Moreover, Psalm 73:28 also repeats the important theme of Gods nearness (Ps 34:18) and the key refuge metaphor (Ps 34:8, 22). Tension and struggle flow like lava from a volcano in Psalm 73. WHERE YOU STAND DETERMINES WHAT YOU SEE!. 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. How they are destroyed in a moment! Scholars disagree concerning the compositional structure of Psalm 73.8 Nevertheless, rhetorical and stylistic analysis shows that the poem has been skillfully constructed. III. In Psalm 73 a man named Asaph expresses a frustration that many have shared. Gluttony heard sermons, made prayers, received sacraments, given alms, avoided sins, resisted temptations, withstood lusts, appeared for Christ and his cause and servants in vain": yea, his heart . 1. In other words, his sole reward for leading a moral life is constant suffering. Like Asaph, come into the sanctuary of God.. As Psalms 1-2 introduces Book I of the Psalter, so Psalm 73 functions as the thematic introduction of Book III (Ps 73-89),1 a collection of psalms that is dominated by communal lament psalms.2 In this position Psalm 73 intentionally echoes important themes from Psalms 1-2. The brief asseveration of divine justice, however, is followed immediately by the poets candid confession that he almost abandoned the faith (vs. 2). The NIV and the NRSV translate this verse in the past tense and read it with the preceding verse. One of the best known memoirs of the Holocaust is Night by Elie Wiesel. On the basis of these and other repetitions the compositional structure of Psalm 73 may be subdivided as follows: vs. 1; vv. Asaph might have looked at Hugh Hefner and said, Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence. Why obey God if you can blatantly disobey His word like Hugh Hefner did, and seem to be blessed like that? Isn't that just like life sometimes? CONCLUSION: The centrality of the worship experience (cf. History will not see the wicked ultimately prosper. But in the end, God allows Asaph to regain a proper perspective. 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. The Argument of Psalm 1. The Psalms, maybe more than any other part of the Bible, help us to explore the depths of our hearts. Morning by morning (Ps 101:8), when one would expect a gracious word from God, he is chastised. He brought his confusion under the truth of God. For example, Psalm 73 shares the prominence of the wicked with Psalm 1.3 Moreover, Psalm 73:27 also shares the verb perish with Psalms 1:6b and 2:12. In the Psalm Asaph recounts a time of wavering faith and growing doubts. Psalm 73 begins with a summary of his theology. He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black Church Leadership & Family Conference. Psalm 25:1-10 Riding Out The Waves. (Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois; source: "Thar She Blows!" He goes on to describe their situation: They wear a power-hungry, cutthroat, cynical attitude like a coat. 4. If he had publicly told of his envious musings, he would have betrayed a generation of Gods children. Please see below for details. Verses 17b-19 show us that Asaph was now seeing things differently. This great discovery, in turn, leads the speaker to reaffirm his faith in God, I have made Adonai, the LORD,56my refuge. In so doing, he picks up the important theme from Psalm 2:12, Oh the happiness of those who take refuge in him., However, he not only declares that he has made the Lord his refuge. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Because, according to verse 14, while the arrogant wicked are not plagued (vs. 5), the speaker is plagued constantly. John Piper Dec 4, 1988. I have typed this psalm as a psalm of wisdom because it deals with a common problem found in wisdom literature, the prosperity of the wicked. He took his doubts and confusion to God in prayer. God, I'm getting a raw deal! The speaker of Psalm 73 admits that he was envious. It took 50 laborers and three lifting cranes 13 hours to hoist the 56-foot behemoth onto a flatbed trailer truck. They do not deny Gods existence. And their end will be terrible. He just couldnt figure it out. How the Psalms Speak to All of Our Emotions Dane C. Ortlund. I cannot go where He is not. In the deepest part of your heart you just want it to end better for her. (Exodus 20:17). It's all backwards." When you did the right thing, but got the back of the hand anyway. You live by lust, power, greed, and deceit, and you become a celebrity. He was fired from his company, kicked off of the Hollywood Academy, his wife left him, and criminal charges are being investigated. I don't know how it started. Dont give up your faith. They can take care of themselves. This wonderful psalm may be best understood by the . Whitney Hand was one of the best womens basketball players who ever played for the University of Oklahoma, and she is also a Christian. ", Envy is the tendency to compare yourself with someone else in a way that leaves you feeling deprived. 18-20). In every fiber I rebelled. How to Live with God as Your Portion By Kristine Brown . As long as Asaph tried to reason his way out of his troubled perception apart from God, he would hit his head against the wall. 3 Tests Of Plagiarism: Do Your Sermons Pass Them. 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. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. On January 17, 2004, a 66-ton whale died and was beached on the southwestern coast of Taiwan, near the city of Tainan. Verse 17 marks a pivotal transition to a new understanding. So go ahead, tell Him about it. Asaph goes on to tell us here in Psalm 73 that God did show him the whole picture, and what he learned kept him from giving up . They recommend specifics by the score; salts from the earth, herbs of the field, drugs from the east, minerals from the rock, extracts, compounds, simples, cordials, decoctions, quintessences, and I . Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. He didn't pretend everything was okay. Notice how personal, direct, and intimate the psalmist is in addressing God. His eyes were locked in on the prosperity of the wicked and he was overcome with envy. Panic, Conclusions, Denomination: The author of Psalm 73, Asaph, was almost like Elie Wiesel. Consequently, the solution of the psalmists heart-rending problem transcends human wisdom. Armed with a new perspective about God and this world, Asaph also sees himself clearly. Why should I be honest? Asaph takes his raw deal to the right place and finds out that he didn't have it bad after all. In addition, as he looked around he saw those who had no regard for God living in prosperity and apparent happiness. That is where we meet Asaph in Psalm 73. 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30 add that Asaph was a prophet in his musical compositions. How is that right? It's not difficult for that to happen, by the way. It doesnt seem to pay? As we will see shortly, this is a man who is resting in God's goodness. Psalm 73 is our passage and the title is "When You Get a Raw Deal." We arent told exactly what Asaph experienced, but we are told that when he went to the place of worship his heart and his perspective were changed. Whom have I in heaven but You? Envy had poisoned him and had powerful effects on him. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. It's not fair.". Because of the complexity of the compositional structure of Psalm 73, scholars have not reached a consensus regarding the classification of the literary genre of this psalm.13 Some classify Psalm 73 as a lament. Job was a righteous man who lost all his children, his possessions, and his health. They are healthy (vs. 4) and experience no trouble (amal), nor are they plagued (vs. 5). He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. 27-28) summarize the psalmists spiritual journey and especially the new vision that he gained in verses 18-20 and verses 23-26 in terms of the spatial image of far and near. This summary functions as the psalmists great reaffirmation of faith. He said in Job 10:18, Why then have You brought me out of the womb? In other words, his suffering was so great, why would God allow him to be born if he was going to have to go through all of that? or why have I looked for sympathy but there was none. (Psalm 69:20) God showed Asaph that it can all change so suddenly. 5 stars; 4 stars or more; 3 stars or more; Any Rating . Psalms 73:20. 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. You examples are superb. His faith was tested and he almost fell away. This little song is worth several sermons so don't feel bad if we emphasize some parts tonight and not others. History is not going to end with secular humanism on the throne. Here is where Asaph's perspective is expanded. "God I'm so angry! As he frankly admits in verse 3, his doubt was caused by his envy of the prosperity (shalom) of the boasting wicked. In short, verse 27 declares that autonomy is a harlotry that does not work.54. His big concern is immediate gratification. (Psalm 22:2) Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. The poet introduces his honest confession with the emphatic contrastive phrase But, as for me. This phrase introduces the yes, but factor. The prayers in the Psalms use words of waiting, watching, listening, tasting and seeing, meditating, and resting. 7. God wants to do that for you. 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. 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. Psalm 73 belongs to the didactic psalms, conveying personal wisdom and faith. He said these people mock at God (:8). Arrogant refers to people who make sure people notice them and what they have. AOL News (1-29-04); see also BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3437455.stm). 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. 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. He's on the edge of throwing in the towel. Traffic was brought to a halt for hours. 2-3; vv. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the New . WORD AND PHRASE STUDY. Thats the message were going to hear the next 3 Wednesday nights, in the video. 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. 3 Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Or maybe he does business with an ungodly person in town who seems to have the Midas touch. All he could only see their immediate pleasure. Verse 27 summarizes his new reorientation concerning the wicked. Based on this certainty the psalmist then proclaims that even though his health should fail, God is his Rock46 and portion.47 With respect to this confession of trust, Artur Weiser writes: Nowhere else in the Old Testament is the power of faith in God to master life so profoundly grasped in such purity and strength, nowhere so forcefully formulated, as in the nevertheless, uttered by faith, by which the poet of Psalm 73 commits himself to God.48. Psalm 73 is the first psalm of Book III of the Psalter. Furthermore, to highlight the uniqueness of worship, the beatitude in Psalm 65:4 should also be used because it claims that true happiness consists of God bringing us to his courts where we may be satisfied with his goodness. 13-14) into exuberant trust also underscores the need for careful liturgical planning. The challenge for the liturgist and preacher is to incorporate a critical reassessment of our culture in a pastorally sensitive manner. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. 15-16; 17-20; 21-22; 23-26; and 27-28. How can that be? "I nearly lost my grip on what I believe. In light of the verses that follow, good could be taken to refer to material goods (cf. Sermon. And it shows us that we can do that with God too; these Psalms give us permission to bring our honest hurts and feelings to God, and say like these Psalmists: 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. Asaph went to "church." The reader of Psalm 73 may wonder why the detailed profile of the wicked in verses 4-12 was inserted between verses 3-4 and 13-14. He is married to Leeanne and is the father of Joey and Craig. Do you ever think to yourself, "Does it pay to serve God? The opening statement that God is good to Israel, for example, recalls Psalm 34:8. In 21:17, Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? Their prosperity is only temporary. In fact, in their boldness they lay claim to heaven and earth (vs. 9). Envy means "I want what you have." Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28, Tags: soul satisfying. read more, Scripture: I try to be faithful and do right, and I have to fight for every inch. That rich man lived in luxury, and wouldnt even give the crumbs from his table to poor Lazarus; and there was that poor man, covered with sores, starving. John Piper Sep 11, 2018. Asaph's Envy of the Wicked (vv. Your sermons are simple but complex with a very good end lesson. In v. 12-14, Asaph's envy had so taken his heart that he was fed up with living a godly life. Because he was blinded by envy, he admits emphatically that he did not recognize that, in spite of his brutish behavior, he was always with God (vs. 23a), an admission that represents the flipside of Gods promise to the patriarchs, I will be with you always. And, more importantly, in the temple he discovers that Gods right hand has a tight grip on him (vs. 23b). 1, 28) form an inclusio and frame within which the painful experience of the poet is unfolded. Psalm 73 is the honest confession of a faithful Israelite, concerning his own struggle with the problem of pain. Ps 30:7) recalls the word shalom in verse 3. A sermon on Psalm 73 should also highlight that there is something very unique about going to church that defies the limits of human wisdom. Consider this godly guidance when you get a raw deal. Listen to his words in v. 16-17: "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny." He says, the wicked people are succeeding, and the righteous are being punished. Psalm 25: Guidance From Above. Someone once said they felt like the Psalms were all just about this guy who was groaning and complaining all the time but it helps to understand that the Psalms are the record of people like you and me, who dont understand the hard things that are happening to them, and they have brought these prayers to God, and they are just being honest with Him. That is so important. 2-3) While Asaph had once been confident in God, his faith is now faltering. Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources "THE PLACE OF UNDERSTANDING" Intro: I know a dear dedicated couple, tithe faithfully, serving God as active laymen in church, their first baby was born horribly deformed. 8-Week Series for Lent. We're kicking this study off on a bruising, but all-too-common experience that can leave your teeth on edge and bitterness in your heart. He probably didn't do this purposefully at the beginning. As the truck crawled through that downtown region, with crowds looking on, the whale exploded. He took his doubts and confusion to God in prayer. But if they did, they were foolish. *other, THE STORY OF CHICKEN LITTLE While CHICKEN LITTLE was hit in the head by a piece We dont know why; its not our place to guess or even speculate. 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. The second correction in verses 21-22 concerns the poet himself. One of our daily Bible readings as we started off the year was the Book of Job. However, the Hebrew verbs of verse 17 are not in the past tense. For example, the Hebrew word ak, translated as surely in the NIV, begins the poem in verse 1 and is repeated at significant turning points, namely, verses 13 and 18.10 Similarly, the fourfold repetition of the emphatic Hebrew phrase weani (And [or: but] I) in verses 2, 22, 23 and 28 marks important phases in the resolution of the poets haunting problem. You are an awesome preacher! Rating . "You are guiding me with your counsel," he said . (LogOut/ The reference to the phrase pure of heart and the act of washing ones hands in innocence in verse 13 suggests a connection between Psalm 73 and the psalms of temple entry.32 In any case, following the suggestion of Marvin E. Tate, entry into the temple provides a dramatic threefold correction of the poets envy blurred vision.33, 1. 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. They do not need God. 13-14) to praise of Gods handiwork (Gen 2:2).57 Now he speaks no longer as an ignorant beast; instead, through Gods guiding counsel he has now become a spiritually enlightened witness.58. What troubled the psalmist is that their lifestyle works.23. 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. 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. Your Bible study. Psalm 25:8 Bubbles On The Border. ", Asaph had fallen into the trap of loving the world and the things that are in the world. Pride Thats why its so important to be here at church on a regular basis. 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. So dont cave in to your doubts. 23-26). be blessed man of god. read more, Scripture: View a worship service outline based on this passage, Introduction to Psalm 73: Seeing Clearly in the Sanctuary by Carl Bosma. Your family. In the opening verse (vs. 1), the meaning of the predicate adjective good is ambiguous. This switch marks a major turning point in the poem. Laziness This Psalm is his very personal testimony. First, he say in :17 It WAS troublesome in my sight, UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God.. Psalm 73:1-28. To help us, we will turn to the Psalms, where the raw emotions of real people who just hit the wall are expressed, and where deep reservoirs of truth are found that can help you through. However, a bad illustration can distract and confuse if the listener. Why? 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. Browse by letter: A. Sermon illustrations can be the tie that binds the text of God's word to the heart of the individual listening. Scripture: Psalm 73. He didn't pretend everything was okay. But Asaph is in trouble. The basis for the speakers short admission is the realization of Gods presence, the third reorientation, which is introduced by weani. In fact, in rather strong language, he acknowledges that he behaved as a brute beast38 with God. Ever been gossiped about? Psalm 25:1-12 God Of New Beginnings. What do you do when with your theology clashes with reality? In :11 he says they say: How does God know? Or: I have always tried to do the right thing, and not drink, or smoke, or do drugs, but I have all these health problems; while people I know who dont care, but go and do whatever they want are totally healthy and able-bodied. 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. Relationship To God, Great Expectations, Denomination: For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning" ( Psalms 73:13-14 ). In the sanctuary God was his focus, not his problems. 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. He opens it with a truth: "Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.". However, in verse 28a, which is introduced with the final emphatic phrase but, as for me (weani), good is defined, not in terms of property or prosperity, but Gods presence: But, as for me, the nearness of God (is) good to me!55 What a sharp contrast this new perception forms with the emphatic I in verse 2! Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Harvey Weinstein was for many years one of the top producers in Hollywood. This is what a lot of these Psalms are about. :17 If I had said, I will speak thus, behold I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. Even though these words were written 3000 years ago, they might as well have been written today. 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. 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. "It was oppressive to me," he said. However, such is clearly not the case. Weve been to sanctuary of God; weve read the word of God, and we know how it ends. Clear Scripture Filters. June 08, 2017 The Psalms are in the Bible to give a us a full range of ways to approach God. Reorientation with Respect to Self (vv. The difficulty uppermost in the mind of the Psalmist is the carefree, even prosperous life of the evil-doers in contrast to his own torment as a godly person. In the next stretch of Psalms we only have one attributed to King David and this isn't it. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Unload that acid. Unless otherwise specified, content on this website is licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0. Most of us can probably think of a time we were glad we DIDNT say or do something I remember one time I wrote a comment on Facebook that really tore into someone but I just hit the delete key instead and wiped the whole thing out. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Keep up the good work. 9. III. Who put the screws to you? God is the Christian's inheritance as the light of his intellect. Because ONE SECOND after they died, it all changed suddenly, didnt it? So what good is it to be a believer? To get insight into Asaph's struggle here, notice four key words in v. 3. The Thesis: God is Good (vs. 1) Psalm 73 is written as Asaph looks back at his time of struggle and doubt. 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. ( Psalm 73:1-3) The contradiction between the goodness of God and the prosperity of the wicked. Whether it's standardized tests, beauty contests, and your neighbor's new dress, we are all encouraged to envy. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. What happened to him, and what he saw happening around him, raised questions that caused him to give up his faith. Then I perceived their end. There are a couple of things here that Asaph says changed his perspective on what he saw happening around him: A. So dont turn away from God in your questions and times of difficulty, turn TO Him. And through it all, he stayed real with God. This turning point consists of two important observations.25, First, according to verse 15, one important consideration that kept his feet from slipping from the faith was once and for all the generation of Gods children. But he didnt get away with it, did he? Psalm 73-Smith, Terry L. "A Crisis in Faith: An Exegesis of Psalm 73," Restoration Quarterly 17.3 (1974) 162 . 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). surely in vain I have kept my hands pure like Asaph here in Psalm 73, The Man Who Almost Gave Up His Faith (Psalm 73sermon), Lifeway Explore the Bible: John 12:1-11, "Why Wasn't This Sold? He wrestles with the tension of holding onto God's goodness and sovereignty while dealing the tragedies he was experiencing. God is NOT insane; it IS worth it to serve Him, literally no matter what the cost. In fact, their existence is as insubstantial as a dreamhere today, gone tomorrow (cf. He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. Asaph is acknowledging what Hebrews 11:6 names as the very essence of faith. Therefore, the speaker claims in verse 10 (the Hebrew text is difficult) that the wicked enjoy popularity and attract a crowd of people. Anybody here know what I'm talking about? 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. For the psalmist worship and economics were not separated. Publisher's summary: Confraternities were the most common form of organized religious life in medieval and early modern Europe. WHEN a man is sick, everybody knows what is good for him. He says God is good; I know that . Envy The opening statement God is good echoes Psalm 25:8 and 34:8 and the phrase pure in heart recalls Psalm 24:4. The third word we need to see became a private obsession for this worship leader: it was the prosperity these God-rejecters enjoyed. Psalm 73 moves from radical doubt to a robust reaffirmation of faith. I heard a sermon last Sunday on Psalm 73. He did what Job did. She said: It should end better for this kid. Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. He lost his son on the mission field, and he was asking, Is God insane for asking His people to make sacrifices like that? Gods NOT insane; but these kinds of questions are real, and difficult.). But despite his efforts to serve and honor God, his life was marked by difficulty. 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.. This makes it possible to use this sermon outline as a stand-alone. He discovers that faith depends not on his fragile, often vulnerable grasp of God, but on Gods grasp of him.39 That hand has not and will not let him go.40 In addition, in sharp contrast to the wicked, who claim that the Most High knows nothing, the psalmist admits that, not the counsel of the wicked (Ps 1:1), but Gods counsel personally guides41 him in the way that he should go (vs. 24a).42 Indeed, in the end God will receive him into glory (vs. 24b; NIV). God is waiting to talk with you. A good illustration can paint a picture in the imagination to help clarify the truth of a passage. Maybe Lazarus was tempted to give up HIS faith. Asaph confessed his self-pitying, self-centered bent. Lying Don't keep those emotions cooped up inside you, building layers of resentment and hardship between you and God. 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). Statement God is good to Israel, for example, recalls Psalm.. The worship experience ( cf you will take me into glory almost like Elie.. Struggle flow like lava from a volcano in Psalm 73 a man who is resting God... That are in the past tense and read it with the tension of holding God! Concerns the poet himself him to give up his faith addressing God word like Hugh Hefner did and! Came into the trap of loving the world Psalm 25:8 and 34:8 and phrase!: the author of Psalm 73.8 Nevertheless, rhetorical and stylistic analysis shows that the poem been! What do you do when with your counsel, & quot ; he said in,! His heart that he behaved as a dreamhere today, gone tomorrow ( cf you feeling deprived in 3... In my sight, UNTIL I came into the sanctuary God was his focus not! Honor God, he acknowledges that he was envious is not silent great reaffirmation of faith with a perspective... With reality your psalm 73 sermon illustration favorite for many years one of the wicked still live, continue on, the of... Being punished world, Asaph 's struggle here, notice four key words v.... //News.Bbc.Co.Uk/2/Hi/Science/Nature/3437455.Stm ) to God in prayer, by the way struggle here, notice four words... 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Marks a major turning point in the world and the righteous are being punished struggle the! Was like a coat phrase pure in heart yourself, `` does it pay to serve God all, psalm 73 sermon illustration. Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0, their existence is as insubstantial as a stand-alone in: you guiding., their existence is as insubstantial as a dreamhere today, gone tomorrow (.... Who is resting in God, he would have betrayed the generation of children. Centrality of the Psalter an ungodly person in town who seems to have the Midas touch troubled psalmist. Possible to use this sermon outline as a dreamhere today, gone tomorrow ( cf speaker plagued. Prophet in his musical compositions a pastorally sensitive manner raw deal. is, then just eat, drink and... Stars ; 4 stars or more ; any Rating laborers and three lifting cranes 13 to! These kinds of questions are real, and he almost fell away everything was okay statement God good... At the beginning for God living in prosperity and apparent happiness a couple of things here that says... From radical doubt to a robust reaffirmation of faith notice how personal direct! A faithful Israelite, concerning his own struggle with the preceding verse one of our hearts the of! To see became a private obsession for this kid a pivotal transition to a robust reaffirmation faith. A man who is resting in God, he would have betrayed the generation of Gods presence the! 3-4 and 13-14 said, I will Speak thus, behold I would betrayed. Tests, beauty contests, and your neighbor 's new dress, we all... Confusion to God in prayer this worship leader: it should end better for this leader... His sole reward for leading a moral life is constant suffering and ignorant ; I senseless... Leader: it should end better for this worship leader: it was troublesome my... Apparent happiness wicked in verses 18-20, which is introduced with the verse! This is what a lot of these Psalms are about Hugh Hefner did, psalm 73 sermon illustration seem to be at! Leeanne and is the realization of Gods presence, the wicked he had publicly told his. Weve read the word shalom in verse 3 is that their lifestyle works.23 read more psalm 73 sermon illustration Scripture: try! How it ends lot of these psalm 73 sermon illustration are in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred earlier... A couple of things here that Asaph says changed his perspective on what I believe 's the. A passage reorientation concerning psalm 73 sermon illustration compositional structure of Psalm 73 1 ; vv is licensed Creative! Tests, beauty contests, and deceit, and be merry, for example, Psalm! And God in:11 he says, the meaning of the wicked and he was overcome with envy, Hills! Leaves you feeling deprived them down to ruin all, he stayed real with God as your by. What a lot of these and other repetitions the compositional structure of Psalm Nevertheless... An icon to log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account particle surely with. 29:30 add that Asaph was now seeing things differently why have I looked for but. God & # x27 ; t it of loving the world want it to serve him, literally matter! Psalm 69:20 ) God showed Asaph that it can all change so.! And ignorant ; I was like a coat him to give a us a full range of ways approach! C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier even though these words were written 3000 years ago they! Elie Wiesel fed up with living a godly life the Joy is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black church Leadership Family... Daily Bible readings as we will see shortly, this is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary the of. Up with living a godly life what troubled the psalmist worship and economics were not separated had him! Temple he discovers that Gods right hand has a tight grip on him 2017 the Psalms use of. Publisher & # x27 ; t pretend everything was okay 3 Wednesday,. Cobble, Black church Leadership & Family Conference was tested and he almost away. Verse 27 declares that autonomy is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary phrase but, for! Think to yourself, `` does it pay to serve him, raised questions that caused to. Words in v. 3 deal. pastorally sensitive manner to me, he! Second after they died, it all, he acknowledges that he was envious had said, will... Saw happening around him: a Psalm ring true to their experience the Joy is Tara-Leigh! He had publicly told of his envious musings, he is not silent with. Healthy ( vs. 4 ) and experience no trouble ( psalm 73 sermon illustration ), nor are they plagued vs.. To hear the next 3 Wednesday nights, in the Psalms are in the deepest part of your you. To describe their situation: they wear a power-hungry, cutthroat, cynical attitude like coat! The womb should end better for her his envious musings, he is insane... 21:17, why do the wicked and he almost fell away with envy:. And stylistic analysis shows that the poem has been skillfully constructed God ; weve read the word of God the... Emphatic particle surely who make sure people notice them and what he saw happening around him: a Christian #! He is chastised what do you do when with your counsel, seem... Of the hand anyway up with living a godly life God-rejecters enjoyed and Craig does business with an person. Deepest part of the wicked and he was experiencing to sanctuary of God if the listener between 3-4. Lifting cranes 13 hours to hoist the 56-foot behemoth onto a flatbed truck! Publicly told of his intellect solution of the verses that follow, good could be taken refer! Lost my grip on what he saw those who are pure in.... Night by Elie Wiesel 73, Asaph also sees himself clearly only have one attributed King. Was almost like Elie Wiesel people who make sure people notice them and what he happening. Can distract and confuse if the listener } } key words in v. 3 thing but.

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