The Pure and the Corrupt in Heart. Psalm 73:1-28

Transcription

1 1 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller Questions by John C. Sewell The Pure and the Corrupt in Heart Psalm 73:1-28

2 2 Text: Psalm 73:1-28, The Pure and the Corrupt in Heart Commentary by Clyde M. Miller 1. A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. 6. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. 7. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. 8. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 9. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11. They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" 12. This is what the wicked are like always carefree, they increase in wealth.

3 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. 15. If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. 16. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17. till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20. As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. 21. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22. I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 23. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 28. 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. (NIV) Introduction: Note: Book III of the Psalms consists of Psalms (JS) I. The superscription bears the name Asaph, as do eleven other psalms (50, 74-83).

4 4 A. Asaph was a Levitical musician (1 Chron. 16:4-5) Chronicles 16:4, 5, He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel: Asaph was the chief, Zechariah second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, (NIV) B. These psalms were likely not authored by Asaph, but were more likely dedicated to him to be used in Israel s worship. II. Since the psalm deals with the wisdom theme of the fortunes of the wicked and the righteous, it can be classified as a wisdom psalm. A. Although the didactic purpose is evident, it is interwoven with the confession of a person whose faith has been sorely tested, yet proved and found intact. III. This psalm probes the question of the prosperity of the wicked, as the author moves from a nearly destructive doubt to a height of faith. A. He speaks for and to any in Israel who may have faced the same difficulty in their understanding of God. IV. The writer begins by stating his conclusion (Ps. 73:1), after which he speaks of a problem so severe that he well nigh slipped (Ps. 73:2-3). Psalm 73:1-3, A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost

5 5 slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (NIV) B. It was the increasing popularity of wicked, arrogant men, that resulted in a popular skepticism regarding God's moral judgment (Ps. 73:4-12). 1. Psalm 73:4-12, They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" This is what the wicked are like always carefree, they increase in wealth. (NIV) C. The writer, a righteous man, was rankled because his goodness seemed unavailing (Ps. 73:13-14). 1. Psalm 73:13, 14, Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. (NIV) D. Yet he held his peace, though his inner turmoil grew (Ps. 73:15-16), until, in the temple, resolution finally came (Ps. 73:17).

6 Psalm 73:15-17, If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. 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. (NIV) E. Eventually God would judge the wicked (Ps. 73:18-20), and the author berates himself for having doubted (Ps. 73:21-22). 1. Psalm 73:18-22, Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. (NIV) F. Further, the psalmist's fellowship with God transcended anything the wicked might have (Ps. 73:23-26). 1. Psalm 73:23-26, Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 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. (NIV) G. Thus, the psalm concludes where it began, reminding the readers that those far from God shall perish (Ps. 73:27), but that the man near him is blessed (Ps. 73:28) Ash.

7 7 H. The psalmist imperceptibly viewed the prosperity of the wicked (1-14) until he considered by faith the ultimate destiny of the righteous and the wicked (15-28). 1. Psalm 73:1-14, A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" This is what the wicked are like always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. (NIV) 2. Psalm 73:15-28, If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. 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. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you

8 8 Commentary: arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 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. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 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. (NIV) Envy at the Prosperity of the Wicked Psalm 73:1-14, A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" This is what the wicked are like always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I

9 9 washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. (NIV) Psalm 73:1, A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. (NIV) I. Verrse 1 is a confession of faith. A. His declaration that God is good to Israel is modified as he narrows his statement to those who are pure in heart. 1. Purity of heart means being totally committed to God. Note: Verses 2-14 reveal that he is perplexed by the very thing he acknowledges to be admirable. Psalm 73:2, But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. I. But as for me states a contrast to his opening confession of faith (cf. 55:23; 71:14; 73:28). A. Psalm 55:23, But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you. (NIV) B. Psalm 71:14, But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. (NIV) C. Psalm 73:28, 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. (NIV)

10 10 D. The phrase is used again at the conclusion of the psalm, but with a different meaning. 1. Here it introduces his perplexity that almost destroyed his faith; there it concludes his resolution of his problem. 2. Here his faith is in danger like a person who has lost his foothold in a slippery place. 3. He is not however completely gone, as the development of the psalm will reveal. Psalm 73:3, For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (NIV) I. Verse 3 states the reason for his perplexity. A. His viewing the arrogance and prosperity of the wicked caused him to envy their condition. B. He wondered whether his faith was worth the struggle. Psalm 73:4, They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. (NIV) I. He sees the wicked remaining healthy and strong, and having no struggles. A. This seems to him that things are topsy-turvy. 1. The righteous should be so prosperous. 2. The psalmist is making the mistake of thinking that righteousness should be rewarded with health and wealth.

11 He had forgotten the value of divine discipline (Heb. 12:4-13). a. Hebrews 12:4-13, In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (NIV) Psalm 73:5, They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. (NIV)

12 12 I. No struggles characterize the wicked; they fare better than normal. Psalm 73:6, Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. (NIV) I. Pride is worn like a necklace, and violence is worn like clothing. A. These metaphors indicate that their arrogance (3a) spurs them on. 1. Psalm 73:3, For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (NIV) Psalm 73:7, From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. (NIV) I. Their eyes bulge with fat is the reading of the Hebrew of 7a. A. The second line explains the metaphor. Psalm 73:8, They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. (NIV) I. Scoffing at the unfortunate, they threaten oppression against the weak. Psalm 73:9, Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. (NIV) I. Their claims are outrageous; they act as if they owned the earth. Psalm 73:10, Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. (NIV)

13 13 I. The Hebrew of verse 10 is uncertain, but it apparently means that unsuspecting people are deceived by the popular worship of success, and that they admire the life style of these pompous wealthy ones. Psalm 73:11, They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" (NIV) I. God s integrity is called in question by the wicked as if His moral judgment has proved impotent. A. To them, God does not take account of them. Psalm 73:12, This is what the wicked are like always carefree, they increase in wealth. (NIV) I. Verse 12 is the psalmist s summary of the life of the wicked. A. They are carefree, as he doubtless would like to be. B. They increase in wealth, which feeds their arrogance. Psalm 73:13, Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. (NIV) I. He is confounded about his religious rituals. A. His efforts to be pure in heart seem fruitless. 1. He seems to be overly concerned about what he would get out of his religiosity. II. This concern seems to be centered on whether he should be rewarded with wealth as are the wicked described in verse 12.

14 14 Psalm 73:14, All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. (NIV) I. He is plagued and punished by the inner turmoil of his heart described in verse 13. A. His depth of despair, however, is about to change to the triumph of his faith. Ultimate Destiny of the Righteous and the Wicked Psalm 73:15-28, If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. 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. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 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. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 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. (NIV) Psalm 73:15, If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. (NIV) I. If I had said I will speak thus suggests that the psalmist has been testing the waters in at least verses

15 15 A. Psalm 73:13, 14, Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. (NIV) B. The psalmist now realizes the impiety of his former musings. C. Your children refers to the pure in heart that might have been tempted by his doubts to give up hope. Psalm 73:16-17, 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. (NIV) I. In his attempt to understand the imbalances in life, it was oppressive because he found no immediate solution. A. Not until he received instruction at the sanctuary did he understand the final destiny of the wicked. Psalm 73:18, Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. (NIV) I. The wicked are on slippery ground rather than the firm foundation that their wealth seemed to suggest. A. God is aware of the situation (ct. v. 11), and he will act appropriately. 1. Psalm 73:11, They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" (NIV) B. The wicked will eventually come to ruin.

16 16 Psalm 73:19, How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! (NIV) I. Rather than remaining in their arrogant state (3,6,8), the wicked will be filled with terrors. A. Psalm 73:3,6,8, For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. (NIV) B. Their doom will come suddenly and completely. Psalm 73:20, As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. (NIV) I. As one s thoughts following a troublesome dream may for a moment be confused, so when God acts, the supposed tranquility of the wealthy wicked will be seen as mere fantasies. Psalm 73:21-22, When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. (NIV) I. Verses contain a second confession of the psalmist. A. He acknowledges that his embittered spirit caused his thoughts to be senseless and ignorant, like that of the brute beast devoid of understanding. Psalm 73:23, Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. (NIV)

17 17 I. He claims truthfully that he had not completely forsaken God, and he is now aware that God has been with him throughout his intellectual ordeal. A. The right hand or God is a metaphor of his strength and power. B. Had he not retained a degree of faith in God, he would not have felt the struggle that he records, nor would he have found the solution. Psalm 73:24, You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. (NIV) I. God s counsel leads the psalmist to understand that eventually there is for him an after life of glory. II. Is this a glimpse into the New Testament revelation of eternal rewards and punishments? Psalm 73:25, Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. (NIV) I. The psalmist now declares that there is no one and nothing in heaven or on earth besides God that he desires. A. Faith has now come full circle. Psalm 73:26, My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (NIV) I. The first line is apparently a portrait of his former misunderstanding. A. Or it could be a metaphor of death.

18 18 B. Now he acknowledges that fellowship with God is the only thing that has real meaning for his future. Psalm 73:27, Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. (NIV) I. Verse 27 is structured as an inverted synonymous couplet. A. Those who are far from you is an expression synonymous to all who are unfaithful to you. B. Will perish is synonymous with you [will] destroy. II. The delusion of the psalmist is now removed and his spiritual vision is clear. Psalm 73:28, 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. (NIV) I. But as for me introduces the contrast between his former confusion and his present clarity. A. To be near God is to be in harmony with His nature, purpose and will. 1. This is illustrated by the fact that he now has made God his refuge. B. A refuge is a place of calm rest. C. He has made God the Sovereign Lord of his life. D. God now rules his attitudes and actions.

19 19 E. Instead of proclaiming his former doubts (15), he now vows to tell of God s deeds, which he recognizes as fair and just. Application: I. It is interesting that when the occupants of the Titanic that had been engaging in their frolicking revelry realized that death might be near, they began to sing, Nearer my God to thee. A. Nearness to God, however, should be daily fare rather than being reserved for crises. II. Attitudes bear definite consequences. A. We must properly train our attitudes toward spiritual matters in order that the consequences will be positive and rewarding.

20 20 Questions Psalm 73:1-28 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. On a scale of zero (0) to ten (10) with zero (0) representing total corruptness and with ten (10) representing total purity, how pure/corrupt are you in heart? Give reasons for your answer. 2. The Psalms are arranged in four (4) books. Book I consists of Psalms -, Book II consists of Psalms -, Book III consists of Psalm s - and Book IV consists of Psalms Which psalms bear the name of Asaph? Who was Asaph? Did Asaph write Psalm 73? Give reasons for your answer.

21 Why can Psalm 73 be classified as a wisdom psalm? 5. How do you account for the prosperity of the wicked and the poverty of the righteous? 6. Outline Psalm 73. (See Outline Introduction, Section IV.) 7. The author of Psalm 73 experienced problems with his faith. What caused these problems? 8. Have you ever experienced problems with your faith? If so, what caused these problems?

22 How were the psalmist s faith problems resolved? 10. Have your faith problems been resolved? If so how? If not, why not? 11. What mistake did the psalmist make? See Psalm 73: What did the author of Psalm 73 find objectionable about those of whom he complained? 13. What did the author of Psalm 73 think he would receive as a result of his religiosity? Was this a reasonable expectation?

23 What steps led the author of Psalm 73 from despair to triumph? 15. How can the imbalances in life be explained? 16. After his dilemmas had been resolved, how did he feel about his previous embittered spirit? How do you feel about your past mistakes? 17. What life changing, mind changing lessons did you learn from your study of Psalm 73?

24 God is said to be good to, to those who are in. 19. The psalmist almost. He had nearly his. 20. The psalmist the when he saw the of the. 21. The psalmist saw the wicked as people who had no, whose bodies were and, who were from the common to and who were not by. 22. What jewelry did the wicked wear and with what did they clothe themselves? 23. From their comes ; the of their know no. They and with ; in their they threaten. Their lay claim to, and their take of the.

25 Those influenced by the wicked up in. They say, How can? Does the have? The are always, they in. 25. Surely in have I kept my ; in have I my in. All I have been ; I have been. Is this really the way the psalmist felt? Give reasons for your answer. 26. Attempting to understand all this wars to the psalmist until he the of. Then he the of the wicked. 27. As stated in verses 18-20, what did the psalmist come to understand about the destiny of the wicked? 28. Looking back on his time of bewilderment, the psalmist wrote, When my was and my, I was

26 26 and ; I was a before you ( ). 29. Had God always been with the psalmist? Had the psalmist always been with God? 30. What had God done for the psalmist? (See verses 23 and 24.) 31. The psalmist asked, When have I in but? He concluded,... has I. My and my may, but is the of my and my. 32. What will happen to the wicked? 33. The psalmist concluded, But as for, it is to be. I have made the my

27 27 ; I will tell of your. 34. Can you make this statement with resolve as did the psalmist? 35. Other than by means of heaven and hell, how can the injustices of this world be made right?