one can quickly be put down for his or her faith, and tempted to either remain silent or abandon their faith altogether. This emphasizes the vital importance of spiritual disciplines and spending daily time with the Lord in prayer and study of the word of God. Remember, we have an eternal reward in heaven that far outshines any reward of prosperity on this earth. While God may bless us with prosperity on this earth, treasures in heaven are eternal and what we must focus on (Matthew 6:19-21).

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to accept the greatest reward one can receive, eternal life with the Lord (John 3:16), I urge you to pray with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9). I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know God has forgiven all your sins and that you now have a relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.