Friday, August 22, 2008

Psalms 73-75

Psalm 73 (of Asaph)
Prayer of Repentance from Envy
  • 1-3 Truly God is good to the upright, but I faltered before him, because I became envious of the arrogant when I noticed their prosperity.
  • 4-9 Why was I envious? Because they're healthy and they don't seem to have any troubles, which causes them to be so prideful they not only look down on other people, they show disdain for God himself!
  • 10-11 Not only that, but other people admire them, saying God doesn't even see it.
  • 12-14 While they get richer, I'm over here trying to do what's right for God and suffering for it.
  • 15-17 Hard as I tried, I didn't understand any of this -- until I went into the sanctuary of God.
  • 18-20 Then I understood the slippery slope they're on -- what they pursue and achieve can be gone in an instant.
  • 21-24 When I was bitter about my circumstances, I showed my ignorance, yet I continued to hold onto you, and you have given me counsel.
  • 25-26 I know now that I have nowhere to turn but to you; though my flesh may fail, in you I am strong.
  • 27-28 Those who are far from you will fall. It is good that the LORD God is my refuge. I will tell of all your works.
Psalm 74 (of Asaph)
Plea for Help in Time of National Humiliation
  • 1-3 O God, why have you forgotten your people, whom you acquired, where you used to dwell? Our enemy is destroying us!
  • 4-8 They are destroying your holy place -- hacking, smashing, desecrating, burning.
  • 9-11 We have no prophet to tell us how long this will last, how long you will keep your hand from saving us.
  • 12-17 I recognize your power - to create, to destroy. I recognize your omnipotence - yours is the day and the night.
  • 18-19 Do not forget us forever.
  • 20-23 Have regard for your covenant, for the poor and needy, for your cause, as the "impious scoff at you all day long."
Psalm 75 (of Asaph)
Thanksgiving for God's Wondrous Deeds
  • The people give thanks to God for his wondrous deeds
  • God speaks: At a set time I will judge with equity, chastising the boastful and wicked
  • Judgment does not come from the east, the west, or from the wilderness; it comes from God, "putting down one and lifting up another." Could this be an answer to all the doomsayers that say destruction of the earth will come from the Mid- or Far East? Seems to me that here God is saying He will decide, not some godless nation. He could, however, use one godless nation to destroy another faithless nation. Americans are not his "chosen people," as Israel was, yet he destroyed even Israel, using other godless nations.
  • God will cut off the horns (power or authority) of the wicked but exalt the horns of the righteous.

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