🎤 Psalm 73 Song -Bitter

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When I was a boy, I remember a common part of Sunday night church was something called “personal testimonies.” Volunteers would stand and share how God had worked in their lives. If they were eloquent, then the congregation would feel encouraged by the description of their struggles and faith. It can be wonderful to hear of how God has shown his faithful, loving hand in others' lives.

As I ponder Psalm 73, I am reminded of these old-time testimonies. This psalmist doesn't honey-coat his struggle! He confesses his jealousy toward the ungodly, since they seem to get whatever they want! He envies their strong bodies, their ever-growing popularity, and the cunning way they seem able to deceive without consequence. These people have no shame, and their wealth just keeps growing.

As he continues to complain, guilt starts to creep in. How dare he think this way, with all that God has done for him! Perhaps he is a teacher, responsible for encouraging faith in others, for verse 15 says to do so would be false to the circle of children.

So, he goes to the temple. There he realizes that the wicked are on slippery ground. They will, someday, face ultimate destruction. Despite outward appearances, they are not "getting away with it."

He confesses his bitterness toward God and realizes he had been ignorant and self-centred, like an animal without sense; he knew, even in that state, that God was still honourable to him.

What a lesson. We are welcome before God even as we complain. There is a place for us, in his presence, despite our selfishness. He ends with praising God, since he has truly so much to be thankful for!

Brothers and sisters, life often is unfair, and evil people do seem to get away with their behaviour for a little while. However, serving God lasts forever, so consciously summarize all you have to be thankful for, and live out a life of faith.

Amen!

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Plea for Relief from Oppressors
BOOK III(Psalms 73–89)
A Psalm of Asaph.

1 Truly God is good to the upright,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pain;
their bodies are sound and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not plagued like other people.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes swell out with fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
8 They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues range over the earth.
10 Therefore the people turn and praise them,
and find no fault in them.
11 And they say, ‘How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?’
12 Such are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 All in vain I have kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
and am punished every morning.
15 If I had said, ‘I will talk on in this way’,
I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I perceived their end.
18 Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
on awaking you despise their phantoms.
21 When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was stupid and ignorant;
I was like a brute beast towards you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterwards you will receive me with honour.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 Indeed, those who are far from you will perish;
you put an end to those who are false to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
to tell of all your works.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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