I’ve been reading through my Dad’s old Bible lately during my devotional time. It’s a large print KJV with lots of pen and pencil notations and various pieces of paper and photos and other such interesting things he had in there. I came across one such bookmark in Psalm 73.
Psalm 73 is a pretty awesome passage. Written by Asaph, who was a Levite, one of David’s worship leader in Israel as well as a poet and a prophetic seer (I Chronicles 6, 16), this Psalm deals with his internal struggle and response to seeing people who succeed in the world despite being evil, violent, and vulgar. I thought it would be interesting to word it the way I would say it.
Asaph says, “I know God is good. But I nearly missed his goodness because I was too busy looking the other way and I had my eyes on the folks who had “arrived” at the top. I look at them and it’s like they have no worries. Life is good. Yeah, they are arrogant, but they wear violence like a overcoat. They’re like celebrities in Hollywood or elected politicians – pampered and pandered to. They use their words to mock, bully, cut people down and destroy them. They are loudmouths and full of boasting and bluster. They don’t operate in peace. And crazily enough, people actually listen to them and believe what they say like they can do no wrong.”
Asaph lays out what he sees that’s going on around him and then he says, “Ok, seriously. What the heck? Where is God in all this? It’s like the light is on and no one is home. Elvis has left the building. These guys are getting away with everything and not only that, they are getting rich doing it. Then there’s me, the guy who always follows all the rules and look at where that got me. I’m broke and every time I turn around, something else happens that smacks me up side the head. For real. It sucks and I am tired of it. I don’t want to say any of this out loud and take others down with me. I’m seriously trying to figure it out and it’s only making me more confused.”
So Asaph makes a decision that immediately changes his perspective. He said, “You know, I am not getting anywhere with this line of thinking, so I need to center myself and go somewhere I can sit before the Lord. I am making myself crazy here.” So he went to the House of Prayer — the sanctuary of the Lord. “Suddenly,” he said, ” I can see what is going on. I can see the direction they are heading. They driving on a slippery road that’s certain to send them over the edge of a big cliff. It will be the crash that instantly ends in their destruction. It’s like you blink and bam. it’s all gone. There’s nothing left. And honestly, there really never was anyway.” Then Asaph says, “It was at that moment that I realized how bitter my heart had become. I was consumed by it and messed up and triggered. You probably looked at me like was as dumb as a stump, yet I know you don’t see me like that. Here I am, in your house of prayer, holding my right hand. You are giving me wise counsel and lead me with your wisdom. You speak the truth about my destiny. When I read your word, you give me truth that changes my perspective.” Because in the end, you are the only one I want. In heaven or on earth, you are the one that transcends it all. When I get old and tired, with weak legs and wrinkled skin, you will remain the strength of my heart — firm, faithful to the end. I am yours and you are mine. Those who desert you are falling apart. But I am blessed to be in this place where you have made your name to abide. This House of Prayer. This sanctuary and shelter. I am refreshed. I have made the Lord my home and I am not about to keep silent about how incredibly He has blessed me and how awesome He is.”
It’s easy to get focused on all the loudmouths, the bullies, and those who do well despite living wrong. Sometimes it is all just overwhelming and I wish that God would just physically come down and shut their mouths. It really requires a shift — a “then I went into the house of the Lord” moment where suddenly He brings clarity and perspective and He speaks life and hope again in the middle of all the noise. And right now, in this season and climate, it is very important to keep my eyes fixed on Him and center myself in His Word and in His truth. All the rest of it is distraction. Speak life. Speak hope. Tell of His blessings. We overcome by the power of Christ and the word of our testimony! Truly He is worthy.