LEAVE IT TO CLEAVER: Psalm 73 - "A Psalm of Asaph"

How can one understand his or her own life with its many vicissitudes and processes? What can one do to “get through” life with some responsibility to God, self, family and community? Many times, we disdain the wisdom of the ages given to us by the sages of old. Now we would rather rely on algorithms and artificial intelligence. To find the answers to life’s questions we ask Siri or Alexa. Sagacity in this psalm (and the other Scriptures) is blatantly ignored. This psalm provides us a good life map of how to get on with a good life that is pleasing to God and appropriate for us.

Asaph began this psalm with confidence in God, then he quickly moved to the place of his feet slipping (v. 2). He looked at the wicked and saw their prosperity. He noted they are not troubled like those who put their trust in God. Their actions are never called to account and, moreover, those around them look up to them as examples. He went on to say the wicked have increased wealth and, from that position, they despise God (vs. 3-12).

His question (verse 13) is age-old from the hearts of those who follow the narrow way of righteousness. Did I do all the “God stuff” in vain? Has my life been wasted as I lived a life of godliness? (vs. 13-16) How often do you and I come to this place in our journey? We see good things happening to bad people and bad things happening to good people. It seems our lives are out of control, spinning in a downward, negative spiral.

The “aha moment” and the “blinding flash of the obvious” came when Asaph entered the house of God (vs. 16-17). He came to understand God has set those who are arrogant regarding the things of God and the works of God in slippery places. They fall to ruin. God despises those kinds of people. They are swept away in terror (vs. 18-20).

He was ashamed of ever thinking like that. He came to understand there is a difference between those who believe, follow and commit to God and those who do not. The light is different from the dark. The godly are much, much different from the ungodly, and the Lord of Armies treats these two groups in a most different way (vs. 21-28). Listen to the destiny of the ungodly from v. 27 (CSB): “Those far from you will certainly perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.” Now listen to the destiny of the godly in v. 28 (CSB): “But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do.”