With the score tied in the last inning and the pressure on, the rookie ball player is likely to forget his training.
So is the Christian.
Pressures, disappointments, troubles are apt to extract all sweetness from our walk wi th God and leave instead bitterness. Read Hebrews 2:1.
In our text Psalm 73, the writer confesses, “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” Probably there never was a Christian who lived without going through this same experience — so nearly down that it appears as if “all is vanity.”
No doubt, some reading this message are distressed, distraught, discouraged — even disgusted — defeated and almost down. (Many who laugh without are worried within.)
My aim is to lead you to the same conclusion reached by the Psalmist, stated at the outset in verse 1: “Surely God is good.” This one came through victoriously. You can, too, but you will need to understand and trust God’s ways in providence.
I. A WRONG VIEW OF PROVIDENCE BRINGS DISCONTENT
When life goes wrong many suspicion or blame God at once. They look only on the surface of life as did the Psalmist and HERE IS WHAT THEY SEE:
Death so often seems to come easy to the wicked.
Evil men seem to get by with little trouble, verse 5.
How wicked they are and yet prosper! verses 6-12.
The righteous suffer, verse 14.
Examples which apparently bear this out can be cited in Bible history. For instance, wicked King Jeroboam reigned long and expanded the kingdom, yet ”he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.” King Azariah (Uzziah) on the other hand, who “did that which was right,” died as a leper.
A distorted surface-look at life can be disasterous! We might fall so low as did the one in our text so that we complain, “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure…All day long I have been afflicted,” verses 13, 14. This is the attitude of one who is ON THE WAY DOWN, verse 2.
Eyes have been taken off God and the immediate life of this world has been made all important.
II. A RIGHT VIEW OF PROVIDENCE BRINGS CONTENTMENT
Don’t stay in these murky waters, friend!
The Psalmist didn’t. Hear his testimony: “When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.”
Perhaps this change will come to you in a church service, in your room in a night of prayer, or through sharing your burden with a Christian friend (as we ought to do more often!) and God will bring things into clear perspective. Like a TV screen when the picture is a blur, a control is touched or repair made and suddenly the program can be seen and understood.
When you see as God sees, things make sense.
Look again at the kings mentioned earlier. Jeroboam’s son Zachariah tried the wicked path of his father but it lasted only six months before he was slain. Furthermore, a deeper look at King Uzziah will show why that good man became a leper.
So in our text the inspired author goes to his window to look again on the world. Now, how different things appear to his Spirit-cleared eyes! He sees the wicked hastening to judgment and destruction; whereas, his own life is richly blessed with the very presence and constant care of Almighty God.
Jesus told (Luke 16:19-31) of a man who revelled in riches while a poor neighbor sat in rags among the dogs begging for crumbs. The rich man died and went to hell. The beggar was transported to heaven. Which would you rather be? “…afterward you will take me into glory,” exults the Psalmist, verse 24. AFTERWARD, that means everything!
Friend, have you stumbled as did this one in our text and become embittered? The fault is not in heaven. Better look in your own life. Read of that godly man’s repentance there in the latter part of Psalm 73.
Then, heed his final recommendations in verse 28: 1) Draw near to God. Go to Him for cleansing in the blood of Christ. I John 1:6-9. 2) Trust in the Lord. You must! 3) Declare and share His goodness.
Instead of complaints, let others hear your praise!