Have You Been There?
Psalm 73
If you are utilizing the church’s Bible Reading Plan as you read through the Bible this year (and I hope you are), then today you will be in Psalm 73. I believe Psalm 73 is a psalm with which we can all relate. For in the psalm, the author admits his inward struggle to be content in God. Have you been there?
The Psalmist admits that he was envious of the arrogant when he saw the prosperity of the wicked (v.3). He goes on to describe how it seems that the wicked live trouble-free lives and have all that they want – these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches (v.12). Have you ever been there? Have you ever wondered why the ungodly seem to excel while those who fear God seem to struggle?
Then in vv.13-15, the Psalmist seems to question his own priorities. He writes: in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence (v.13). In other words, the Psalmist is saying, all I’ve done is try to live an upright life before God, but look where it has gotten me. Like many of us, the Psalmist was experiencing trials and difficulties in life. When he compared his current circumstances to the circumstances of those who did not fear God, he became depressed. Have you ever been there?
But then something amazing happens. In vv.16-17, the Psalmist turns his attention away from his current circumstances and focuses his heart on Truth. He couldn’t figure out life according to his own wisdom (v.16), but when he centered His thoughts on God, everything came into focus, and the Psalmist was able to discern the end of the wicked (v.17). Have you been there? Has there ever been a moment in your life when you were spiritually down because you couldn’t make sense of a situation? Has there ever been a time in your life when you questioned why things were happening the way they were? In such times, it’s so important that we seek out God’s perspective on life.
In vv.18-20, the Psalmist reminds himself that the riches of this world are fleeting and that that ungodly have no ultimate hope. Their lives are built on a slippery slope, on the shifting sand. And it’s not just the treasures that they cling to so tightly that will be swept away and utterly destroyed, but they themselves will be completely undone.
Of course, it’s not that truth (concerning the end of the wicked) that gives us hope. Yes, we long for God’s justice, but our hearts are saddened at the fate of the those who are apart from faith in Jesus. Like our Lord, our desire is that none should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Our great hope, and what assures us in times of difficulty, is that God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever (v.26). While those who are far from the Lord shall perish (v.27), God’s nearness is our good (v.28)!
Friends, that’s where we want to be! My guess is that we can all relate to the Psalmist when he admits his envy and discontent. My prayer is that we are all growing in our ability to relate to the Psalmist when he confesses there is nothing on earth that he desires besides God (v.25). While life is full of trials and difficulties, God is faithful. The Lord God is our refuge and those who put their trust in Jesus are secure.
On Sunday, we’ll be singing a wonderful hymn of the faith called The Solid Rock. The chorus of the song goes like this: “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” My prayer is that we’ll all sing a little bit louder on Sunday knowing that because our hope is built on the righteousness of Christ Jesus, no matter what difficulties we face in life, and no matter how immune to those difficulties others seem to be, we can be confident that God is our portion forever!