Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

Asaph is experiencing an intense moment of introspection where he examines what he seems to think is the lack of reward for his godly living. His inner life is in conflict and turmoil. He quickly realizes that his thinking is wrong and that he would betray all of God’s people if he verbalized his complaints. When thoughts are spoken, they take on a vitality of life that is not easily retrieved.

“So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I thought about the destiny of the wicked.” (16,17)

In this first sentence Asaph tries to understand life through ‘natural reasoning’ and it does not make sense. In the second sentence, he experiences ‘divine revelation’ in the sanctuary as he is touched by God’s presence. All of Job’s questions about suffering and life were answered when he encountered the Holy One: “I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.” (Job 42:5) “Truly you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an in- stant they are destroyed, swept away by terrors. Their present life is only a dream that is gone when they awake. When you arise, O Lord, you will make them vanish from this life.” (18-20) The surprising answer to the prosperity of the wicked is that God is the one who prospered them and ‘set them up’ with wealth. “Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength.” (1 Chron. 29:12) Their judgment will be all the more severe because they should have been the most grateful and generous people doing the greatest amount of good with their wealth. Instead, they ignored God and used it to advance wickedness. When viewed from God’s sanctuary, their riches were only an imaginary dream that vanished away when they entered eternity. “Then I realized how bitter I had become, how pained I had been by all I had seen. I was so foolish and ignorant–I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you are hold- ing my right hand. You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.” (21- 24) This is the crucial point of the psalm; Asaph grows spiritually by changing his mind concerning his envy of the wicked. He realizes that his natural reasoning is like the animals that have no ability to un- derstand divine revelation. He acknowledges that God knows what he is doing compared to his own ig- norance and foolishness. In spite of his mistake and misjudgment he is surprised to discover that God still claims him as his own. The Lord is intimately holding his hand and guiding him through his maze of questions to a glorious and lasting destiny. The ‘glorious destiny’ in verse 24 is the same phrase that is used to describe Enoch’s being taken to be with the Lord in the book of Genesis: “He enjoyed a close relationship with God throughout his life. Then suddenly, he disappeared because God took him.” (Gen. 5:24) Our destiny is to be with God forever and that is much greater than any earthly treasure. The opening sentences of this passage communicate Asaph’s single focus on the Lord. Even heaven with all its beauty would be an empty place if God were not there. Because Asaph’s desire is to be with God, there is nothing on earth that holds a lasting attraction for him. His health and his body de- teriorate but his inner man grows as he delights in the Lord. “Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” (2 Cor. 4:16) The resurrection, where we will live forever in his strength, is alluded to in these verses. “But those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. (27,28) III DESIRE OF THE GODLY - 21-28 “Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” (25, 26)

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