Inflection Point
It’s easy to be caught up in current events and the affairs of this world. Psalm 73 is an appropriate reflection for our day and time and hour. God has brought us to this point in time so that we can see from His perspective to understand the situations and times of the world around us. Oswald Chambers said, “When the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to have such confidence in Him that they will be the reliable ones.”
The battle raging around us and within us is a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6 says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. The battlefield is not for territory or to gain a military advantage against our enemies. Instead it is a battle for hearts and minds. Therefore, in order to fight the spiritual battle, put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand in (this) the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
According to Isaiah 55: God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so far above our thoughts are His thoughts, and His ways above our ways. As Christian Men of God, our challenge is in Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
In a time of trial similar to ours, God inspired Asaph, King David’s record keeper and historian to record these words in Psalm 73:
1. TRULY God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
To look at others is repressing; to look around is distressing; to look in the mirror is depressing; but to look at Jesus is truly blessing. God has a purpose that we don’t see in the world around us. His plan and his purpose will eventually be revealed…. but not now. All things work together for good to those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.
Unto the pure in heart all things are pure… for God himself is pure. Man looks at outward appearances… the world and the troubles of the world… the lust of the eyes, and the lust of the flesh, and the deceitful pride of life, but God looks on the heart.
To look around us at the prosperity of the wicked we’ll be filled with envy and jealousy. We’ll be consumed with the lust (overdesires) of the flesh. When we lust after the things of this world, the devil has us in his snare. A heart filled with jealousy, envy, contention, strife and worldly desire is a heart that is given over to the purposes of the wicked one. For the thief cometh not but for to steal, to kill and to destroy God’s blessings.
The devil will trick us into focusing on our sins and our sin nature. He’ll ask us “have you given enough, studied the Word enough, prayed enough, served enough, loved enough?” When is enough enough? He’ll focus our attention on our shortcomings… our sins of omission… things that we could have, should have and would have done. These sins are the result of our sin nature, the nature of the flesh that we inherited from Adam.
In Psalm 73, there is an inflection point… a change of direction… a point of repentance. When we look around we’ll be stressed, distressed, and depressed. However when we look unto the Lord, we’ll be blessed.
The point of repentance, of turning from the lust of the flesh unto the Lord is in verse 17, “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.” God showed the Psalmist the just reward of the wicked… their ultimate payoff. They are here today and gone tomorrow, in a moment… instantaneously, they and their evil thoughts, intents, and ways shall be destroyed.
However, It is not God’s wish for any to perish, but that all would be saved and come unto a knowledge of the truth. He sent His son Jesus Christ not to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.
When the Psalmist considered the so-called blessings of the wicked, he was like a foolish beast. But from the moment when he entered into the Lord’s sanctuary, he was continually with his Lord. According to Psalm 1, Blessed is the man who walketh not isn’t he counsel of the ungodly…. nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of waters, that bringeth forth his fruit in due season. His leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
In the evil day, we’ll be tempted to let go of the things that really matter… keeping ourselves in his proximity and connecting our hearts with God’s heart. The Lord won’t let me go even when I’m close to letting go… I came close to falling but the Lord held me up.
Jesus said, I am come to declare the acceptable day of the Lord. When we walk not in the counsel of the ungodly and surround ourselves in the presence of the Lord, he will keep us in perfect peace. Even when we don’t feel connected to him, he keeps us in his holy hand. As the Apostle Paul said, I am apprehended (taken hold of) for that which he has taken hold of me. For God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
The psalmist concludes, the nearness of God is my good. In his presence there is comfort and peace… there is blessing, not in the blessings but in blessing Him… that I may tell of thy works.. of thy steadfast loving kindness and tender mercy…
… That despite the tribulation of this world, we would live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
