The Psalms in a Season of Jealousy
The Psalms for Every Season of Life • Sermon • Submitted
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
A psalm of Asaph.
1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
Introduction
Introduction
How many of you have ever struggled with jealousy?
I wish I had the ease of life that that person has!
I wish I had the job that that person has!
I wish my kids were as well behaved as that person!
I wish I didn’t have this or that struggle in my life - some people just have life easy!!
I doubt there is any one of us that hasn’t, at some point, to some extent, looked at those around us and wished that we could have what they have, or be in the situation that they’re in.
One of the ten commandments in the Old Testament, “Do Not Covet” - is one of the most difficult commandments to keep, particularly at a heart level.
But while jealousy is always wrong, there we may think that jealousy towards the ease of life of the wicked is justifiable. After all, how can it be that those who so hate God and are evil people, are often able to live such comfortable, care-free lives?! Why do they not suffer?
When we look at the corrupt around us, or those who gain wealth and personal advancement through dubious means, we become exceedingly jealous, and we may even find ourselves asking God, “Why!?”
Why, God, do you allow that person to do so well in life, while I’m trying to live a godly life, I’m trying to do things in an honorable way, but I don’t seem to reap the rewards.
We are led to a place of thinking that perhaps there really is no justice in the world.
That’s the situation that the writer of Psalm 73 found himself.
And I do believe that there is much that we can learn that is helpful to us in our own lives, so that we may think rightly in a world where there is apparent injustice along these lines.
I do believe that we can learn through this Psalm to correctly discern that jealousy is out of place in the Christians life, and why that is so.
As we turn our attention to the Psalm, then, we will see firstly...
1. The Psalmist Rightly Oriented (v.1)
1. The Psalmist Rightly Oriented (v.1)
This Psalm follows something of a pattern, and the pattern is to found even in the broader structure of the book of Psalms. It begins with a true and right statement. The Psalmist starts by being rightly oriented in this thinking.
Psalm 73:1 reads...
1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
Indeed He is! This is the Psalmist with right thinking, and thinking only that which is right and true in relation to God! God is good to Israel!!
And God is good to His people! He is good to His church! He is good to us as individual believers. Our circumstances, the manner of life of others, when they do well while we struggle etc. does not alter the truth that surely God is good!
But the attitude of the Psalmist was afflicted by some wrong thinking. He didn’t remain always in this line of thought. But rather, as he went about observing the people around him in life, he suddenly had the thought, perhaps God really isn’t good?!
I want to just pause there… as you sit in church, and the word is preached, do you find yourself agreeing and acknwoledging the truths from Scripture, but then going out and contradicting that through wrong thinking? You sit in church and agree that God is full of mercy and compassion. But then you leave and your experience in life tells you that God can’t be all that gracious if I’m experiencing this…
We so often do this… and so the Psalm is applicable to us in that sense. We can relate to what the Psalmist is saying… But also need to be careful that we don’t allow our minds to run down the course of wrong thinking. Rather, we must bring our thinking back to the truth of Scripture. We must align everything that we think… not only in the pews on a Sunday, but also in the home and workplace for the rest of week!
This leads us to our second main point from our text, and that is...
2. The Psalmist Disoriented (vv.2-17)
2. The Psalmist Disoriented (vv.2-17)
The Psalmist continues by acknowledging that his own life had entered into a place that was truly hazardous to him. He says his feet had almost slipped (v.2)! This man Asaph had nearly fallen as a consequence of a particular sinful way of thinking, a sinful way of interpreting the world around him, that had overcome him.
What was that sin? Verse 3 tells us...
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
The problem that he encountered was that he began an exercise of comparing himself to others around him. Particularly, he looked at those who were arrogant, those who were full of themselves, and he saw that they were prospering. How could this be that those who are arrogant prosper and do well!?
“Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Word of God!??!! So why were they prospering?
Why was God allowing them to continue to accumulate wealth, and to live a life of comfort, even though they were so arrogant in their ways? Why were they not then being brought low?
As we consider this Psalm, we find some deficiencies in the thinking of the Psalmist.
He outlines them...
Firstly - he had temporal perspectives...
2.1. Temporal Perspectives (vv.4-12)
2.1. Temporal Perspectives (vv.4-12)
All of the focus of the Psalmist was temporal.
Looking at others purely in terms of the here and now.
No regard for the longer view, and particularly for the eternal perspectives that ought to be considered by those who know the Lord.
First, he looks at their apparent carefree way of life...
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
No struggles?!
Subjective! Most people have struggles.
Comparing himself with others… compared to me… no struggles…
But there was some valid concern in v.6-9
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
The pride of man is real… these men were acting in a proud way.
Let us be sure, when the pride and arrogant come to power, they cause much harm; they cause oppression; they care nothing for others, but only for themselves!
This is the truth! This is reality!!
The Psalmists concern is obviously the fact that they are not being punished...
Why do they prosper.
The Psalmist also takes note of the fact that these arrogant people do these things thinking that God does not see...
They act is if God doesn’t exist.
11 They say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?”
These people in their arrogance even go so far as to mock God… to speak evil against God.
If anyone deserved the judgment and the punishment of God is these arrogant people...
Asaph then gives a summary...
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
Think… do you ever think in this manner?
Do you ever think like this… ?
Pause here… elaborate - go into a more general perspective on jealousy...
Sometimes we’re not even jealous of the evil people that thrive, but jealous when those
Often… our jealousy is over anyone and everyone… no matter how good or evil they are…
Shows just how sinful our hearts are!!
Notce… sinful thinking leads to...
2.2. Sinful Conclusions (vv.13-14)
2.2. Sinful Conclusions (vv.13-14)
As he ponders… draws conclusions...
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
His thinking is… what’s the point in living a pure life?
Why even try to live a life of pleasing God?
Surely… should just let loose and live in sin… each for his own.
Notice that he speaks about his own sufferings and pains...
14 All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
He has not had a life of ease.
He has not enjoyed the riches and the pleasures that others have had… particularly the evil / arrogant.
Why is this?
And is it worth it...
2.3. Dangerous Consequences (vv.15-17)
2.3. Dangerous Consequences (vv.15-17)
As the Psalmist continues to think… suddenly he is struck by what may be the conseequences of his own thinking and actions.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed your children.
Concern - I may cause others to stumble.
He may become a stumbling block to others.
“I will speak thus…” - he didn’t want to speak out the struggles that he had in his thoughts on this matter.
He was actually afraid that he’d cause others to stumble.
And so what option was he left with...
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
He now sits with the burden and weight of thinking through these matters in his mind, never saying what he’s thinking to others, in case they may fall…
Now, note in this… no easy solution.
He doesn’t have an answer...
From a practical, human perspective, there is no way to make sense of these things.
But this didn’t leave him without hope…
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
Suddenly the Psalmist catches a glimpse of the true character of God
As he does this… everything starts to be brought into perspective.
Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary The Radiance of Faith (73:15–28)
The light breaks in as he turns to God himself, and to him as an object not of speculation but of worship. Against his eternity, sovereignty and underived being, these men of the moment are seen as they are. Their end is literally ‘their afterward’, their future which will unmake everything they have lived for.
This leads us to...
3. The Psalmist Reoriented (vv.18-28)
3. The Psalmist Reoriented (vv.18-28)
The circumstances haven’t changed in life
There are still people that are apparently flourishing, while the Psalmist struggles along.
All of the circumstances remain the same, but the perspective of the Psalmist is suddenly radically altered.
Firstly, we see that he develops...
3.1. Eternal Perspectives (vv.18-20)
3.1. Eternal Perspectives (vv.18-20)
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
Note that the Psalmist has suddenly come to the recognition that God will not endure with their sinfulness continually.
He recognises that the judgment of God will be, and even is upon the evil...
God’s judgment in this sense is not only a logical end…
In other words - not just in eternity..
Rather, God’s judgment is seen in his removal from them.
God treats these people as though they were nothing!!
But the fact is, in an ultimate sense, those who lived in such evil will reap the rewards of their evil behaviour!
Notice the Psalmist speaks of his own failure to think rightly...
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
What a description of the man who fails to take true cognisance of the working of the eternal God!!!
When we are grieved… When our spirits are embittered toward God due to wrong thinking about God… we become...
senseless and ignorant!!!
A brute beast!!!
3.2. God-Honouring Conclusions (vv.23-26)
3.2. God-Honouring Conclusions (vv.23-26)
As the Psalmists thinking is reoriented, he begins to recognise his blessed estate, despite the appearances…
Notice the blessings that he sees…
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
In contrast to the one that is cast off… the one that is rejected by God, the Psalmist sees that God is with him… He walks under the gracious care and compassion of God.
God is the one who is able to keep you from falling (Jude 24)
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
The Psalmist now perceives that God will continue to be his guide and his companion.
God is the one that will hold him by his right hand.
God will ultimately be the one to receive the PSalmist into glory....
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
The Psalmist suddenly recognises that for all his jealousy over those who have things in this life, ultimately he doesn’t need what they have…
He has relationship with the eternal God. He is known by God, and He is kept by God.
“Nothing I desire besides you...” Could be translated…
“And having thee, I desire nothing else on earth!!!”
Our hearts will always be restless until we find rest in the eternal God!!
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
3.3. Appropriate Outcomes (vv.27-28)
3.3. Appropriate Outcomes (vv.27-28)
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
Example is the Assyrians… Isaiah 10:5ff
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
Is your heart perhaps restless?
Do you struggle with comparing yourself… your life… with those around you.
Perhaps you see the powerful and the wealthy… the seem to prosper...
All may not be as it seems.
But the fact is… there is great gain in godliness with contentment!!