Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Psalm 73
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  February 28, 2021

Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything you’re supposed to be doing, you’re doing everything the right way, and you’re still struggling? And what makes it worse is you look around and you see others seemingly doing everything they’re not supposed to be doing, doing everything the wrong way, and yet they’re prospering, they’re at peace. Have you ever felt that way? If so, you’re in good company today with our psalmist, Asaph. Asaph was a temple musician at the time of King David. He has 11 total psalms recorded in the Scriptures. And as he writes this psalm, he describes a dark time in his life. He describes a time where he almost slipped from the faith. Why? Because to him, what he observed seemed so unfair. 

Listen to his description. “Surely God is good to Israel, to the pure in heart. But as for me, my feet almost slipped out from under me. I almost lost my footing. I even envied the arrogant when I observed the peace of the wicked. For there are no struggles at their death. Their bodies are sturdy, They do not have the trouble common to people. They are not plagued along with the rest of mankind.” Asaph knew and believed the truth that God is good to his people, to his believers. But what he was seeing as he looked at the world wasn’t jiving with his belief. He saw the godly suffering and the wicked prospering. He started to question his beliefs. “Could it be that his belief was wrong? Why do bad things happen to good people? Maybe God doesn’t care about right and wrong. Maybe God is powerless to destroy evil. Or maybe there is no God at all.” And right alongside these questions was envy. Envy is a corrosive acid that eats away at contentment and faith. Asaph seems to resent the fact that the wicked seem to have more than him, that his struggles and their lack of them was unfair. This was so troubling for Asaph that he was in danger of losing his faith! 

He continues describing the wicked. “Therefore pride is their necklace. They wear violence like clothing. Their eyes bulge out of their fat. The schemes of their hearts step over boundaries. They mock. They speak maliciously. From a high perch they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens. Their tongues strut around on earth.” It seems crime really does pay. At least that’s how it looked to Asaph. The wickedness of these people is what made them rich and powerful, carefree and conceited. And to make matters worse, they boasted about it. They celebrated it! And here’s where it really got bad. “Therefore God’s people turn to them, and they drink it all in. They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?” See, this is what the wicked are like–secure forever, they increase in strength.” God’s people were being influenced. God’s people were drinking the Kool-Aid. It seems that God doesn’t know or God doesn’t care and so they went right along with them. And as crazy as it sounds, it started to sound good to Asaph. 

“Have I really kept my heart pure for nothing? Have I kept my hands clean in vain? I have been plagued all day. My punishment comes every morning.” Asaph was on the brink. The thought flickered through his mind that it was a waste of time to be a believer. 

Friends, we’ve dealt with many challenges over the past year. Perhaps you’ve felt like you’re slipping as well. You look around and see wickedness seemingly prospering at every turn. You see God’s people suffering physically, emotionally, and mentally. And you know Satan is working overtime whispering those doubting questions in your ear. He wants you to blame yourself, to blame God. He wants you to give up your faith. But remember Asaph’s first words of this psalm: “Surely God is good to Israel, to the pure in heart.” Despite his doubts, despite his troubles, Asaph didn’t throw it all away. No, instead Asaph found the solution when the struggle seems unfair.

“If I had said, “I will speak like this,” I would certainly have betrayed the circle of your children. When I tried to understand this, it was very troubling to me, until I went to the sanctuary of God. Then I understood their end.” Where did Asaph find the solution? In the sanctuary of God. When Asaph returned to God’s house and listened to God’s Word, he finally understood. He realized that he had to look beyond present, surface appearances and instead look to the ultimate, eternal realities. He found the solution when he took his eyes off of himself and returned them to his Savior.

“Surely you place them on slippery places. You cause them to fall into destruction. How quickly they come to ruin, completely destroyed by terrors! They are like a dream when someone wakes up. So when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them like an illusion.” Asaph’s solution is found in the certainty of God’s Word. God’s word is clear about the judgment of the wicked. Though it looks like everything is rosy now, he sees them perched on a slippery slope. Their prosperity is just a mirage. They can fall at any time and lose everything. Fortunes can be lost in a day. Respected leaders fall into disgrace. Gangsters are rubbed out, and dictators are overthrown. And even if they manage to hang on to their wealth and power to the end, they can’t take it with them. Like the rich man who ignored poor Lazarus, they will find themselves in hell where their wealth and power will do them no good.

Asaph continues: “Yes, my heart was bitter, and I was torn up inside. I was unthinking and ignorant. I was a dumb animal before you.” Asaph admits he was wrong. He confesses his sin before the Lord. He wonders how he could have been so foolish as to almost fall for the deceptions of the ungodly. But even though Asaph had his doubts, even though he wavered, God never did.

“Yet I am always with you. You hold me by my right hand. With your guidance you lead me, and afterward, you will take me to glory. Who else is there for me in heaven? And besides you, I desire no one else on earth. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever. No doubt about it!” Asaph already had something far better than riches or fame. Asaph had the favor and presence of God. The believer’s greatest treasure is God himself. And notice how Asaph describes the relationship. Holding hands, with God doing the holding. God is the one who sought us when we were lost. God is the one who scooped us up and brought us to himself. God is the one who holds our hand and guides us through this Word. God is the one who is always with us as he lives in us in faith, as he gives us himself in his Supper. God is the one who promises to return to take us to be with him in glory! What else could we possibly need? This outburst of praise is what inspired the hymn writer to write our hymn of the day: “Lord, you I love with all my heart; I pray you ne’er from me depart; With tender mercies cheer me. Earth has no pleasure I would share; Heaven itself were void and bare If you, Lord were not near me. And should my heart for sorrow break, My trust in you no one could shake. You are the treasure I have sought; Your precious blood my soul has bought. Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, My God and Lord, Forsake me not! I trust your Word.”

Friends, perhaps the events of the past year have brought bitterness into your hearts. Maybe you feel torn up inside. Maybe there’s guilt for feeling this way, for doubting God’s love? If that’s true, know this. God is always with you. He loves you. He forgives you. He holds your right hand and guides you. And he wants your heart. This whole psalm is aimed at the heart. Five different times the word for heart is used. Hearts of stone are made hearts of flesh by God’s power and God’s love. Our flesh and hearts may fail and waver, but God is the rock of our hearts. He is the foundation of our faith. He is the unwavering source of strength and comfort no matter the circumstances. No doubt about it! 

This undeniable truth leads to Asaph’s conclusion: “Those who are far from you will perish. You destroy all who commit adultery against you. As for me, God’s nearness is good for me. I have made the LORD God my refuge, so that I can tell about all your works.” Even though our eyes may deceive us, those who separate themselves from God will perish. But for those who believe, God is near. God is our refuge. And that closeness and security gives us the ability to tell about all his works. It gives the opportunity to share Jesus and tell of his love. In a time where we’ve been separated from each other, where distancing is demanded, how appealing are these words of Psalm 73! God’s nearness is good for me! And God can be near to you too! What a message to share, and what a time and opportunity to share it!

Friends, I know many of you are still struggling. And at times, it does seem unfair. May God help you, through the eyes of faith, to see that God is in control, that he is near you, that he is your rock and your portion forever and that one day he will take you into glory, no doubt about it! Amen.