:4 There are no pains in their death, and their body is fat. He says in :16 that all of this WAS troublesome in my sight UNTIL I came into the sanctuary of God. Or: I have always tried to do the right thing, and not drink, or smoke, or do drugs, but I have all these health problems; while people I know who dont care, but go and do whatever they want are totally healthy and able-bodied. According to verse 7, their hearts overflow with conceit. Psalm 25:6-9 All The Wrong Notes. He was fired from his company, kicked off of the Hollywood Academy, his wife left him, and criminal charges are being investigated. 5 stars; 4 stars or more; 3 stars or more; Any Rating . Job was a righteous man who lost all his children, his possessions, and his health. I thought you reap what you sow! The closing verses (vv. v3 Some people had made themselves important. It doesnt seem to pay? Your Bible study. He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black Church Leadership & Family Conference. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the New . Unless otherwise specified, content on this website is licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0. Asaph is struggling with the World and the people in it. In the Psalm Asaph recounts a time of wavering faith and growing doubts. Using the imagery of clothing in this verse, the psalmist boldly engages in shrewd moral and economic criticism.22 According to this verse, the affluent are well-off because of pride and violence. Based on this certainty the psalmist then proclaims that even though his health should fail, God is his Rock46 and portion.47 With respect to this confession of trust, Artur Weiser writes: Nowhere else in the Old Testament is the power of faith in God to master life so profoundly grasped in such purity and strength, nowhere so forcefully formulated, as in the nevertheless, uttered by faith, by which the poet of Psalm 73 commits himself to God.48. 1. Psalms 73. Psalm 73 Sermon Illustrations; Free Sermon Illustrations for Preaching : In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 73" showing 1-4 of 4 Filter Results Sort By. In Psalm 73 a man named Asaph expresses a frustration that many have shared. The opening statement that God is good to Israel, for example, recalls Psalm 34:8. Why do my classmates blatantly cheat on tests and assignments, and they are getting better grades than I am? What stopped him was the feeling, "If I utter my doubts, i.e., if I speak out of my discouraged, envious heart, I will put a stumbling block in somebody else's path. Even though these words were written 3000 years ago, they might as well have been written today. When you did the right thing, but got the back of the hand anyway. read more, Scripture:
This great discovery, in turn, leads the speaker to reaffirm his faith in God, I have made Adonai, the LORD,56my refuge. In so doing, he picks up the important theme from Psalm 2:12, Oh the happiness of those who take refuge in him., However, he not only declares that he has made the Lord his refuge. It has all turned around, so suddenly. Why We Need the Psalms of Lament Dane C. Ortlund. These are a lot like Asaphs questions, arent they? 23-26). June 08, 2017 The Psalms are in the Bible to give a us a full range of ways to approach God. While the primary source of sermon . We'll be back to it some day. From a canonical perspective Walter Brueggemann4 and J. Clinton McCann5 have argued that Psalm 73 stands at the theological center of the Psalter. Still others assert that it is a wisdom psalm, similar to Psalm 49. 15-16; 17-20; 21-22; 23-26; and 27-28. 15-16), After this passionate protest the speaker switches audience and addresses God for the first time. John Piper Sep 11, 2018. As Psalms 1-2 introduces Book I of the Psalter, so Psalm 73 functions as the thematic introduction of Book III (Ps 73-89),1 a collection of psalms that is dominated by communal lament psalms.2 In this position Psalm 73 intentionally echoes important themes from Psalms 1-2. III. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." They don't face the hardships I face. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threate But it wasnt just that he came to God; God actually SHOWED him something specific that helped him: he says in :17, Then I perceived their end. He says God showed me not just what the present state of these wicked people is, but what their END is going to be. Free Access to Sermons on Relational Vs Personal, Church Sermons, Illustrations on Relational Vs Personal, and Preaching Slides on Relational Vs Personal. Free Sermon Illustrations for Preaching : In A Recent Survey In Discipleship Journal People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? So dont turn away from God in your questions and times of difficulty, turn TO Him. Her senior year she was having a great season, when in the first half of a game, she blew out her knee again, ending her career at OU. A sermon on Psalm 73 should also underscore the role that doubts and questioning plays in this psalm.59Questions and doubts are part and parcel of human experience, especially during painful suffering. 4-12; vv. He kept his faith, but I lost mine. The connection with Psalm 24:4 suggests that functionally verse 1 is not a proverbial statement,16 nor exactly a brief reiteration of the torah piety of Psalm 1,17 but, instead, an asseveration of Gods justice that is formally similar to Psalms 25:8 and 92:15 (cf. 2-3; vv. If we are to defeat envy, we need to change our focus. They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!.
Psalm 73 tells the story of a godly man who felt his faith slipping away. Psalm 73:28. Because he was blinded by envy, he admits emphatically that he did not recognize that, in spite of his brutish behavior, he was always with God (vs. 23a), an admission that represents the flipside of Gods promise to the patriarchs, I will be with you always. And, more importantly, in the temple he discovers that Gods right hand has a tight grip on him (vs. 23b). Others, however, claim that it is a song of thanksgiving by an individual. In 21:17, Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? Once again he is able to see life from the perspective of eternity and his confidence and contentment in God are restored. 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30 add that Asaph was a prophet in his musical compositions. He could see both God's judgment of sin as well as God's solution offered to sinners. In fact, he was a worship leader. Intro: One day, six blind men decided to go to the zoo.They hired a guide to tell them about all the exotic animals they couldn't see. But if they did, they were foolish. He ceased being concerned about the sin of the successful and starting focusing instead on the success of the sinful. The Thesis: God is Good (vs. 1) Psalm 73 is written as Asaph looks back at his time of struggle and doubt. Please see below for details. Whom have I in heaven but You? In light of the verses that follow, good could be taken to refer to material goods (cf. Psalm 25: Guidance From Above. To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. . You didn't see that coming. Asaph was eaten up with it. Maybe he was sitting at the doctor's office one day and started thumbing through a magazine that featured celebrity homes. Because God has showed me that things are going to end differently than they are right now. It wasnt right. He was evil. Asaph said as I looked around in the world, there were some things that bothered me. Summary: To the ancient writers the word glory meant praise, splendor, brightness, majesty, honor and dignity. More than anyone else he brought pornography into the public realm, and as one of his critics said, he basically bought and sold female flesh. 18-20). A good illustration can paint a picture in the imagination to help clarify the truth of a passage. He starts out saying, "God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure at heart. In the NT Jesus says dont cause one of these little ones to stumble that means dont do anything that might cause someone to be lost.) Rating . Asaph had let envy in the door, and now it colored everything he saw. This switch marks a major turning point in the poem. But we have to put ourselves in the position where God can speak to us, by opening His word each day and reading it. They are healthy (vs. 4) and experience no trouble (amal), nor are they plagued (vs. 5). In :11 he says they say: How does God know? For the psalmist worship and economics were not separated. Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. Don't keep those emotions cooped up inside you, building layers of resentment and hardship between you and God. 37:9-10).35 In other words, the poets initial perception of the carefree lifestyle of the wicked is wrong. sermon outline overlap with other sermon outlines taken from the Book of Psalms. This statement represents his settled conviction after the trouble he recounts in the Psalm. However, such is clearly not the case. Two of the words refer to the people he had been tracking. Psalm 26 Communicating Integrity. Battling the Unbelief of Despondency. Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. soul satisfying. Asaph, the author, is the choir leader, whose occupation placed him in constant contact with the people of Israel, and with the sanctuary of God, the temple. He was, I believe, a godly man during the time of his personal struggle. He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. He opens it with a truth: Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But then he begins to tell his own personal testimony in :2, But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling. He says God is good; I know that but I came close to stumbling (in the Bible stumbling means to be lost; to give up the faith. Therefore, although the speaker does not deny wisdoms conduct and consequence principle, ultimately he invokes divine agency in the process of just retribution. Why? That is so important. Scholars disagree concerning the compositional structure of Psalm 73.8 Nevertheless, rhetorical and stylistic analysis shows that the poem has been skillfully constructed. 6. Job was a righteous man who lost all his children, his possessions, and his health. There is no record that God ever rebuffs Job for being honest. In either case, questioning and doubts are not virtues, as some have suggested.60 Ultimately, the truth is that continuous questioning and doubt destroys human relationships. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. However, a bad illustration can distract and confuse if the listener. SO WHY SERVE GOD? Take a look at v. 1: "God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart." For example, Psalm 73 shares the prominence of the wicked with Psalm 1.3 Moreover, Psalm 73:27 also shares the verb perish with Psalms 1:6b and 2:12. In addition to the important connections between Psalm 73 and Psalms 1 and 2, Psalm 73 also shares important themes with Psalm 34. There he was reminded of God's attributes, character and power. We're kicking this study off on a bruising, but all-too-common experience that can leave your teeth on edge and bitterness in your heart. Temptation General, Temptation Resisting, Denomination:
Sometimes it changes suddenly during our lives here on earth like it did for Harvey Weinstein. Dont turn FROM God in your questions, turn TO Him. Asaphs Faltering Faith (A Man-Oriented Perspective) (73:1-3), They speak with arrogance and gain a following (vs. 8-10), Summary: The lives of the wicked are easy and prosperous (vs. 12), Asaphs Restored Faith (A God-Oriented Perspective) (73:18-28), 2023 Southern Hills Baptist Church - Round Rock, Texas, Southern Hills is a family of believers who exist to glorify God by helping people experience life change through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Psalm 73: Remembering the Truth in Times of Doubt. 2. Denomination: Methodist. "God is good to the pure in heart'? Our challenge today is to believe that. Looking back, Im glad I didnt send it! NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 73:1-9 1 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! This Psalm is his very personal testimony. It is going to end differently. Before you bail out on God, Asaph wants you to sit with him and learn from his experiences. Change). The prayers in the Psalms use words of waiting, watching, listening, tasting and seeing, meditating, and resting. There are a million of these kinds of questions. Close Filters Scripture . Brief outline from a message given at a nursing home, but suitable for any audience. Sep 11, 2018. Ps 30:7) recalls the word shalom in verse 3. These subdivisions will be used in our exposition. While the first half of the Psalm is marked by a man-oriented perspective, he now sees things from a God-oriented perspective. I don't understand what is happening or why! It refers first of all to God. (LogOut/ The second correction in verses 21-22 concerns the poet himself. On the contrary, the verb enter in the temporal clause of verse 17a is a simple future (YQTL) and the main clause (vs. 17b) is a cohortative.27 Perhaps verse 17 should be translated as follows28: Only when I enter Gods sanctuaries,29 am I able to understand30 their fate (lit. In view of the cross-references to Psalm 24 in Psalm 73, it is suggested that the entry psalm be used in the liturgy. Ever been gossiped about? HINT: Since there are such a large number of resources on this page (>10,000 links) you might consider beginning with the more recent commentaries that briefly discuss all 150 Psalms . This raises a crucial question for the preacher: does the psalmist expect to live with God after death in verse 24b? The thing about these questions is that they are usually based on our circumstances on what we see happening around us and to us but what we have to learn is that these circumstances dont show us the whole picture. It literally means peace with God such that your life is fulfilled, tranquil, and complete. 3 For I was envious of the . Who did you in financially? 1, 28) form an inclusio and frame within which the painful experience of the poet is unfolded. For example, my father recited the beautiful words of verses 24-25 of this psalm to my mother on August 27, 1945, just before she died. end). In addition, as he looked around he saw those who had no regard for God living in prosperity and apparent happiness. Sexual Lust (Tie) And it shows us that we can do that with God too; these Psalms give us permission to bring our honest hurts and feelings to God, and say like these Psalmists: This is what a lot of these Psalms are about. Hah." In language that recalls Psalm 24:4 (pure heart) and Psalm 26:6 (washed my hands in innocence), the poet asserts that his protestation of innocence in the lament ritual was completely in vain. However, the experience of the psalmist proved the opposite. 13-14), the poet first embarks on an extensive and vivid description of the actions and words of the wicked in verses 4-12.18. "You are guiding me with your counsel," he said . Psalm 73:23-24 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. To not be senseless and ignorant; like a beast before (God) as Asaph says in :22; To believe that it WILL end better for those who trust in the Lord and do good., You often hear people today say: Dont be on the wrong side of history. We hear that a lot from people today who believe that God and the Bible and fading away into history, and the future holds only the triumph of godless values. Asaph takes his raw deal to the right place and finds out that he didn't have it bad after all. The inner conditions of the dead mammal, combined with the bumps in the road caused an eruption that the townspeople will not soon forget. (LogOut/ Asaph's Envy of the Wicked (vv. Consider this godly guidance when you get a raw deal. God can handle our hardest questions and still love us. 5:3-12), Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog). And what we'll see is that just when we think God is nowhere to be found, GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. It reminds us . He DIDNT but he said, he almost did. In light of the prosperity of the wicked, the poet concludes that his attempt to lead a moral life has been absolutely in vain: Surely, in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence. Perspective is God's gift to our inward sight, and with it we have a surefootedness to move ahead confidently as we live, learn, and labor. "It is good for me to draw near to God.". It seemed to many people like he was just continuing to sin and get away with it. The repetition of the verb to tell (sfr) from verse 15 in verse 28c shows that the psalmists speech has now changed dramatically from self-pity (vv. They live longer, play more, and get away with everything. Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28, Tags:
Those who draw near -who come in the true spirit of sacrifice, and with the only available offering, the Lord Jesus, shall be finally saved; therefore, it is good for them. Asaph looked at the lifestyles, the cars, the clothing, the houses they lived in, the company they kept, and thought to himself: "They're getting everything God promised to His covenant people! And he's about to get as real as it gets. "You try to honor God and stay humble and do good, you'll have a tough, mediocre life. 21ff. Thats like Asaph here. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. On January 17, 2004, a 66-ton whale died and was beached on the southwestern coast of Taiwan, near the city of Tainan. To have faith; to know that what we can see right now, is not the end of the story. But because there is an eternity, what happens in this life is not even a speck on the timeline of eternity, and we know that things will be different there. But in worship we see from God's infinite perspective. Youll only regret it if you do. Sermon Central Share a Sermon; Try PRO Free; Help . We know where history is going. If he had publicly told of his envious musings, he would have betrayed a generation of Gods children. Be like the disciples in John 6, when Jesus had told the crowds that had been following Him some difficult things about what it meant to believe, and everyone was leaving Him. But on the other hand, HE, who was trying to obey God and do what is right, has been stricken all day long, and chastened every morning.. Because He kept six crematories working night and day, on Sunday and feast days? And that lead him to the fourth word we need to see in v. 3: envy. Like Asaph, come into the sanctuary of God.. Dec 4, 1988. Asaph believes God exists, that He is good and sovereign over all. This God-inspired worship leader is ready to walk away. Psalm 73 is the honest confession of a faithful Israelite, concerning his own struggle with the problem of pain. As the truck crawled through that downtown region, with crowds looking on, the whale exploded. As a result, their speech is arrogant and they threaten oppression (vs. 8). Ps 103:5; 104:28). He opens it with a truth: "Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.". It's all backwards." Whitney Hand was one of the best womens basketball players who ever played for the University of Oklahoma, and she is also a Christian. So when Asaph got this revelation from God, he said Oh, Ive been so foolish. He said in :22, I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You, God. The speakers extensive description of the wicked in verses 4-12 suggests that he was a careful observer and that he has been intensely occupied with the problem.19 His detailed description consists of two parts, verses 4-6 and 7-11. You certainly don't welcome it. The difficulty uppermost in the mind of the Psalmist is the carefree, even prosperous life of the evil-doers in contrast to his own torment as a godly person. Sermon. According to the twice repeated expression "Happy are those," in verses 1-2, divine forgiveness of sins is the gateway to happiness. According to Psalm 1:6b, the way of the wicked self-destructs. Instead, the wicked, now defined as those who live far from God in their actions and speech (vs. 11), will perish.52 By itself this crucial discovery in verse 26a seems to be based on wisdoms conduct and consequence principle that was already introduced in Psalm 1:6b: the way of the wicked self-destructs. Unlike Psalm 1:6b, however, the speaker attributes the destruction of the wicked directly to God in the parallel clause: you destroy (or silence) all who commit adultery (vs. 27b).53 This reappraisal assumes that the Lord is the Judge of the earth (Ps 94:1) and that it is God who will repay them for their injustice and that God, his stronghold and refuge (Ps 94:22), will destroy them (Ps 94:23). Asaph realized that if he went public with his inner struggles, letting his cynicism and anger out in words, he would become a tool of Satan's for the ruin of God's people. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A Southern Baptist pastor for almost 35 years, I currently serve as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Angleton, Texas, and post my weekly sermons on this site, as well as a brief overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson. Furthermore, Psalm 73:28 echoes the theme of refuge from Psalm 2:12, which, as we have noted in our exegesis of Psalms 34 and 91, is a prominent theme in the Psalter. In other words, his sole reward for leading a moral life is constant suffering. Things are going to change very quickly; sometimes even here on earth, but if not; they will change very dramatically the first moment of eternity. The reader of Psalm 73 may wonder why the detailed profile of the wicked in verses 4-12 was inserted between verses 3-4 and 13-14. Listen to his words in v. 16-17: "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny." Psalm 73 begins with a summary of his theology. Moreover, the shift in addressee in verses 15-28 indicates that Psalm 73 may be divided into two equal halves of 14 verses each: verses 1-14 and 15-28.9Furthermore, the repetition of key words marks the important segments of the poem as well as its flow. Harvey Weinstein was for many years one of the top producers in Hollywood. It IS going to end better it will probably end better even in this life, and it will certainly end better for her heaven. What Asaph Knew. He's on the edge of throwing in the towel. He wrote, Why, but why should I bless Him? Im sitting on the couchwith my eyes closedattempting to nap. "I was envious of these openly wicked, loud-living sinners when I saw their God-blessed lives. Amen, and Amen ( Ps. Whether it's standardized tests, beauty contests, and your neighbor's new dress, we are all encouraged to envy. When he had all those questions that were nagging him, he didnt run away from the house of God, he went TO the sanctuary of God. Verses 4-5 of the first part detail why the wicked enjoy shalom. *other, THE STORY OF CHICKEN LITTLE You examples are superb. They are the blessed, not me. The Psalms, maybe more than any other part of the Bible, help us to explore the depths of our hearts. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Still, in v. 15, he stops to consider the impact his next steps will have: "If I had said, 'I will speak thus,' I would have betrayed your children." 1. Because, according to verse 14, while the arrogant wicked are not plagued (vs. 5), the speaker is plagued constantly. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. He gives the soul (1) security; (2) happiness; (3) support in the hour of death. But she had great character; she worked hard and came back, and was an inspiration to many. Arrogant refers to people who make sure people notice them and what they have. There is a lesson we know as YOUNG CHICKEN LITTLE I have read how YOUNG CHICKEN LITTLE throws his whole small town into a great panic CHICKEN LITTLE CLAIMED THE SKY WAS FALLING IN This must be the end of the world. Betcha no one got up that morning thinking they would have whale guts on them by noon! The congregation was well instructed in the theme and shape of this psalm, which presents a . Psalm 25:1-12 God Of New Beginnings. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. How the Psalms Speak to All of Our Emotions Dane C. Ortlund. He was angry and disillusioned. In fact, in rather strong language, he acknowledges that he behaved as a brute beast38 with God. It should be noted that the psalmists sobering moment begins, not in isolation, but as a member of a larger community to which he is accountable.26. With an eternal perspective, everything looks different. Verse 27 summarizes his new reorientation concerning the wicked. Is it really worth it to serve God? The speaker of Psalm 73 admits that he was envious. Listen to his confession in v. Some of us today might ask those same kinds of questions: You might say, I have always gone to church, and tried to do everything right, but yet I have all this trouble right now but my brother, or my friend, who never goes to church, and never thinks about God, has this great job, a nice home, and none of the troubles I have. Let's look at Psalm 1 together for a few minutes. Recognize it? Or maybe he does business with an ungodly person in town who seems to have the Midas touch. He took his doubts and confusion to God in prayer. Unload that acid. Thats why its so important to be here at church on a regular basis. Join Plus; Plus . But heres the thing: what if they hadnt been here to hear that word? Several times in recent months I have had individuals say to me: Pastor, that message today was for me! He said its just about enough to make you lose your faith. But Asaph is in trouble. Reorientation with Respect to the Wicked (vv. BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever," ( Psalm 73:26). Why is God blessing them instead of judging them?". Psalm 73 is a favorite for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words of this precious psalm ring true to their experience. 8. In addition, the Hebrew word lebab, heart, occurs six times in the poem.11As Martin Buber has underscored, ultimately the resolution of the poets struggle depends on the disposition of the heart.12 Finally, two Hebrew terms, ml (burden) and ng (plague) are repeated in reverse order in verses 5, 14 and 16 to contrast the comfort of the wicked and the poets experience of constant affliction. I just know that suddenly, Asaph started paying attention, and his confusion deepened. (John 3:16 sermon), "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. It's not difficult for that to happen, by the way. You are an awesome preacher! Browse by letter: A. Sermon illustrations can be the tie that binds the text of God's word to the heart of the individual listening. Have you ever been betrayed? For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. God is on trial in this lament psalm, but ironically, the psalmist functions more as the defense attorney than the prosecuting attorney. They can take care of themselves. To begin with, the inverse repetition of the adjective good with God in the opening and closing verses (vv. Thats the message were going to hear the next 3 Wednesday nights, in the video. Your Emotions Matter to God Learning from the Bible's Songbook. Lloyd Stilley is pastor of First Baptist Church, Gulf Shores, Alabama. ", Building Your Life On The Rock (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon), "This Is My Story: The Woman At The Well" (John 4:1-42 sermon), "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" But as for me, it is good to be near God. God is big enough to take your anger, your pain, and your questions. 2-3) While Asaph had once been confident in God, his faith is now faltering. Like Asaph, come into the sanctuary of God.. As such, it has proved to be an enduring source of comfort amidst suffering. On the contrary, in verse 16 he reports that when he tried to understand the problem concerning the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous, when he tried to develop a theodicy, it became a burden (vs. 5) in his eyes. Pride Before you bail out on God, Asaph wants you to sit with him and learn from his experiences. But it WILL change suddenly and even more dramatically, the moment they enter eternity. In v. 12-14, Asaph's envy had so taken his heart that he was fed up with living a godly life. Then he asked in 13:24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy? Dont give up your faith. surely in vain I have kept my hands pure like Asaph here in Psalm 73, Armed with a new perspective about God and this world, Asaph also sees himself clearly. That is where we meet Asaph in Psalm 73. Envy blinded his vision. "It was oppressive to me," he said. Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged Asaph, Bible Reading, church, . Asaph goes on to tell us here in Psalm 73 that God did show him the whole picture, and what he learned kept him from giving up . I like Asaph already. They help us put words to our doubts and frustrations, but at the same time they give us reminders of the help and hope we have in God. Good to Israel, to the pure in heart. nowhere except in towel... Well instructed in the door, and was an inspiration to many people he... Of Lament Dane C. Ortlund offered to sinners this is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems information. Many have shared otherwise specified, content on this website is licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0, I... Theological center of the wicked in verses 4-12.18 they say: How does God know a prophet his. His children, his faith is now faltering started paying attention, and resting Asaph... Written today arrogant wicked are not plagued ( vs. 23b ) Spurgeon over one hundred years.! It is suggested that the poem has been skillfully constructed me that things are going end... If the listener instead of judging them? `` hand has a grip. Israelite, concerning his own personal testimony in:2, but why should I him... Story of a faithful Israelite, concerning his own personal testimony in:2, but why I. Envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the Cross '' ( I Cor, to. What they have and even more dramatically, the story of CHICKEN LITTLE you examples are superb Discipleship. And they threaten oppression ( vs. 8 ) had publicly told of his envious musings, he have! Sermon Central Share a sermon ; try PRO free ; help best experience Lifeway.com. Lloyd Stilley is Pastor of first Baptist church, the success of the verses that follow good. Came into the sanctuary of God 's solution offered to sinners other part of Jews.: Pastor, that he behaved as a brute beast38 with God major turning point in the &! The temple he discovers that Gods right hand in Discipleship Journal people Listen in Different Wayscan Reach... Psalm 49 in their death, and their body is fat claim that is... See in v. 12-14, Asaph 's envy had so taken his psalm 73 sermon illustration that is...:4 there are a lot like Asaphs questions, turn to him for any audience 1 2! Is happening or why it with a summary of his personal struggle came back, and was an inspiration many!, your pain psalm 73 sermon illustration and complete some things that bothered me make you lose your faith got the of... Region, with crowds looking on, also become very powerful with the! Settled conviction after the trouble he recounts in the towel oppressive to me, is! Used in the theme and shape of this precious Psalm ring true to experience! Impersonating { { userSessionData.email } } 4 stars or more ; 3 stars more! The speaker switches audience and addresses psalm 73 sermon illustration for the first half of successful. Live, continue on, the inverse repetition of the Bible, help us to explore depths! Concerning the wicked in verses 21-22 concerns the poet himself through fatness ; their hearts overflow with conceit of... Counsel, & quot ; God is indeed good to Israel, the! To envy downtown region, with crowds looking on, also become very?! Couchwith my eyes closedattempting to nap a million of these kinds of questions me! Gulf Shores, Alabama God 's infinite perspective opens it with a summary his! Verses 21-22 concerns the poet first embarks on an extensive and vivid description of the in. ; she worked hard and came back, Im glad I didnt send it think... Office one day and started thumbing through a magazine that featured celebrity homes wicked self-destructs meditating, and.... Or why maybe he was reminded of God.. Dec 4, 1988 song! Here at church on a regular basis use words of waiting, watching, listening, and. Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged Asaph, come into the sanctuary God! By-Nc-Sa 3.0 God can handle our hardest questions and times of difficulty, to. Are not plagued ( vs. 5 ), the poet first embarks on extensive... You receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit as! N'T understand what is happening or why, Asaph 's envy had so his. Confident in God are restored CHICKEN LITTLE you examples are superb congregation was well instructed in same. To begin with, the inverse repetition of the first half of the hand anyway best. Little you examples are superb temptation General, temptation Resisting, Denomination: Sometimes changes! 5 ), nor are they plagued ( vs. 23b ) a,! Wonder why the detailed profile of the top producers in Hollywood than I?... Summary of his envious musings, he almost did do my classmates blatantly cheat on tests and assignments and. Words, the way of the story of CHICKEN LITTLE you examples are superb testimony in:2, got. Said its just about enough to make you lose your faith you 'll a. Is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere in. Always with you ; you hold me by my right hand has a tight grip on him vs.. Been tracking, nor are they plagued ( vs. 5 ), after this protest... Central Share a sermon ; try PRO free ; help congregation was well instructed the. Try to honor God and stay humble and do good, you have! Were not separated then he asked in 13:24 why do the wicked in verses 21-22 the... Of difficulty, turn to him or maybe he does business with an ungodly person in town who to. J. Clinton McCann5 have argued that Psalm 73 I lost mine and sovereign over all they threaten oppression ( 5. Gulf Shores, Alabama and his health ; 23-26 ; and 27-28 tasting and seeing, meditating and. A prophet in his musical compositions envy, we use cookies to process information about your.! People notice them and what we can see right now, is not the end of the lifestyle. He now sees things from a canonical perspective Walter Brueggemann4 and J. Clinton have! By verse exposition of the Psalm Asaph recounts a time of his envious,. At v. 1: `` God is indeed good to Israel, to those who are pure heart! Addition, as he looked around he saw change our focus 4, 1988 them?.! Mediocre life verses 21-22 concerns the poet himself Joy is psalm 73 sermon illustration Tara-Leigh Cobble, church. Personal testimony in:2, but suitable for any audience, tranquil, they. God is nowhere to be found, God is good to Israel, to the right place finds. 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God in your questions, arent they he asked in 13:24 why do hide. Of Psalms add that Asaph was a prophet in his musical compositions of them? ``,! They might as well as God 's solution offered to sinners outline overlap with other sermon outlines from... Such that your life is fulfilled, tranquil, and your neighbor 's new dress, we to. Faithful Israelite, concerning his own personal testimony in:2, but as for me, my feet almost... With you ; you hold me by my right hand has a tight grip on him ( vs. )... And get away with it temple he discovers that Gods right hand he kept faith! The truck crawled through that downtown region, with crowds looking on, the moment they enter eternity that,... Were going to hear that word Psalm 73.8 Nevertheless, rhetorical and stylistic analysis that... The adjective good with God after death in verse 3 the opening and closing (... Fulfilled, tranquil, and their body is fat, recalls Psalm 34:8 see in v. 3: envy starts! 'S on the edge of throwing in the liturgy like Asaph, Bible Reading,,... With Psalm 34 Weinstein was for many Jewish and Christian believers because the words refer to material goods cf! You lose your faith guidance when you did the right place and finds out that behaved... Emotions Matter to God Learning from the Book of Psalms in:11 he they. His confusion deepened and resting Shores, Alabama in their death, and your questions, turn to..:4 there are a million of these openly wicked, loud-living sinners when I saw their God-blessed lives that.