CHRISTIAN LIFE: Too Painful Until…
The Message of Psalm 73…..
Is it worth being a Christian? What a question to ask! Surely no true child of God would ever have doubts about this matter. To be saved, forgiven, the possessor of eternal life, adopted into God’s family, sealed with His Spirit, assured of our eternal home – the list could go on. Who would ever question the value of such blessings as these? Of course it’s worth being a Christian!
But let’s be honest. Sometimes doubts can arise in our minds – especially when things start going wrong. The Christian life is not an easy one. Those who follow Christ are not promised health, wealth, or prosperity – as some today teach. In fact, the more committed one is to Christ, the harder life may be. In times of difficulty the enemy of our souls can often draw alongside and whisper, “Is it really worth it?”
HELP FROM THE WORD
One passage of Scripture which can help us greatly when we face perplexing problems is Psalm 73. Asaph, the writer of this psalm, was a choir leader in King David’s time. He was deeply troubled when he witnessed “the prosperity of the wicked,” (v.3). Notice this carefully. He had focused his attention not upon God or upon His people Israel but upon “the wicked” – those who were morally wrong. Death did not seem to trouble them (v.4), and they did not appear to experience the difficulties which plagued the lives of God’s children (v.5). Some were proud of their successes, while others used violent means to achieve their ends and, as a result, were amply supplied with more than they could wish (v.6-7). He heard them scoffing, speaking arrogantly, and even mocking the omniscience of God (v.8-9). “How does God know?” they sneered (v.11). Asaph watched them “prosper in the world” and “increase in riches” (v.12). Such was their prosperity that for a moment he envied them and wished for their affluence and untroubled lives (v.3).
ALL SO PERPLEXING
Can we not identify with Asaph here? When difficulties arise in the Christian life and there are problems almost too hard to bear, materialism can tantalize us. Like Asaph we can be “envious” as we view “the prosperity of the wicked” (v.3). The untroubled lives that they appear to enjoy (v.5), with all their material possessions (v.7), can be very powerful attractions.
Despondently, Asaph concluded: “Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency” (v.13). Why had he cleansed his heart from sin? Why had he taken the trouble to bother about his outward conduct? Others, who had no such concerns, seemed so much better off. It was all so hard to bear. Then, if the success of the ungodly was not enough to concern him, there were more things that made him perplexed. All day long he was plagued – unlike “the wicked”. God’s hand fell heavily upon his life, chastening him “every morning” (v.14). The sufferings that God sometimes allows to enter our lives can easily cause us to ask the question, “Why, Lord?”
As we reach the middle of the psalm, Asaph’s tone changes. It had all been “too painful” for him, but he came to see that “speaking his mind” would not have been a wise policy. He would have been untrue to the generation of God’s children if he had spoken in this way (v.15) because he was part of that generation. It is all too easy to harm the Christian testimony. We must remember that we have not only been brought into fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ but also into fellowship, as believers, with “one another” (1). Encouragement and support are what other Christians need – not a display of distressing doubts. In a flash Asaph realized that he had almost slipped by this questioning attitude (v.2-3). His reasoning had been all wrong – because he had not been into “the sanctuary of God” (v.17).
THE ONLY PLACE
If we face perplexity there is just one place to go – and that is the sanctuary of God. When we enter His presence we learn to see things from His perspective. How could the Lord Jesus rise from prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and go with perfect composure to meet His enemies? The answer is simple: He had been in the sanctuary of God. There He had understood that the horror of the cross had to be faced, for there was no other way that lost sinners could be saved. If we enter that place, we also will be enabled to face life and all its problems with a completely different attitude.
For Asaph, the first thing that he came to understand was the “end” of the ungodly (v.17). Although they had mocked God, He knew all about them and would deal with them (v.20). In reality, their strength was not as “firm” as he had once thought it to be (v.4). They were “in slippery places” and would plunge to their destruction without warning (v.18-19). In a moment of unsanctified thought the believer may conclude that the ungodly have a much easier life, but time spent in God’s presence reading His Word will make plain their end.
Asaph learned even more than this. Not only was the end of the ungodly revealed to him, but in the sanctuary of God his own end was revealed to him as well. He had been so “foolish…. and ignorant” (v.22) in his reasoning, yet God had not forsaken him! With great relief and deep gratitude he now exclaimed, “Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand,” (v.23). In those times of doubt the Lord had still been there – and this ever-faithful, never-failing God would lead him on and guide his every step (v.24).
What a lovely testimony this is! The believer who has spent time in the sanctuary of God can come forth declaring with assurance, “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory,” (v.24).
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
The wicked were still there, enjoying prosperity (v.3), but now Asaph had come to realize what he needed most. “Whom have I in heaven but Thee?” he asked. “There is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee” (v.25). Flesh and heart may fail, “but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever” (v.26).
Paul knew this secret too. Although hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down, he was not crushed, forsaken, or in despair (2). Paul often retired to that place of communion and so, despite the difficulties, he could go on.
Before laying down his pen, Asaph was conscious of two “good” things that needed to be recorded. First, he could testify that “it is good for me to draw near to God” (v.28). He had come to value the sanctuary. Having trusted in the Lord God, he now wanted to declare His works. Secondly, he had come to see that “God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart” (v.1). The righteous are never forsaken by God. So important was this conclusion that it became the preface to the whole psalm.
WORTH IT?
Is it worth being a Christian? A thousand times yes! But we may occasionally feel weary in the battle and need to go into the sanctuary, as Asaph did, in order to see things aright. “Looking unto Jesus” must be the Christian’s daily watchword. “Consider Him” when you are tempted to question the ways of God or envy the prosperity of the wicked (3). Let Him guide you daily with His counsel. One day He will receive you into glory.
END NOTES:- (1)1 John 1:3 & 7. (2)2 Corinthians 4:8-10, NKJV. (3)Hebrews 12:2-3.