Psalm 73-9.15.22

Scripture

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭73:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.”

Observation-What does it say?

This is a psalm of Asaph. In this psalm he wondered why the wicked seemed to be prospering. He envied them. They seemed to gain all the riches, and had no worries because they didn’t have a problem in the world. For Asaph, these wicked people seemed to live such painless lives; their bodies were strong and healthy, and the richer they were becoming, the crueler they would become. What was going on here?

Then God revealed to Asaph the destiny of the wicked. God had put them on a slippery path that was doomed with destruction! Asaph realizes that he was foolish and ignorant for envying the wicked. He realizes just how blessed he is for following God. And as long as Asaph remains faithful to God, God will be faithful to him. A glorious destiny awaits for Asaph when it’s all said and done.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Stay the course. Don’t be distracted by what others are doing.

This verse hit home with me because I too was once like Asaph. When I first became a Christian I would see others around me, living an aimless, Christ-less life, and they seemed to still be reaping all the world’s benefits. They were driving nice cars, going to nice colleges, and getting nice careers started for themselves. And here I was following God whole heartedly, struggling paycheck to paycheck, barely had enough to go to junior college, and working a dead end job. Is this the life I was destined to live?!

But like Asaph, God revealed to me that he had more in store for me if I just stayed the course. God had bigger and better things for me to accomplish, if I would just trust in Him. That moment in my life helped grow me as a Christian. It helped make me into the man I am today. I too (like Asaph), realized just how blessed I am to have God on my side. That no matter what comes my way, I can handle it, because He is with me!

“Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73:23-26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So who cares what others around me may have?! Their happiness is put in things that wear out over time, things that may be taken away in an instant. But my happiness is in Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior and His blessings are eternal.

Life Application

Trust in God’s plan.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”-‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NLT

Sometimes the best way for me isn’t always going to be the most comfortable path or even the most glamorous path. A lot of the times, the path that God will put me on is going to be rough and a bit bumpy. God will be using it to bring maturity and growth in me. He is refining me through life’s fire and life’s tests. But at the end of the day, He is always with me. And as long as I stay faithful to Him, I know that He is always faithful to me. And there is nothing in the world I would trade that for!

-Moses Gaddi