Our Daily Scripture – 2/8/24 (Thursday)

SCRIPTURE:  PSALM 73

MEMORY VERSES:

“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)

THE AUTHOR OF THIS PSALM IS ASAPH.  HE WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS OF DAVID’S LEVITICAL CHOIRS. 

THIS IS HOW HE SAW THE SITUATION OF THE WICKED:

  1.  They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. (v. 4)
  2.  They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. (v. 5)
  3.  Pride is their necklace and violence is their clothes. (v. 6)
  4.  Their hearts are callous with iniquity; their minds are with evil conceits without limits. (v. 7)
  5.  They scoff and speak with malice; they oppressed people in arrogance. (v. 8)
  6.  Their mouth lay claim to heaven and their tongues take possession of the earth. (v. 9)
  7.  People turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. (v. 10)
  8.  They deny the omniscience of God. (v. 11)
  9.  They are always carefree and they increase in wealth. (v. 12)

THE FINAL DESTINY OF THE WICKED:

  1.  God will place them on slippery ground and cast them down to ruin. (v. 18)
  2.  They will be destroyed and completely swept away by terrors. (v. 19)
  3.  They will be despised. (v. 20)

ASAPH’S CONFIDENCE IN GOD:

  1.  God always held my right hand. (v. 23)
  2.  God guided me with counsel.  (v. 24)
  3.  He had only God in heaven and on earth. (v. 25)
  4.  God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (v. 26)
  5.  The Sovereign Lord is my refuge. (v. 28)

THOUGHTS:

Asap began the Psalm with “God is good”.  But when he saw the prosperity of the wicked and the sorrows of the righteous, he began to falter in his faith. He could not understand the justice in allowing the wicked to thrive while the righteous underwent hardships until he entered into the sanctuary of God. He realized that he was walking by sight and not by faith.  He then started to look things from God’s point of view and found a spiritual vision.  When life seems unfair, do not live on man’s explanation.  Instead, live on God’s promise which never fails.

Asaph finally understood the final destiny of man.  He realized that the rich who put their hope, joy and confidence in their wealth is living in a dream world.  They are walking on slippery sand which will finally come to ruin.  They will be destroyed and completely swept away by terrors! (vs. 18-19).  Therefore, happiness and hope can be a reality only if they are based on God not on riches.  Let your life goals build on the reality of God’s truth.

Finally, Asap declared his confidence in God’s presence and guidance.  He relied on God’s strength and took the Sovereign Lord as his refuge.  We must also cling to God as our security to give us courage and strength.