Remember these are only notes - so don't expect good grammar and complete sentences!

Psalm 73 

Despondency turns to faith and hope in the presence of God and his  purposes.

Are you ever envious of non-Christian people who seem to be doing well in life without all the Christian duties that you have?

In USA Dr. Bertram Brown, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health: We have to make a frontal attack on the feelings of helplessness that's causing depression in our country today. Depression costs the United States of America five billion dollars a year in direct hospital and drug costs.

The Christian's chief occupational hazard(s) are (Is) depression and discouragement.

~ John R. Stott ~

Psalm of Asaph. Son of Berachiah.

One of the three leaders of music in David's organisation of the tabernacle service.

Appointed to sound the cymbals in the temple choir.

•        A composer of sacred lyrics.

•        Key man in worship of the temple.

•        Pvt chaplain to king David.

•        Leader of choir and music group.

Statement of his faith: vs1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

But a hidden problem:

Couldn't tell others.

Ashamed  his faith was wavering.

Give up?

Have you ever felt like that?

•        What is the point of being a believer?

•        Better to be free from all restraint.

•        Look at the world.

•        Plenty who despise God and his word

•        scoff at the Bible and church.

•        no time for standards.

•        yet seem fine!

•        Happy, successful, popular.

•        Get away with greed, dishonesty and immorality.

•        Good time.

Films on TV:

Everyone seems to ignore Christian standards

 yet they are having a great time.

May be they are not so happy really - suicides among big glittering names.

In 1835 a man visited a doctor in Florence, Italy. He was filled with anxiety and exhausted from lack of sleep. He couldn't eat, and he avoided his friends. The doctor examined him and found that he was in prime physical condition. Concluding that his patient needed to have a good time, the physician told him about a circus in town and its star performer, a clown named Grimaldi. Night after night he had the people rolling in the aisles. "You must go and see him," the doctor advised. "Grimaldi is the world's funniest clown. He'll make you laugh and cure your sadness." "No," replied the despairing man, "he can't help me. You see, I am Grimaldi!"

But the temptation to the Christian is still there.

Shouldn't you be like one of these worldly people?

•        Asaph had this problem.

2 but as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3 for I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Not an intellectual doubt .

But envious.

Envy and self pity are destructive of our personalities.

Now:

4 they have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 they are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.

`no struggles.'

You are always struggling against sin.

Fighting the good fight, taking up the cross.

But they do as they want.

No struggle.

Drift along.

No conscience to bother them, no burden.

They have no Christian duties like you.

          no loyalties.

Free, selfish, proud and even violent.

 7 from their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

From their callous hearts comes iniquity.

Jesus: `out of the heart of man….'

No limit or restraint.

S on M.: Broad way - destruction.

Travellers on the broad way have nothing to believe and nothing to obey.

No limits  everything is allowed  do your own thing.

Society without God  no limits to what evil it can do.

Communism  60 million deaths  not counting those who died in warfare.

Not that they set out to be bad, but with no limits...

How do they speak?

8 they scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 9 their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.

1. Scoff. V. Difficult to stand up to scoffers.

2. Mouths lay claim to heaven - Pride

So now Asaph is recognising the sheer emptiness and hollowness of godless life, but still a problem:

10 therefore their people turn to them ...

Popular.

Rich and powerful are always popular.

Winners.

So what is the use of standing for right?

Asaph's problem:

12 this is what the wicked are like always carefree, they increase in wealth.

All is vain!

13 surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 all day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.

Not only have others prospered but he has had a hard time   plagued!

----------------------------------

Just about to give up and then he remembers his family, and the choir.

15 if I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children.

He is going to continue to be loyal for the sake of his family and friends.

But does not know why.

Depressed.

Stayed away from church.

16 when I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me ..

Now comes the turning point: 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

•        Goes back to church.

Presence of God and worship, word, and sacrament.

Lifted above the world.

Perspective,

God's purposes.

Human destiny.

Lesson for all of us.

If we just think of ourselves and our life depressing.

Task of a preacher to give moral guide lines  - yes.

But also to take us above ourselves so we can see the point of human life.

Beginning, meaning , destiny.

See the world as God sees it.

Purposes unfolding.

Privilege in being part of that.

Our own little world so easily filled with envy, self-pity.

We need to be taken out of ourselves

           great purposes of God.

Then our own problems will not overwhelm us.

What does he now see?

17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18 surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19 how suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20 as a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, o lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

Judgement.

Sin and evil will not triumph for ever.

          self destructive.

          turns against itself.

Ghandhi: When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall  think of it, ALWAYS.

No room in God's kingdom for pride, violence, threats.

This judgement is sudden. (vs 19)

Jesus: `as the lightning ..'

Soviet empire.

Vs 20  bad dream.

C. S. Lewis `The Great Divorce'.

Waking from a bad dream  it was only a dream.

No longer bothers me.

One day wickedness will just seem like a bad dream.

Of no account.

Jesus: `I never knew you.'

`You had your reward'

Asaph now reflects on how he felt before returning to worship: 21 when my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

Bitterness comes from being absorbed in ourselves.

Could not think straight. Senseless and ignorant.

Have you or I ever been like that?

Now the Psalm moves from judgement to mercy: 23 yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

Hold hand. Child  father.

`I will never leave you ..'

Incarnation death and resurrection.

Disciples: evil triumphed.

Jesus went about doing good and we had hoped he would save us but all is in vain.

Christ went through all our experiences of desolation.

Loosing popularity.

Crowds turned against him.

Disciples ran away.

My God, my God ...

Inspite of all my bitter experiences  God's mercy is real: 24 you guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Take or receive.

Guidance, counsel and heaven.

25 whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

Reminds me of `Turn your eyes upon Jesus...'

------------------------

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

Your flesh and heart will  fail so why be bitter?!

God is the strength of my heart.

28 but as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the sovereign lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Be near to God.

Friend.

Feel as he feels.

Some of life's painful experiences help us feel as God feels!

Then `I will tell of your deeds ...'

Witness.

=======================================

If this has assisted you in your thinking, study or preparation please fill in a Feedback form (see link below) stating to which article/sermon note etc you are referring.