Psalm 73 • Seeing my life correctly

Summary

The video script explores the Psalm of Asaph, where the psalmist initially envies the prosperity of the wicked, questioning God's fairness. Through introspection and seeking God's perspective, he realizes the vanity of worldly success and the ultimate downfall of the wicked. The psalmist learns to focus on God's counsel and promises, recognizing that true fulfillment lies in a relationship with God, not material wealth or worldly admiration.

Takeaways

• 😔 The psalmist Asaph initially struggles with envy, comparing his life to the seemingly prosperous lives of the wicked and unbelievers.
• 🙏 Asaph acknowledges God's goodness to those with pure hearts but admits his own near stumble due to envy and misplaced focus.
• 🏡 The psalm describes the outward prosperity of the wicked, who appear to live without troubles, with wealth and health.
• 😈 The prosperity of the wicked is contrasted with their inner state of pride, violence, and malice, highlighting a disconnect between outward appearance and moral character.
• 🤔 Asaph reflects on the futility of his own clean heart and innocence when faced with daily strife, questioning the apparent injustice.
• 🏛️ A turning point occurs when Asaph enters the sanctuary of God, seeking understanding beyond his own limited perspective.
• 🔮 In God's presence, Asaph gains insight into the true end of the wicked, realizing their prosperity is fleeting and they will face ruin.
• 🐃 Asaph recognizes his own ignorance and brutishness in his previous thoughts, likening his mindset to that of a beast.
• 🤝 God's counsel and guidance are presented as the ultimate comfort and assurance for Asaph, leading him to a place of acceptance and trust.
• 🕊️ The psalm concludes with Asaph's realization that his true treasure and desire lie in God alone, not in earthly wealth or status.
• ✨ The message emphasizes the eternal perspective of a believer's life, focusing on the promise of being in God's presence beyond this life, rather than the temporal successes of the wicked.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the Psalm discussed in the script?

The central theme of the Psalm is the struggle with envy and the realization of God's goodness despite observing the apparent prosperity of the wicked.

What does the psalmist initially struggle with when comparing his life to that of the wicked?

The psalmist initially struggles with envy, as he observes the prosperity and apparent blessings of the wicked, which he lacks, leading him to question God's fairness.

What does the term 'pure in heart' signify in the context of the Psalm?

The term 'pure in heart' signifies those who are faithful and devoted to God, implying that God is especially good to those who maintain a sincere and pure relationship with Him.

How does the psalmist describe the wicked in the Psalm?

The psalmist describes the wicked as being arrogant, prosperous, and seemingly unaffected by troubles, living in a state of self-assuredness and pride.

What realization does the psalmist come to after entering the sanctuary of God?

After entering the sanctuary of God, the psalmist discerns the end of the wicked, realizing that their prosperity is fleeting and that they will ultimately face ruin and destruction.

What does the psalmist conclude about the nature of the wicked's prosperity?

The psalmist concludes that the wicked's prosperity is deceptive and temporary, and that they will be destroyed in a moment, highlighting the emptiness of their lives.

How does the psalmist describe the change in his perspective after seeking God's counsel?

The psalmist describes a profound shift in his perspective, moving from envy and confusion to understanding and acceptance of God's ways, realizing the ultimate futility of the wicked's prosperity.

What does the psalmist learn about his own spiritual journey after reflecting on the wicked?

The psalmist learns that he was brutish and ignorant, like a beast, when he was focused on the wicked's prosperity. He realizes the importance of seeking God's counsel and the eternal perspective it provides.

What promise does the psalmist find in God that changes his outlook on life?

The psalmist finds the promise of eternal life with God, which gives him hope and reassurance, changing his outlook from envy of the wicked to gratitude for his relationship with God.

How does the psalmist's understanding of the future impact his current situation?

The psalmist's understanding of the future, where he will be in God's presence, gives him strength and contentment in his current situation, despite the challenges he faces.

What is the psalmist's final conclusion about his relationship with God and the world?

The psalmist's final conclusion is that nothing in the world compares to his relationship with God, and that he finds his ultimate joy and fulfillment in being near God, regardless of earthly circumstances.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Envy of the Wicked's Prosperity

The speaker begins by expressing a common sentiment of envy towards others who seem to be prospering, even those who are not believers. The psalmist Asaph admits his own near stumble in faith due to comparing his life with the seemingly successful lives of the wicked. He describes the prosperity and arrogance of his neighbors, who despite their apparent lack of faith, live comfortably and without apparent troubles. This leads to a reflection on the psalmist's own struggles and a questioning of God's fairness and goodness.

05:01

🙏 Seeking Understanding in God's Sanctuary

In the second paragraph, the psalmist Asaph shares his journey of seeking understanding for the apparent inequity he observed. He describes the futility of trying to rationalize the situation through his own understanding, which he found to be a wearisome task. It was only upon entering the sanctuary of God, or coming into God's presence, that he gained insight into the true nature of the wicked's prosperity. He realizes that their apparent success is fleeting and that they will ultimately face God's judgment, which provides him with a sense of closure and understanding.

10:02

🌟 The Assurance of God's Presence and Promise

In the final paragraph, Asaph concludes his reflection with a profound realization of God's enduring presence and guidance in his life. He acknowledges that his previous focus on worldly comparisons had clouded his perspective. Now, with a renewed understanding, he sees that the true value lies in his relationship with God. He expresses a deep contentment in knowing that, despite the temporary nature of earthly life, he will be in God's presence after death. Asaph's realization leads him to a place of gratitude and commitment to share God's works, recognizing that in Christ, he possesses everything he needs for eternal life.

Keywords

💡Envy

Envy is a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, or possessions. In the video's theme, envy is the initial reaction of the psalmist towards the prosperity of the wicked, which contrasts with his own struggles and faithfulness to God. The psalmist's envy is exemplified when he observes the unbelievers' wealth and success and questions God's fairness.

💡Psalm of Asaph

The Psalm of Asaph refers to a collection of psalms in the Bible traditionally attributed to Asaph, a Levite musician. In the video, the psalmist Asaph starts with a declaration of God's goodness to Israel and then transitions into his personal struggle with envy and the realization of the transient nature of worldly prosperity.

💡Wicked

The term 'wicked' in the script refers to those who are morally unrighteous, often in opposition to God's laws and commands. The psalmist's envy is directed towards the 'wicked,' who seem to prosper despite their lack of righteousness, leading to a spiritual conflict within the psalmist.

💡Prosperity

Prosperity in the script denotes wealth, success, and well-being, often associated with material possessions and physical health. The psalmist initially envies the prosperity of the wicked, which appears to be in stark contrast to his own life as a faithful follower of God.

💡Pride

Pride is a feeling or quality of self-respect or personal worth, sometimes in an inflated or excessive form. In the video, pride is depicted as a characteristic of the wicked, who are described as having 'pride as their necklace,' symbolizing their arrogance and self-importance.

💡Sanctuary of God

The sanctuary of God refers to a sacred place, typically a temple or church, where one can seek spiritual refuge and guidance. In the script, the psalmist's visit to the sanctuary is a turning point, where he gains a divine perspective on the fleeting nature of the wicked's prosperity.

💡Spiritual Struggle

Spiritual struggle is the internal conflict one experiences when grappling with faith, morality, and understanding of God's will. The psalmist's spiritual struggle is evident as he battles with envy and seeks to reconcile his own hardships with the prosperity of the wicked.

💡Faithfulness

Faithfulness is the quality of being loyal and steadfast, often in the context of religious devotion. The psalmist's faithfulness is contrasted with the prosperity of the wicked, leading him to question God's justice before ultimately finding solace in divine wisdom.

💡Divine Judgment

Divine judgment refers to the belief in God's ultimate authority to assess and reward or punish individuals based on their actions. The script discusses the psalmist's realization that the wicked will face divine judgment, which provides him with a deeper understanding of their temporary prosperity.

💡Refuge

A refuge is a place of shelter or safety, and in the script, it metaphorically represents the psalmist's reliance on God for protection and comfort. The psalmist declares that the Lord is his refuge, signifying his trust in divine guidance and protection.

💡Destiny

Destiny is the events that will necessarily happen to someone or something in the future, often determined by supernatural power or fate. In the video, the psalmist's destiny is tied to his relationship with God, emphasizing that true fulfillment and eternal life lie beyond the material prosperity of the wicked.

Highlights

The psalmist Asaph starts by acknowledging his struggle with envy towards the prosperous wicked, nearly causing him to stumble in his faith.

Asaph initially envied the unbelievers who appeared to be thriving materially despite their lack of faith.

The psalmist describes the seemingly carefree and prosperous lives of the wicked, who do not face the troubles that others do.

The wicked are depicted as prideful, violent, and malicious, with their hearts full of follies and their tongues threatening oppression.

The wicked's prosperity blinds them, causing them to act with arrogance and disregard for others.

People are drawn to the wicked due to their outward success, even questioning God's knowledge and justice.

Asaph reflects on his own faithfulness and questions why he is not experiencing the same prosperity as the wicked.

The psalmist realizes the futility of his envy and the need to focus on God rather than the wicked.

Asaph's struggle leads him to seek understanding in God's sanctuary, where he gains a new perspective on the fate of the wicked.

In God's presence, Asaph recognizes the ultimate downfall of the wicked, who are like phantoms when God arises in judgment.

The psalmist acknowledges his own ignorance and brutishness when he was preoccupied with the wicked's prosperity.

Asaph learns that God is always with him, guiding him with counsel and receiving him into glory after this life.

The psalm concludes with Asaph's realization that God is his only desire, as earthly things and even his own flesh and heart may fail.

The lesson from the psalm is to focus on what one has in Christ rather than envying the worldly prosperity of others.

Asaph's experience teaches that seeking God's perspective leads to understanding the true nature and end of the wicked, and the eternal destiny of believers.

Transcripts

have you ever gotten your eyes off the

Lord and looked at other people and

thought I think they're better off than

I am and looked at like unbelievers and

thought why are they doing so well and

I'm not that seems kind of unfair and

it's kind of like God is this the way

you treat your children that's what's

happening in this Psalm

that's a psalm of Asaph and this psalm

begins with the conclusion which was

somewhat common in those days

it says truly God is good to Israel to

those who are pure in heart truly he is

but as for me my feet had almost

stumbled my steps had nearly slipped for

I was envious of the arrogant when I saw

the prosperity of the wicked so what is

the psalmist doing he starts off at the

very beginning telling you what the

problem was what his issue was and he

says you know I've learned now that God

is good I struggled with that for a

period of time because you see I got my

eyes off the Lord and I really almost

slipped I almost stumbled because I

started looking at unbelievers and I

started looking at their lives and

thinking okay I keep thinking in my mind

he's looking at his neighbor and and his

neighbor is an unbeliever never goes to

church doesn't care about God and yet

the guy is just you know he's making all

kinds of money he's got a gorgeous house

got a lovely wife his kids are strong

and healthy he's got a three car garage

with the boat in the third stall and and

he's just doing good and he talks like

he owns the world and Here I am Lord I

mean I'm sitting there looking at my

neighbor and Here I am a worshipper of

God and I got a one car garage and I'm

struggling to keep anything in that

alone and

and you know health-wise I don't seem to

be doing as good as my neighbor and yeah

nothing nothing stacks up here look what

he says when he goes down to verse four

he starts talking about his his buff

neighbor who moved there from California

he says for they have no pangs until

death in other words no issues there's

they live their lives in prosperity says

their bodies are fat and sleek doesn't

mean he's overweight that's a term that

just means you know he looked good he

says they're not in trouble as others

are they're not stricken like the rest

of mankind so what's the result of that

verse 6 therefore pride is their

necklace violence covers them like a

garment their eyes swell out through

fatness and and the word fatness refers

to prosperity having much okay which and

so when their eyes swell out it's a

poetic way of saying they see through

their glasses of prosperity and they

long they grab for things they see what

they want and they get it he says their

hearts overflow with follies they scoff

and they speak with malice loftily they

threaten oppression they even set their

mouth against the heavens and their

tongue struts through the earth so

what's the result of that yeah therefore

his people turn back to them and find no

fault in them they draw a crowd people

go wow he's pretty cool and they say

things like how can God know is there

knowledge in the Most High behold these

are the wicked always it ease they

increase in riches

what's his conclusion all in vain have I

kept my heart clean and washed my hands

in innocence for all day long I have

been stricken it's like I'm getting

rebuked every morning now he's coming

back and becoming the moderator again of

this or the narrator of this and he says

you know if I had said I will speak thus

or I'll speak this way I would have

betrayed the generation of your children

but you know when I thought how to

understand this when I tried to figure

it out it seemed to me a wearisome task

until I went into the sanctuary of God

then I discerned their end I want you to

pause there for just a moment because

the psalmist has brought us to the

climax of his understanding he's

explained how by comparing his life with

his neighbor next door he seems so out

of it I have so little of what he has

he's healthy and strong I'm not he has

so many things in the way of prosperity

and blessings which I don't have and he

talks like he owns the world and and

people love him for it they think he's

great and they flock around him and then

the psalmist says you know had I had I'd

spoken this way had I had I given voice

to all of these things I would have

betrayed this generation of your

children and then he says and I love

this I love what he says in verse 16 he

says you know I sat down and I tried to

figure all this out with my own

understanding with my own insight I said

I thought okay there's got to be an

answer to this there's the there's an

answer I know there is and it's a

satisfying one I just got to figure it

out have you ever tried to figure God

out have you ever sat down to try to

figure got out and he comes back and he

said

it seemed to me a wearisome task in

other words I couldn't do it but what

changed verse 17 then I went into the

sanctuary of God in other words I came

into the presence of my lord then I

understood because you Lord showed me

your perspective my perspective became

oppressive it became a weight that I

couldn't bear so I came into your

presence and then I knew he said and

what did he know

look at the end of her seventeen then I

discerned their end very key here's what

he now has learned Oh truly you set them

in Slippery places you make them fall to

ruin oh how they are destroyed in just a

moment swept away

utterly by terrors like a dream when one

awakes Oh Lord when you rouse yourself

you despise them as phantoms by the way

that term when you rouse yourself that

speaks of when the Lord comes forth in

judgment okay he says you know what when

my soul was embittered when I was

pricked in my heart I was brutish and

ignorant I was like a beast toward you

do you know why we talked about this in

our study in in Luke we talked about the

fact that the natural man who thinks

with his emotions his intellect right

and determines things based only on

those things

in other words Solomon referred to the

natural man as the one who lives under

the Sun and he talked about that

continuously what is life like under the

Sun meaning

to the natural man who has no concept of

the spiritual no concept of of the

heavens no concept of God what's life

like to him well it's fine as long as

things are going okay but how quickly

they're swept away and when terrors

overcome them they have nowhere to run

they have nowhere to whom to no one to

him to go right there's no recourse you

go to the world what good are they gonna

be they're all going through the same

thing they don't have any answers for

you they're just gonna sit around going

yeah yeah it's pretty rough let's all

get together and talk about how rough it

is hey that's what we'll do we're gonna

call it a support group but really all

we're gonna do is sit around and talk

about what a drag it is to live in a

fallen world right I mean there's no

answers there's nobody to turn to

because if you find somebody to turn to

chances are they'll be doggone tomorrow

anyway and this is what the psalmist is

now realizing after he's getting the

perspective of the Lord so he says when

I was like this when I was thinking like

this I was like an animal I was

literally thinking like an animal that's

why what he means in verse 22 but he

says that was like a beast toward you

here's what he found out though this is

the reality of the situation

nevertheless I am continually with you

that means I'm always there and you hold

my right hand you guide me with your

counsel don't you love the counsel of

God's Word guiding your life and

afterward after all this world and all

that it has and does and what comes

after that he says after that you

received me to glory it's not the end we

don't just become oblivious to all

reality when we die we were created by

God to live on and what is my future

I'm gonna go be in your presence when

this life is over I go to be in your

presence

that's what awaits believers and this is

what he wasn't taking any consideration

you know so he says in verse 25 here's

his conclusion whom have I in heaven but

you and you know what he says there's

nothing on earth that I desire besides

you because my flesh and my heart may

fail no not mate will you know unless

you and I are here when the rapture

takes place our flesh and heart will

fail

that's as simple as that but he says but

God is the strength of my heart

he's the strength behind my heart and my

portion forever for behold my neighbor

and all those like him those who are far

from you they're gonna perish because

you put an end to everyone who is

unfaithful to you but for me it's a good

thing just to be near God because you

see I've made the Lord God my refuge so

here's what I'm gonna do from here on

out I'm just gonna tell everybody I can

get to listen of all your works because

that's my destiny my destiny is with you

I have such wonderful promises from God

Jesus said that even though we die we

shall live we shall live with him I

think of what he said to the thief on

the cross this day this day you'll be

with me in paradise he did say tell you

what you're gonna go to sleep for a long

time and then it's kind of like the roll

of the dice after that you really don't

know what's gonna happen we'll wake you

up sometime in the near in the distant

future and we'll just kind of see what

happens and you

I mean you know if you've been good

maybe st. Peter will let you in and

they're that religious mumbo-jumbo this

day you will be with me in paradise that

is our destiny right so the lesson here

is so powerful don't look at what the

world has don't look at what the people

of the world has and don't look at how

they live and compare it with your own

you look at what you've got in Christ

because in Christ you have everything

you have everything because he has

everything