Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

The first thing God condemned in worship was formalism without the heart, now he turns to the wor- shipers who offer their sacrifices but break his commandments. Though they are religious people who recite the Bible they are hypocrites, pretending to love God yet inwardly denying him. In the first part of Asaph’s prophecy, God addressed man’s worship of him, now he turns to the second tablet of Moses law; man’s relationship to one another. The 8th Commandment- “ Do not steal” (Ex. 20:15) “When you see a thief, you help him… ”(18) Though they faithfully offered their bulls and goats they were conspiring with thieves. Jesus deals se- verely with hypocrisy: “ How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hyp- ocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy–full of greed and self-indulgence! (Mt. 23:25 ) The 7th Commandment- “ Do not commit adultery.” (Ex. 20:14) “…and you spend your time with adulterers.” (18) They ceremoniously offered their animals yet their eyes were full of adultery: “ You are like whitewashed tombs–beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.” (Mt. 23:27) True worshipers clean the inside of their heart as well as fulfill the out- ward ceremony of worship. The 9th Commandment- “ Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.” (Ex. 20:16)” Your mouths are filled with wickedness, and your tongues are full of lies. You sit around and slander a brother–your own mother’s son.” (19,20) Our tongues must only be used for blessing the Lord and building up our fellow man.

“ While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care.” (21)

God’s silence is not his approval. The NIV translates the last part of this verse: “ you thought I was altogether like you. ” This is a fatal mistake, attempting to make God in our own likeness; imagining that he thinks like us, that our standards of conduct are the same as his, he believes what we believe, that our worship style is his preference and that he approves of a dual life of hypocrisy. We are to be con- formed to his image, not he into ours.

“ But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you. Repent, all of you who ignore me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you.” (21,22)

After God’s stinging rebuke comes his merciful call to repent. The Lord is adjusting his people not condemning them; there is always opportunity to change our minds and conform to his standard.

IV THE SINCERE WORSHIP - 23

This verse is the antidote to the two problems addressed in this psalm.

1. To the formalistic worship without engaging the heart Asaph sings: “ But giving thanks is a sac- rifice that truly honors me.” (23)

2. To those who pretend to worship God and yet break his laws Asaph sings: “ If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”(23)

The song of Asaph, the great prophetic singer still resonates in our time!

123