[:en]SCRIPTURE: PSALM 73
“You guide me with you counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory” (Psalm 73:24)
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25-26)
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds” (Psalm 73:28)
Asaph the Psalmist started with “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart” (v. 1). He was declaring his affirmation of faith. He believed that God honored and rewarded those who are upright. However, in verse 2, he almost slipped and lost his foothold when he saw the prosperity of the arrogant and wicked.
WHAT DID ASAPH SEE FROM THE WICKED?
- They have no struggles and their bodies are healthy and strong (v. 4)
- They are free from burdens common to man and not plagued by human ills (v. 5)
- They are proud and violent (v. 6)
- They have callous hearts and deceitful minds (v. 7)
- They speak of malice and threaten oppression (v. 8)
- They boast with their mouths and tongues of possession of the earth (v. 9)
- They drink up waters in abundance (v. 10)
- They denounce the presence of God (v. 11)
- They are carefree and rich (v. 12)
No wonder, he became envious and began to question God’s goodness and justice. He said: “I have kept my heart pure in vain and washed my hands in innocence. But when he entered into the sanctuary of God, he understood everything and his value changed.
He began to see beyond. He saw God holding his right hand and guiding him with His counsel. He realized that God will ultimately take him into glory. He felt the strength of God in his heart. He knew God was near him and the Sovereign Lord was his refuge. He put his trust in God and declared all His wonderful deeds.
When we focus our eyes on Jesus, we will be happy and contented. But when we start to look around our surroundings, we see wicked people prosper with wealth, with health, with fame and without trouble, our faith begins to fail. We become envious of their prosperity and blessings and begin to question God’s goodness and justice. Therefore, we have to check our vision and values. We can view a negative situation in a positive light by changing our perspective. Start looking at things from God’s viewpoint. For God will hold us, guide us, strengthen us in every stage of life. He will satisfy our spiritual desires and take us with him to heaven. Let us draw near to Him and trust him completely.[:]