The importance of an eternal perspective Ps 73

Introduction

As a Christian how do you feel when you see people who do wrong and yet it seems they prosper and are successful and never receive the punishment they deserve. Yet you try to do what is right and you seem to suffer for it, do you ever think to yourself you are wasting your time? Why try to do the right thing if you just seem to suffer for it? Whereas people who do wickedly prosper?

THe psalmist begins psalm 73 by describing the way he once felt when he looked at the way the wicked prospered.

From v.1 through to v.16 he describes that to him it seemed the wicked did what they wanted and thrived, without there seeming to be any consequence for the wrong they were doing. Where as he felt that he was experiencing the opposite.

He says in v.13 that he thought to himself “Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain.”

He then goes on to say that he struggled to understand this. How can it be this way? But then a change in the psalm takes place from v.17 onwards.

The Psalmist changes his perspective. In the first part the psalm he is looking at the world with a natural perspective, he is looking at the temporal things.

However in v.17 he shifts his perspective to the eternal, he thinks with a spiritual perspective.

In v.17 he says “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.”

From this verse onwards the psalmist describes how things actually are. Although there seems to be no justice, one day the wicked will be judged and their prosperity will be taken from them.

In v.21-22 he describes the way he felt when he realised the was looking at things in the wrong way. He was grieved with his attitude.

In the final part of the psalm, the psalmist realises the fact is he has what is most important. He knows God and is living for what will matter in eternity and not for the things of the earth.

I want us just to focus in on two verses that are found in this final section. V.25-26. In the first section the psalmist is looking at life with a temporal, earthly perspective, in the second section he corrects his thinking and looks at life with an eternal perspective.

It is as he does this that he realises, his greatest desire is God, only the LORD can satisfy and the fact is he knows the LORD.

v.25-26 says “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

I. God is his desire v.25

Heaven is heaven because God is there. God’s presence is the greatest thing about heaven. The Psalmist acknowledges this.

This truth means that while he is on earth and is anticipating being taken to heaven, he has no greater desire than to know the God better now that he will be with forever then.

He realises that the greatest treasure he has is a place in God’s heavenly kingdom, which is what it is because God is there. This means that on earth he know his greatest need is God. Only God can satisfy his desires.

He confesses that if he has God he has everything.

This is set in contrast to the wicked who do not have God and are living to earthly treasure which ultimately never satisfy, and will one day be take away from them.

The psalmist now looking with an eternal perspective realises that he is the one who is blessed and has true and lasting prosperity.

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This is how we as believers are to look at life. We should acknowledge that heaven is wonderful because God is there, this world is not our home but we are passing through, therefore while here our greatest desire should be for the God that we will be with for eternity.

I wonder do we have this heavenly, eternal perspective on life. Does it inform our desires and passions? Can we say with the Psalmist “Who do I have in heaven but you? And there is no on earth that I desire besides you?

If not then ask the Lord to give you this heavenly perspective. Read the word of God and renew your mind. Spend time alone with God, commune with him and seek to know him more.

This heavenly perspective on life shaped the psalmists desires and also influenced the way the view life and death.

II. God is his strength and portion v.26

In the next verse the psalmist says “My flesh and my heart may fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Here the psalmist recognises that God is of greater worth than even life itself. He holds the knowledge of God to have greater value than his life on this earth.

He says even if I die God is still my strength and portion forever.

it is clear to see in these verses the psalmist has changed the way he looked at life. He changed his perspective on what was important. He went from seeing temporal things as valuble to seeing them as fading and temporary. He went from thinking little about God, to seeing that actually in God is all he needs and all he will ever need.

This change of perspective clearly enabled him to live for what is actually important, he was able to live his life in light of the bigger picture.

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This is how every believer should look upon life. This outlook should be our outlook. The question is “Is it?” Do we hold God to be of higher value than earthly things?

If we do then we would live our lives in a certain way. Our main focus in life would not be to get richer on earth but it would be to get richer in heaven. The way we conduct ourselves at work, or among friends and family would be in a way that would bring glory to God. The way we spend our money would not display our desire for the praise of men would would display our desire to please God.

This outlook on life would also cause us to pity those who are rich on earth but poor towards God, we would never envy the one who has lots of money, but is a spiritual pauper.

Conclusion