Psalms 73 - Part 3

1) INTRODUCTION

A. Asaph

As we continue to understand this Psalm, let us not lose sight ot the wrote of this Psalm - Asaph.

Asaph was not an ordinary Old Testament Jewish Saint.

He was in charge of much of the worship that took place in the Tabernacle during the time of David.

He spent his life cultivating, improving and enhancing the worship of God

He wanted God’s people and himself to experience God’s presence during worship.

Even though there were mechanical devices in worship. Asaph trumped the formalities of worship with passion and emotion anchored in the truth of God’s word.

Asaph was not concerned with the contemporary thoughts. feelings or philosophy on worship, he was focused on truth and pleasing God.

If David wanted to hear from God he would seek after Nathan the prophet, but if he wanted to know more about worship then he would seek after Asaph the Levite.

Asaph was a giant in the faith who would have had many people looking up to his faith.

B. Struggle

Based upon our text this morning, this giant’s faith nearly collapsed under the weight of false perception.

There are many catchy phrases about perception: John Maxwell said - “The difference between n average person and an achieving person is the perception of a response to failure.”

The truth about perception is if our perception has a faulty compass then no matter how hard we try or how much energy we invest, we will always end in the wrong location, destination and perception.

The problem with Asaph was he used a faulty compass in navigating his perceptions around him.

Because of Asaph’s faulty compass, he could not longer see how his statement of faith was true based upon the empirical evidence before him - How the foolish and wicked:

Prospered

Were oppressively Powerful

Lived more Pleasurable lives.

C. How did Asaph correct his compass and perception

The climax to this Psalm is

Psalm 73:16–17 KJV 1900

When I thought to know this, It was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then understood I their end.

As Asaph thought on the foolish and wicked’s prosperity, power, and pleasurable lives in conjunction with the negative impact this had on God’s people, the experience became too painful.

“Until”, the most important word in the entire Psalm. “Until (he) went into the sanctuary of the Lord.”

Even though Asaph nearly left the faith (as Demas would do later in life), Asaph went into the Sanctuary of God.

Sanctuary - What does the word “sanctuary” mean?

Sacred - The sanctuary was place of God

Asylum - i.e. the sanctuary cities - A place of protection from the world.

2) HIS PERCEPTION CHANGED REGARDING THE FOOLISH

Remember, earlier in this Psalm Asaph was envious of the foolish and wicked

Psalm 73:3 KJV 1900

For I was envious at the foolish, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

What happened during his time in the sanctuary of God that changed Asaph’s perception?

A. He understood

Psalm 73:17 KJV 1900

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then understood I their end.

Martyn Lloyd Jones once remarked (he pastored in the mid-twentieth century in London) that people view church in the same way as an addict views opioids.

Church has become a drug for many attenders.

People are going to church to find temporary relief.

They are injecting themselves with church to get them over the hump of a crisis

When Asaph went into the sanctuary of the Lord, He understood. This was not temporary relief or an injection to get him through a tough spot. He did not merely forget his problems but found a solution.

What created Asaph’s envy for the foolish and wicked was the incomplete picture he had. He viewed the here and now, without any consideration for the then and there.

B. He saw the complete picture

By seeing the complete picture, he recalibrated his compass to give him the right perception on life.

When Asaph saw the here and now and the then and there, He concluded:

Today their time is limited but in eternity there is no limitation to time.

James 4:14 KJV 1900

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Today pleasure but tomorrow unlimited terrors

Today Justified by peers but tomorrow judged by God

Today they hear complimentary words but tomorrow they will hear the judge of universe say

Matthew 7:23 KJV 1900

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

C. What did Asaph see about their eternal future?

Slippery place v.18

He saw their ruin v.18, 19 - destruction and desolation come from the same Hebrew word, which speaks of their ruin.

Consumed with terrors v.19

God will despise their image

D. Contrast between the wicked and the righteous

Psalms

Psalm 37:37 KJV 1900

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For the end of that man is peace.

3) The impact this had on Asaph

Psalm 73:21–22 KJV 1900

Thus my heart was grieved, And I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

Psalms 73: