Begging at the Bottom, Psalm 73:1

Last Sunday night, as we were leaving the building, a family was stopping cars and begging for money.

Last Sunday night, as we were leaving the building, a family was stopping cars and begging for money.

Sometimes we get so comfortable at the bottom of the hill. Even if we get offered a rope from heaven – a way out – we will not take it. So, what is the path out of our stinky cesspool.

See self with Savior’s Eyes

Leads to controlling your heart, ,

Psalm 73:1 ESV

1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Psalm 73:5 ESV

They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

Leads to controlling your eyes, ,

Psalm 73:2 ESV

2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.

Psalm 73:3 ESV

3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Leads to returning to God, ,

Psalm 73:17 ESV

17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

Psalm 73:28 ESV

28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

See flaws from Savior’s Advantage

Leads to acknowledging ugliness,

Acts 7:51 ESV

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

Leads to hearing our accusation,

Acts 7:52–54 ESV

52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” 54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.

Leads to seeing where God lives,

Acts 7:55 ESV

55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Leads to seeing the uncircumcised heart, ; ,

Acts 7:56–60 ESV

56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 8:1 ESV

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 8:3 ESV

3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Letting Consequences bring you back,

2 Samuel 18:33 ESV

33 And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

The tempters trap

2 Samuel 11:2 ESV

2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.

· He sleeps with her, :4

· She becomes pregnant, :5

· He brings the husband home, :6

· He had Uriah carry his own execution letter, :14-15

Consequences:

· 1st the love child dies (7 days old), 12:18

· Absalom rapes opening David’s concubine, 16:22 ()

2 Samuel 12:11–12 ESV

11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ”

· Tamar, his daughter is incestuously raped my Amnon

· 2nd Absalom kills Amnon and is alienated

· 3rd Absalom revolts and is killed by Joab (18:14)

· 4th Adonijah revolts and is killed ()

1 Kings 2:24–25 ESV

24 Now therefore as the Lord lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.” 25 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.

o He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

2 Samuel 12:6 ESV

6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”