Psalm 73--Walking With God

Keep a Spiritual Perspective

Our Bridgepointe Bible study group is studying the Psalms this quarter.

This week, we looked at Psalm 73, a poem about a man of God's internal struggle with perceived injustice. The writer, Esaph, was unhappy because God did not make his life easy, and he thought that arrogant, ungodly men had an easier time in life than did God's people.

Esaph didn't say anything to anyone about his feelings. However, Esaph's internal doubts about God's justice, hampered his relationship with God. It corrupted his heart and limited his walk—at least until Esaph discovered the joy of God's presence and gained a new perspective in life.

Esaph lived around 1,000 BC, at the time when King David was the leader of Israel. He was a member of the Levite Tribe.

When David became King, he made changes in Israel's ongoing worship practices. One of those, was installation of certain Levite musicians to tend to temple worship services. Asaph was one of the musicians appointed by King David. 1 Chronicles 6:31; 39.

Esaph is credited as the author of Psalm 73, and also eleven other Psalms (Psalms 74 - 83, and 50).

The beginning of Psalm 73 sites a truth about God. “God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart.” Psalm 73:1. That truth represents the theme of Asaph's poem.

There is a lot of depth to the truth. The Lifeway Lesson Guide states that a pure heart means that a believer's heart is devoted exclusively to God. In the human experience, only God has the power to create a heart of that quality. See Heart of Stone, Heart of Flesh.

What happens when we choose to devote our hearts to God? The Lord stated, “Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.” Matthew 5:8. Thus, Jesus promised that people with pure hearts will see (or experience a relationship with) God.

To achieve the fullness of this most important relationship in a person's life, one must trust the Lord above everything. Nothing in life—neither our family nor ourselves—should have a greater priority than dedication to God. See Luke 14:26. When a man makes God clearly first in his life, then his heart is pure, and then God's presence will be felt.

The story of Psalms 73 is about Esaph's impure heart. It was troubled. He did not fully trust God, because he, as he testified, was envious of the wealth and circumstances of others and he secretly thought God was being unjust.

2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my steps nearly went astray.

3 For I envied the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 73:2-3. Esaph felt jealous because God gave unbelievers perceived easy lives while he, the Levite, struggled. In Esaph's heart, he blamed God for the injustice.

13 Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?

14 For I am afflicted all day long,
and punished every morning.

Psalm 73:13-14. Esaph doubted God's character as a person who is totally just. See Trusting God to Be Just.

Esaph recognized that he was not alone in doubting God's character of perfect justice. His Psalm testifies that many of God's people (past and future) are led astray by similar doubts:

10 Therefore His people turn to them
and drink in their overflowing waters.

11 They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything?

12 Look at them—the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth.

Psalm 73:10-12. Esaph kept his feelings about the perceived injustice bottled up. He began to feel hopelessness.

15 If I had decided to say these things [aloud],
I would have betrayed Your people.

16 When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless

Psalm 73:15-16.

You get the picture from the first part of Psalm 73 that Esaph, one of David's worship leaders, was living a pretty miserable life. He was trying to be a good a servant of God, but on the inside he was twisted up with anger about what he felt was God's injustice toward him.

Then, attending worship one day, Esaph felt God's presence. The presence of God changed Esaph's perspective about everything. It seemed hopeless, “until I entered God's sanctuary.” Psalm 73:17.

In Psalm 73:26-28, Esaph focused on the blessings that accompany God's presence in one's life. He stated the new perspective about his eternal relationship with God made him a strong witness.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever.

27 Those far from You will certainly perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

28 But as for me, God's presence is my good.
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
so I can tell about all You do.

One of the interesting aspects of Psalm 73 is that Esaph re-discovered his relationship with God in the sanctuary.

The Lord stated in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.” Perhaps this is one reason why the Bible teaches that believers should, "not stay[] away from our meetings." Hebrews 10:25. Psalm 73 suggests that even when believers enter the sanctuary with troubled hearts, they can still encounter God's presence. This testifies to the importance of finding a worship home where one can meet with other believers.

In verse 26, Esaph says, "God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever." (Emphasis added).

The reference to "my portion" suggests the Levite portion defined in Deuteronomy. Unlike the other eleven tribes of Israel, the Levites did not receive any land; however, their portion was the Lord.

At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the LORD's covenant, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to bless in His name, as it is today. For this reason, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance like his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God told him.

Deuteronomy 10:8-9.

Verse 26 thus reflects Esaph's new understanding that the Levite portion on a spiritual level was much greater than the physical land inherited by the other tribes. Believers would do well to discover, like Esaph did, that our portion, i.e, being with the Lord forever, is a great inheritance.

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