Bible Question: psalm 73 |
Bible Answer: Dear Bonnie - In the opening verses of Psalm 73, Asaph is perplexed by, even envious of, what he observes as the obvious bounty of the wicked. He comes close to joining the band of the wicked (verse 2). Asaph's turning point comes, in verse 17, when he went into the sanctuary of God, therein to gain a divine perspective on the wicked's prosperity and their ultimate destiny. He repents of his foolishness and declares that he desires none but God. ..... Asaph was a spiritual man who grew up with spiritual training, yet he was almost taken in by the allure of prosperous wickedness. The point of the Psalm is echoed in the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way to escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." ..... And a practical point for Christians who question whether joining in the assembly of the saints in worship on the Lord's day is vital or merely optional: Where was Asaph when he came to his senses and understood the true destiny of the wicked? He was in the house of the Lord! --Hank |