Title The Psalms of Asaph (Psalm 73)
Contents
Psalms of Asaph (Psalm 73)
I. Asaph, the chief of the choir, was also tested.
<In verse 2> Psalm 73 is a poem by Asaph. If we compare Asaph to the modern church, he is a choir leader. But a test came upon him. If you stumble while hiking, you are in big trouble. My pants are torn and my knees are broken. This is a mistake. To stumble is to be in danger.
<In verse 14> In verse 14, I have been plagued with calamity all day, and every morning I have been punished. They struggle to live by faith and suffer, but when they look around, those who do not believe are doing better. My children are doing well, my business is doing well, and I am getting more recognition from people.
II. Asaph is in pain.
<Verse 3> This is why the wicked prosper. There is no pain in death and they live well.
<Verse 6> Therefore pride is their necklace, and violence is their garment.
<Verses 7-9> They curse God with their lips, and they curse those who believe in Jesus. They scoff at what is good in serving God and what is good because they believe in Jesus.
<Verse 10> Your people are frustrated and drink from the cup.
<Verses 11-12> “Doesn’t the God who is on high know?” do.
<Verse 13> Asaph also looked at the wicked and complained about what he was getting back when he tried to live an honest and earnest life before God. It is said that it is vain to try to live by faith. This is a great crisis of faith.
<Verse 15> Seeing how many crises he had been through and his situation, he said that he could not bear to say to his sons and the sons of God that it was right to live a life of serving God.
Ⅲ. Asaph overcame the test.
<Verse 17> It is said that I understood their end only when they entered the sanctuary of God. Problems have causes. Asaph went into the sanctuary and changed bread and incense... Problems arise when the saints leave the sanctuary. You will almost be disappointed. I want the saints to be in a place where they can receive grace. In any case, your people gain enlightenment when they enter the sanctuary of God. So, believers must be in worship. In fact, we don't have that many hours of worship given to us. Although it is a short time, the grace received through the worship service enriches the lives of the saints. And grace can only be received through worship. There is nothing in the world where you can receive grace. Therefore, the life of faith is a life of worship.
<Asaph> There are three things that I realized in the sanctuary about complaining to God.
1. “Why do the wicked prosper in the world?”
The first is God, why are the wicked prosperous? It seems that the wicked prosper, prosper, eat well, and prosper, but as it says in verses 18-19 that the Lord has put them on a slippery slope and cast them into ruin; how suddenly they have become desolate, and they are wiped out in amazement. Roads, even those that seem to be going well, are slippery after all, and a place that falls into ruin. Their lives look good and fertile, but at most 70-80 years. After that, it slips and falls into ruin. On the other hand, even if our life seems to be drowning in a gutter, after a short period of time, we gain eternal life in which we can live forever with gratitude. Therefore, <verses 18-19> is a clear message about the end of the wicked.
2. “Did God forget the toil of the righteous?”
Second, why does God ignore the labors of the righteous? God's answer is <verse 20>, Lord, after waking up, you will despise their image, just as you ignore a dream when you wake up. It seems that God is sleeping, but God will eventually pay off all the hard work that the believer does. God is a God who repays everything. It is not a God who has forgotten our devotion or is ignorant. When we give an hour for God, he remembers it for an hour, when we give a heartfelt offering, he remembers as much as the heartfelt offering, and when we sing a hymn with thanksgiving, God remembers us as much as that song. Therefore, we must believe that there is a day when God will reward us. Then God, who knows his hard work, will reward him.
3. “Shouldn't I be rewarded for something?”
Third, everything is by the grace of God. Thinking only of Asaph's dedication and service for God, I was saddened by the thought, "If I do this, God must also do something for me?" This scattering has pierced my heart. Because I am so foolish, I confess that I am a beast before you. Realizing that everything is God's grace, I feel ashamed before God. You gave eternal life through the blood of the cross, so what the hell do you lack so much that you grumble against God every day? Even if you suffer for the rest of your life, it will be at most 100 years. There is eternal life, so don't fret. “Who am I?” You must look back on yourself before you were saved. Thank God for being treated like this right now. Do you think you deserve this kind of treatment? You have become a child of God, there is a church where you can live your life of faith in China, you have a family, you have a job, and you have to keep in mind that everything is freely given by God through His grace. Thank you. You shouldn't complain. Repent.
IV. Asaph praises God.
<Verses 23-24> Asaph “nearly stumbled”, but God supports him. For some, when I pray to God, I hold on to God's right hand. Don't let go of that hand! I pray. This prayer is the wrong prayer. We are not holding on to God's hand. God holds our hand. Asaph recognized the hand of God. He who realizes this has the assurance in Romans 8:39 that neither height nor depth nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
<Verse 24> The hand of God's grace sustains Asaph throughout his life.
Towards the moment when life on this earth ends! The life of a saint, even if it is difficult today, is ultimately a glory. This is the Christian faith.
<In verses 25-26> This is a love letter. Who would not be impressed by the recipient of this letter? Those who believe in God stand on the rock. He who possesses an eternal portion. Those who realize the grace of God will love God. It is to shed tears of joy.
<Verses 27-28> Those who have departed from the Lord are compared to a harlot. A life apart from God is a whore. So Asaph confesses that it is a blessing to draw near to God. It is a blessing for me to draw near to God; I will make the Lord GOD my refuge, and I will proclaim all your deeds.
Are there any difficulties in your life? Asaph also experienced all the suffering and difficulties. He was put through a trial of complaints and grumbling, but he recovered with repentance, thanksgiving, and praise. Asaph's conclusion through suffering is that God is a doer of good. We too must realize this fact and become people of precious faith who abide in God.