1. Welcome! November 22, 2015

2. Psalms 73: 1-18 “Until I went into the Sanctuary”

8. Introduction: This psalm was written by the Levite Asaph, one of the worship leaders in the Jewish sanctuary ( I Chron. 16:1-6,37). He also wrote Psalms 50 and 74-83. In Psalms 73, he tells how he temporarily lost his song and how, with God’s help, he got it back again. He was discouraged because the worldly crowd seemed to be prospering while the godly believers were suffering, and it didn’t seem right. But when he went into the sanctuary, the dwelling place of God, he became a changed man. For us it means to go in prayer in spirit, talking to God about the frustrations of life that we see. From his experience, we learn three basic instructions for life.

9. Don’t look around and become a “people watcher.” Asaph wasn’t the first person to get discouraged because the wicked seem to prosper while the godly are suffering. Job was bothered by this problem (Job 21) and so was Jeremiah (Jer.12), David (Ps.37), and Habakkuk (Hab. 1). But focusing on what unbelievers do and have means walking by sight and not by faith. Asaph learned that the worldly life is only a dream and a mirage (Ps. 73:20), while believers are in touch with reality and eternity. We should not be envious of the lost because their destiny is to perish (vv.17,27); neither should we be envious of other Christians, because we don’t have either the ability or the authority to pass judgment on other believers (Rom.14:4).

10. We who live in the sanctuary, in fellowship with God, ought to look at His glory, power, and workings in this world and our lives. Our focus should be on the Lord. Do look back and recall God’s goodness (Ps.73:1). “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” (34:8). If we forget the goodness of God, there may be something wrong with our spiritual “taste buds” because we are feeding on the wrong kind of food. Our Lord is present with us and holds us and guides us (73:23-24). We have the Holy Spirit within to teach us and empower us, and we have the Word of God and its multitudes of promises to encourage us. And don’t forget that some of the pain we endure in this world is the result of our being Christians and being light and salt.

11. “Yes, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (I Tim. 3:12). But we are prone to take God’s blessing for granted and to complain about the trials that God permits so we can grow in grace. “God is the strength of my heart,” Asaph said, “and my portion forever” (Ps.73:26). In the midst of poverty, sorrow, and pain, Job said to his wife, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10). In fact, on the basis of Romans 8:28, the experiences we have filed under “bad” will one day be classified as “good.” When we “count our blessing,” we drive envy out of our hearts and bring the praises of god to our lips.

12. Do look ahead and rejoice over future glory. “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Ps. 73:24). Jesus endured the cross because of “the joy set before him” (Heb. 12:2), which includes the joy of presenting the Church, His Bride, to the father in heaven (Jude 24). Memories too often bring defeat, but anticipating fulfilled promises will bring joy and victory as we are “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). When the burdens are heavy and the battles fierce, and you start to envy others, meditate on the words of Jesus in John 13:7, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Faith in His Word should move us into the sanctuary of His presence and provides all you need to win.

13. Conclusion: Two strong themes wind their way through these verses: (1) The wicked prosper, leaving faithful people wondering why they bother to do good, and (2) the wealth of the wicked looks so inviting that there are times that faithful people may wish they could trade places. Asaph realized that the rich who put their hope, joy, and confidence in their wealth live in a dream world. True joy, hope and reality in life can only be found in God. We are all like Asaph! We all lose our focus and depending on the depth of our relationship with God, some days get worse than others. But if we desire and seek God’s presence, He will bring things that are troubling us into realities focus.