April 4, 2011

Psalm 73:18-28 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:
Mark 1:21-34, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Joshua 7-8

Journal Entry

Scripture

21 When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.

Observation

The reason the psalmist, Asaph, was bitter and angry toward God in almost a beast like way is that he saw the wicked and the arrogant flourish and prosper, carefree from struggles and burdens that is common to most people, whereas he, as a faithful servant of God, keeping his heart pure and innocent (v13) seem to have gotten him nowhere. This tormented his heart daily. It was not until he went before God in His sanctuary, listening to God's Words, being in the divine presence, did he understand the final destiny of the wicked (v17).

God has revealed to him the prosperity of the wicked will be like a vanishing dream. They will be despised by God—fall to ruin, sudden destruction and terror will come upon them.

The psalmist confesses he acted stupidity toward God that blinded him to the things of God but now he understands how much he has in God—the Sovereign God Himself! God has been holding his hand all along, and will never let him go. God is guiding him throughout his life. In the end, God will receive him to glory. His relationship with God will not end on earth but it will last eternity in heaven. His heart is so full of love and thanksgiving for the “richness” in God that he now confidently proclaims there is nothing more to desire on earth than God and even if he and everything around him fails, God would protect and sustain him to the end.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

The psalmist concludes that those who are far from God, ignoring Him and His ways, will face destruction in the end but for himself he says it is good to be near to God. He has chosen God, not the worldly pleasures, to be his place of comfort and well-being--a refuge, shelter or protection from danger or trouble. He ends the psalm with his commitment to give his testimony of God's mercy and grace to him.

Application

Whenever I compare myself to others, bitterness and envy sets in and it brings confusion and oppression in my heart, wiping out my joy in God. From this heart attitude I could be tempted to get angry at God accusing Him for the injustice. But, I know that my God is a just God. He is Sovereign, in control of all things. All things will be rectified in the end. God is also a loving God. He loves me so much that He sent His Son to die in place of me for the punishment of my sins. When I have a God like that, how can I desire anything else? He holds my hand, through the thick and thin of this life and will bring me home to be with Him in heaven.

So, how do I get to know these things about God? Not to be like a ignorant animal, prowncing on God in anger without understanding His perfect plan of eternal salvation for those who trust Him, I must read God's Word, meditate on it, and converse with Him through prayer daily, even moment by moment and ask Him to give me understanding and wisdom of His ways and not be tempted by Satan's domain, this world, that is precariously unstable.

Like Joshua entering the promised land declared “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15) and not the idols of the land they were entering. Can I truly say, “but for me, it is good to be near God.” (v28) and not the idols of this land—a house with a picket fence (I'm old—this is what my generation strove for) 2 ½ well behaved kids, a sporty convertable, designer fashions, status job, etc.? That it would not be these things that steer and direct my life but the Lord my Master, my refuge no matter what I have or have not.

Prayer

Lord, may this be my desire and confession before you,“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” Please forgive me when my eyes and my heart stray and desire this world's valuation instead of Yours. Thank you for holding my hand and never letting me go. Please lead me through all the ups and downs of this life, protecting, comforting and empowering me to stay strong, not turning to the left nor to the right but to stay on the path that you have chosen for me. I trust in your goodness. Thank you Lord for your unceasing mercy and grace toward me and let me not forget to give you the praise and glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

--Kathleen Hong