"God I'm so angry! 2-3; vv. 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. As Brueggemann rightly notes, this summary is not a condemnation of the wicked. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. Psalm 145:18 adds that "the Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." :17 If I had said, I will speak thus, behold I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. Unless otherwise specified, content on this website is licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0. They help us put words to our doubts and frustrations, but at the same time they give us reminders of the help and hope we have in God. Gluttony In the NT Jesus says dont cause one of these little ones to stumble that means dont do anything that might cause someone to be lost.) If youre going to turn your back on God in your distress, where are you going to go? He found God again. It refers first of all to God. Asaph was one of three directors who worked under King David. 1, 28) form an inclusio and frame within which the painful experience of the poet is unfolded. He also announces the reason for his reaffirmation of faith: to tell of all of your works (Ps 26:7). The affirmation of verse 24a as it has been translated by the NIV has been of great comfort to believers in their suffering. Charles Haddon . Before you bail out on God, Asaph wants you to sit with him and learn from his experiences. Who put the screws to you? They don't face the hardships I face. The admission that his feet almost slipped suggests that perhaps the law of God was not in his heart (Ps 37:30). 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. Ever been gossiped about? A sermon on Psalm 73 should also underscore the role that doubts and questioning plays in this psalm.59Questions and doubts are part and parcel of human experience, especially during painful suffering. As men despise their dreams when they awake from them, so, when God "stirs up himself and awakes to judgment" ( Psalms 35:23 ), he will despise such mere semblances of humanity ( Psalms 39:6) as the wicked are. Thats the story of the Rich Man & Lazarus in Luke 16, isnt it? So when Asaph got this revelation from God, he said Oh, Ive been so foolish. He said in :22, I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You, God. How the Psalms Speak to All of Our Emotions Dane C. Ortlund. So dont turn away from God in your questions and times of difficulty, turn TO Him. Psalm 25:1-12 God Of New Beginnings. 2-3) While Asaph had once been confident in God, his faith is now faltering. It has all turned around, so suddenly. Sermon Notes Introduction to Psalm 73: "Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary" by Carl Bosma. Maybe you're still struggling with the injustice you've been dealt and you've felt your commitment to God wane because of it. What troubled the psalmist is that their lifestyle works.23. Ps 26:7-8) in dramatic transformation of the psalmists despairing doubt (vv. Sooner womens coach Sherri Coale was dejected at the press conference after the game. Sermon Central Share a Sermon; Try PRO Free; Help . One of the best known memoirs of the Holocaust is Night by Elie Wiesel. Asaph is acknowledging what Hebrews 11:6 names as the very essence of faith. Her senior year she was having a great season, when in the first half of a game, she blew out her knee again, ending her career at OU. My God, my God; why have You forsaken me? Like David in Psalm 22 Psalm 24 Back On The Farm. Consider this godly guidance when you get a raw deal. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Your Emotions Matter to God Learning from the Bible's Songbook. At least that seems to be the meaning of the emphatic summary conclusion of the lengthy description of the wicked in verse 12, which echoes verse 3 and, together with it, frames verses 4-11: Look (hinneh) at the wicked always at ease, they increase their wealth. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. Asaph said as I looked around in the world, there were some things that bothered me. He was really troubled by what he had seen in the world around him, and it raised questions which bothered him. Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged Asaph, Bible Reading, church, . He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jobs questioning and doubt is a case in point. The thing about these questions is that they are usually based on our circumstances on what we see happening around us and to us but what we have to learn is that these circumstances dont show us the whole picture. My feet nearly *slipped and I almost fell over. These subdivisions will be used in our exposition. "It is good for me to draw near to God.". "Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him." His faith was tested and he almost fell away. Now get ready for the stinger. Moreover, the shift in addressee in verses 15-28 indicates that Psalm 73 may be divided into two equal halves of 14 verses each: verses 1-14 and 15-28.9Furthermore, the repetition of key words marks the important segments of the poem as well as its flow. Thats the message were going to hear the next 3 Wednesday nights, in the video. That's the situation of the psalmist in Psalm 73. In addition, the Hebrew word lebab, heart, occurs six times in the poem.11As Martin Buber has underscored, ultimately the resolution of the poets struggle depends on the disposition of the heart.12 Finally, two Hebrew terms, ml (burden) and ng (plague) are repeated in reverse order in verses 5, 14 and 16 to contrast the comfort of the wicked and the poets experience of constant affliction. With an eternal perspective, everything looks different. Psalm 73 Sermon Illustrations; Free Sermon Illustrations for Preaching : In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 73" showing 1-4 of 4 Filter Results Sort By. So why am I serving God? Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. God wants to do that for you. 4-12; vv. Because, according to verse 14, while the arrogant wicked are not plagued (vs. 5), the speaker is plagued constantly. The third word we need to see became a private obsession for this worship leader: it was the prosperity these God-rejecters enjoyed. The challenge for the liturgist and preacher is to incorporate a critical reassessment of our culture in a pastorally sensitive manner. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. He was a faithful follower of God. I tripping over something that just doesn't make sense! It should be noted that the psalmists sobering moment begins, not in isolation, but as a member of a larger community to which he is accountable.26. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning" ( Psalms 73:13-14 ). Last October it all came crashing down, with a New York Times investigation, and complaints by dozens of his victims. (1 John 2:17) God completely controls their destiny, not them. He was angry and disillusioned. Thats why its so important to be here at church on a regular basis. We can also affirm the future because God's Presence companions us. read more, Scripture: "I was envious of these openly wicked, loud-living sinners when I saw their God-blessed lives. You examples are superb. 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. Asaph takes his raw deal to the right place and finds out that he didn't have it bad after all. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. How many rash words and unsifted actions have we wished to take back because of the negative consequences they brought about? Thank you so much for that blessing Peter! 2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. We're going to say the things that sometimes go unsaid about our struggles, our depressions, when we feel so alone and have no ready answers. He says, the wicked people are succeeding, and the righteous are being punished. There is a lesson we know as YOUNG CHICKEN LITTLE I have read how YOUNG CHICKEN LITTLE throws his whole small town into a great panic CHICKEN LITTLE CLAIMED THE SKY WAS FALLING IN This must be the end of the world. 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). They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. Stored up anger vents itself in headaches, ulcers, bitterness, resentment, private rehearsals of the injustice you've experienced, and outbursts of anger that are disconnected from the real problem. Asaph confessed his self-pitying, self-centered bent. May Gods word continue to bless your life! The closing verses (vv. But he didnt get away with it, did he? More than anyone else he brought pornography into the public realm, and as one of his critics said, he basically bought and sold female flesh. "God is good to the pure in heart'? 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). He was used more by Satan than perhaps anyone else in his lifetime. Two of the words refer to the people he had been tracking. 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. Envy means "I want what you have." But it wasnt just that he came to God; God actually SHOWED him something specific that helped him: he says in :17, Then I perceived their end. He says God showed me not just what the present state of these wicked people is, but what their END is going to be. More recently, Craig C. Broyles has called attention to the fact that Psalm 73 contains important echoes of the psalms of entry (Ps 15 and 24) and related psalms.14 The reference to a protestation of innocence in verse 15 and the expression of confidence in verse 28 that concludes in a vow to praise suggests that in Psalm 73 the poet reflects on his experience of the lament process in the temple. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. 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. 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. And he's about to get as real as it gets. 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). In fact, God offers this invitation in Isaiah 43:26: "Take Me to court; let us argue our case together. In addition, as he looked around he saw those who had no regard for God living in prosperity and apparent happiness. 2 From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Moreover, Psalm 73:28 also repeats the important theme of Gods nearness (Ps 34:18) and the key refuge metaphor (Ps 34:8, 22). This little song is worth several sermons so don't feel bad if we emphasize some parts tonight and not others. 15-16), After this passionate protest the speaker switches audience and addresses God for the first time. Psalm 50:1-5 A psalm of Asaph. The first correction concerns the fate of the wicked in verses 18-20, which is introduced with the emphatic particle surely. In somber language he describes at length what was already introduced in summary fashion in Psalm 1:6b.34 Unlike Psalm 1:6b, however, God is directly involved in their destruction. 21ff. Dont give up your faith. He didn't pretend everything was okay. Commentaries, Sermons, Illustrations, Devotionals. What does he mean by this? Why did the close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, lift up his heel against me? Denomination: Methodist. Psalm 73-Smith, Terry L. "A Crisis in Faith: An Exegesis of Psalm 73," Restoration Quarterly 17.3 (1974) 162 . The basis for the speakers short admission is the realization of Gods presence, the third reorientation, which is introduced by weani. He was watching how the ungodly were getting along. Whether it's standardized tests, beauty contests, and your neighbor's new dress, we are all encouraged to envy. So they say: Dont be on the wrong side of history.. In view of the cross-references to Psalm 24 in Psalm 73, it is suggested that the entry psalm be used in the liturgy. In language that recalls Psalm 24:4 (pure heart) and Psalm 26:6 (washed my hands in innocence), the poet asserts that his protestation of innocence in the lament ritual was completely in vain. Each of these sections is dominated by they and concludes with a very important therefore (vv. (Nik Ripken, the author of the video were going to watch the next several Wednesday nights, was like that. Psalm 73:1-28. In addition to the important connections between Psalm 73 and Psalms 1 and 2, Psalm 73 also shares important themes with Psalm 34. I thought you reap what you sow! We dont know why; its not our place to guess or even speculate. I cannot go where He is not. But from the perspective of eternity, from the point of view in worship, there is a quick ride to the bottom. Psalm 73 moves from radical doubt to a robust reaffirmation of faith. They live longer, play more, and get away with everything. The revelation of Gods word shows us this important truth: that what you see now, of the wicked succeeding and the godly suffering, is not how it is always going to be. There isn't a product on the other side of these prayerful actions. III. Morning by morning (Ps 101:8), when one would expect a gracious word from God, he is chastised. Youll only regret it if you do. In the midst of suffering believers often feel cheated and begin to question and doubt God's goodness. 37:9-10).35 In other words, the poets initial perception of the carefree lifestyle of the wicked is wrong. However, the Hebrew verbs of verse 17 are not in the past tense. Anybody here know what I'm talking about? He says, there are wicked people in the world, whom you would THINK God would be punishing, but instead they are not only not being punished, they are succeeding; they are prospering. I would urge you to follow his example, tracing the results your words and actions have on your family, friends, lost acquaintances, and church. Moreover, the opening behold (hinneh) at the beginning of verse 27a matches the behold in the summary description of the wicked in verse 12.50 This obvious cross-reference to verse 12 shows that through his transforming temple experience the psalmist made the startling discovery that his earlier perception about the wicked was false.51 The prosperity (shalom) of the wicked is not forever! Publisher's summary: Confraternities were the most common form of organized religious life in medieval and early modern Europe. or why have I looked for sympathy but there was none. (Psalm 69:20) Elmer A. Martens. According to verse 18, God will place the wicked on the slippery slope that the psalmist almost experienced (vs. 2). But despite his efforts to serve and honor God, his life was marked by difficulty. He brought his confusion under the truth of God. 2. He could see both God's judgment of sin as well as God's solution offered to sinners. Those who draw near -who come in the true spirit of sacrifice, and with the only available offering, the Lord Jesus, shall be finally saved; therefore, it is good for them. The opening statement that God is good to Israel, for example, recalls Psalm 34:8. Put yourself in the position to where you can hear from God. Verses 21-22 are a flashback on his traumatic experience reported in verses 2-16.36 In these verses he admits that when his heart and kidneys were poignantly disturbed (vs. 21) about the shalom of the wicked, he was stupid and lacked understanding (vs. 21ab).37 For all practical purposes, he confesses that his envy of the arrogant (vs. 3) was completely wrong. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Unload that acid. One of the sweetest, finest men I have ever known is in Norwalk hospital. The Hebrew word for prosperity is shalom. Lying This psalm is a brutally honest confessional, from the heart of Asaph to the God he felt had given him a rip off. Because God has showed me that things are going to end differently than they are right now. The Thesis: God is Good (vs. 1) Psalm 73 is written as Asaph looks back at his time of struggle and doubt. He says in :16 that all of this WAS troublesome in my sight UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. However, a bad illustration can distract and confuse if the listener. God showed Asaph that it can all change so suddenly. If you'll allow me to paraphrase it, it goes like this: "So this is how life really works! 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. v2 But (this is what happened) to me. It begins with an emphatic causal statement (ki-hinneh) (vs. 26a): because, look, those who are far away from you will perish.49 The fact that this emphatic statement begins with the conjunction because (k) suggests that verse 27 stands in sharp contrast to verses 23-26. How to Live with God as Your Portion By Kristine Brown . 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. Self-centeredness Because ONE SECOND after they died, it all changed suddenly, didnt it? 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. 6. 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). Hugh Hefner may well have been one of the most evil men in the world in the last generation. 89:52, ending Book 3). We do things that brought regret and heartache because we didn't stop to consider the consequences of our words and choices. Sexual Lust (Tie) May 29, 2017 The Psalms help us express our pain to God, knowing that he hears our cries. (Psalm 22:2) Amen, and Amen ( Ps. This switch marks a major turning point in the poem. On the contrary, the oppressive economic practices of the wicked were at the heart of his problem. I heard a sermon last Sunday on Psalm 73. Good for me, my God ; why have I looked for sympathy but there was none our words choices... Despite his efforts to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your.. This is how life really works why ; its not our place to guess or even speculate live longer play. From Mount Zion, the oppressive economic practices of the most evil men in the poem Confraternities the... Encouraged to envy in Psalm 73 moves from radical doubt to a robust reaffirmation of.... Ate bread with me, lift up his heel against me will speak thus, behold I would have the... 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