When the Wicked Prosper, God Still Is. An Exposition of Psalm 73

Psalm 73

“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.  But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.  For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.  They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.  Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.  Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish.  They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.  They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.  Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.  And they say, How doth God know?  and is there knowledge in the most High?  Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world: they increase in riches.  Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.  For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.  If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.  When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 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.  How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment!  they are utterly consumed with terrors.  As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.  Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reigns.  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.  Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.  Though shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but thee?  and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.  For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.  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.”

In this passage of scripture, Asaph, the psalmist, affirms the goodness of God almighty.  Yet before arriving at this mighty assertion, he goes through a fiery understanding.  Allow me to do the same:

 When I look around, my heart does fail.  There is no hope for people around me, but Jesus Christ and him crucified.  Wayland perishes in unbelief.  It doesn’t matter that it remains a Christian institution.  It is a sort of rabinical school bereft of the one true God. 

Oh, of course, the efforts of Christians on this campus are great.  The labors of fellow workers hint at the hope of Christ and show His love abounding.  I am grateful, wholly greatful, for the labors of the BSM, the FCA, the religion department.  But as always, I wonder….Why has God not taken over this campus?

In addition, does it not make logical sense that institutions such as Wayland and Hardin-Simmons, do not overtake this portion of Texas at least?!! 

Where is God’s awakening in the east?  Southwestern, Truett, Baylor, etc, etc, etc.  And do you think I think only Baptists are in the kingdom?  God forbid!  I failed to mention Lubbock Christian and Abeline Christian of the Chruch of Christ, McMurray of the Methodists, Texas Christian of the Disciples of Christ.  Where are my brethren of the PCA, my brethren of the Nazarene etc., etc., etc.  Seminaries and Christian undergraduate programs abound, but not revival.  Where is God’s mighty hand upon this state?!!!

And tragically, we speak only of Texas.  Wheaton, Liberty, Golden Gate, Southern, Southeastern, New Orleans, Denver, Calvin, Kuyper, Missouri Baptist, etc. etc. etc. 

Think then of Harvard, Yale, Columbia, William and Mary, and Princeton.  They were all founded on the firm conviction of propagating the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.    Eighty-eight of the first one hundred colleges that started in this country were founded as institutions for the spreading of God’s gospel and the training of God’s people to spread it. 

Timothy Dewhite, the president of Yale advised the Class of 1814:  “Christ is the only true, the living way, of access to God.  Give up yourselves to Him with a cordial confidence, and the great work of life is done.”

In 1646, Harvard had a set of rules by which its students must conduct themselves:

1.) Everyone shall consider the main end of his life and studies to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life.

2.) Seeking the Lord gives wisdom; everyone shall seriously by prayer in secret seek wisdom from Him.

3.) Everyone shall so excercise themselves in reading the scripture twice a day, that they may be ready to give an account of their proficiency therein, both in theoretical observation of language and logical and practical and spiritual truth.

Princeton in its early days insisted that the faculty “be convinced of the necessity of religious experience for salvation.”  John Witherspoon, the first president of Princeton said this, “cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ; cursed be all learning that is not coincident with the cross of Christ; cursed be all learning that is not subservient to the cross of Christ.”

Now imagine these schools today.  William and Mary has recently had its cross removed.  It was offensive.  Such is the cross, I say.  Yet in all these things, has God slumbered?  Where is He in this country?

What is to become of a country with no god?  What is to become of a country who forsakes the one true God?  Death, Destruction, Degradation, Desolation, and lastly, Damnation.

 ”Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”  Proverbs 14:34

This sort of cogitation clouded the mind of Asaph, the psalmist.  Yet look at his first verse, and in it, we find the importance of faith and the pivotal truth of the knowledge of God.

 ”Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.”

This simple resolution came when he realized this:  God is good.  God is good to his covenant people.  I don’t know who are members of God’s covenant people in this country.  On this campus, it’s like finding silver needles in a pile of steele ones.  But even that fails to communicate the difficulty.  At least those can be tested.  No, I do not know the hearts of men.  God does, and therein lies my point.

Look at the second part of the verse: “…even such as are of a clean heart.”

God knows the hearts of men.  There is nothing hidden before his eyes.  The cleansed (notice the active verb) hearts of God’s covenant people (passively received), is contingent for God’s favored goodness.  He himself makes the covenant, he himself cleanses the hearts of the covenant people, he himself seals the covenant, he himself keeps the covenant.

“Truly God is good to Israel…”

Then notice the temptation to forget the truth, to lower the concept which we hold of God.

Verses 2-3 communicate Asaph’s doubt.  “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps has well nigh slipped.”

Why is that Asaph?

“For I was envious at the foolish…”

Why is that Asaph?

“…when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

Yes, that is exactly what happens to me all the time.  “If you can’t beat ’em. Join ’em.”  Unholy!

God’s people do not speak that way, period.  God IS. 

“We may absolutely say, by God’s grace, I am what I am…but God says absolutely, I AM that I AM.” -Matthew Henry 

The “God who is there” as Schaeffer put it is still there “where all the nations dead,” as Watts put it.

God IS…

That statement calms God’s people.  That statement comforts God’s people.  That statement keeps God’s people. 

Asaph discovered one way with which to fill the blank.  God is good.  And what’s more, Asaph saw the grace.  “God is good to Israel.”  We get to enjoy that goodness….forever.

In verses 4-9, Asaph cogitates the wickedness of the people.  Just as I have only lightly done myself in the introduction, we approach another tragic fact.  In 1973, Roe v. Wade was decided.  That was 35 years ago.  What ever child was murdered in that year, could have been running for president this year.  My heart hurts because God’s people still applaud and resign, falling like Asaph almost did in verses 2-3.  Oh the tragedy of pragmetism over truth.  40 million unborn killed since that year. 

“They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:  But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.  And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.  Yea, they sacrificed their sons and daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their dauthers, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.  Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.  Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.  And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.  The enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.  Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.” Psalm 106:34-43

 In like manner the psalmist behind Psalm 106 laments the sins of Israel, mingling with the very ones from whom they were delivered.  They are like the downcast baby brought up in beauty by the Lord’s precious covenant, yet they went back trusting in their own beauty and commited adultry with the Amorites and Hittes of the land of Canaan.  Ezekiel 16.

Yet look here.

“NEVERTHELESS, he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:  And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.”  Psalm 106:44-45

That Psalmist remembers God as well.  God acted according to his character, “the multitude of his mercies.”

Yes, Asaph’s attitude brought him into doubt.  Look at verse 11-14.  He wonders if God truly knows.  “…is there knowledge in the most High?”  What blaspehmous doubt and unbelief!

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”  Isaiah 46:9-10

Do you doubt your God?  Do you claim to crawl upon his throne, stick your wormy finger in his face, and say what have you done?  Unholy…

“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” Daniel 4:35

Why does evil and wickedness abound in our country?  It is our fault.  God is still good.  He does whatever he pleases. Psalm 115:3  Surely, it does not happen apart from his will.

“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?  shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” Amos 3:6

God is good, and God does good.  It’s our fault when wickedness reigns.  We are the cause of evil.  God has simply permited it and willed to be, in his good pleasure.

We have not “cleansed our heart in vain” as Asaph once thought.  God is still sovereign over all.  All…

He comes to himself in verse 15 and 16 when he imagines the horror and ungodliness of blaming God almighty, and speaking of his salvation as vain.  “If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.  When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;”

But what helped Asaph come to the conclusion of verse 1?

Look at verses 17-20.

First, The realization of Justified Judgment.

Realize first the importance of fellowship with God.  He goes first into the sanctuary of God in verse 17.

“Until, I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I there end.”

He realizes God’s justice when he enters into closer fellowship with God almighty.  God is just.  Upon meditation in God’s presence, “then understood I there end.”

In verse 18, he understands God’s sovereign judgment in actively placing them in slippery places where their doom is sure.

In verse 19, he understands God’s swift judgment when he actively brings them into desolation “in a moment!”

In verse 20, he understands God’s sure judgement when he promises he will have judgment, when he “awaketh.”

Second, The realization of Foolish Failing.

In verses 21-22, Asaph understand the foolishness and stupidity of doubting the most high.

“Thus my heart was greived, and I was pricked in my reigns.  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.”

Yes, a heart greived because of foolish forgetfulness of God’s faithfulness.  Beastly iniquities because of idiotic ignorance of God’s Infinite attributes.  “To Thee there’s nothing old appears/Great God there’s nothing new,” writes Watts. Amen…

Third, The realization of Sweet Security.

In verses 23-26, Asaph tells of God’s sweet eternal preservation of his people. Look at the ”Nevertheless” that brings glory to my soul,

“Nevertheless, I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.  Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and aftward receive me to glory.”

Yes, despite the doubting, God still IS….amen.

I am continually with him…that is an ongoing action that does not cease!!

What’s more, he holds my hand.  Praise his Personality!

What’s more, he guides me with his perfect counsel.  Praise his Perfection!

What’s more, he will (that’s an eternal promise) receive me to glory.  Praise his Preservation!

Then, the cogitation of things eternal in verse 25.

“Whom have I in heaven but thee?”  Exactly!  Does heaven without God sound glorious to you? God forbid!

He IS….have not I made that clear?  Heaven is where God is.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Revelation 21:2-3

Yes, God is heaven.

“…and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”

Yes, God…be my one desire upon the earth, not my members, not my king, not my army, not my chariots, but God…be my desire.  You alone have made the earth.  If you were hungry, you would not tell me, for the earth is yours and the fulness thereof.  You, who keep your people, shall neither slumber nor sleep.  Amen.

In verse 26, we see the security of the cleansed heart as promised in verse 1.

“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”

Flesh and hearts will deceive and fail, but the question is:  Who resides therein?  God IS….the strength.  God IS….the portion…forever.

“Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved, for I am God, and there is none else.”  Isaiah 45:22

As the preacher preached to Charles Spurgeon the day he was saved, so I preach to you…”look” simply means to look, to behold something.  “Unto me” means simply this.  Look to God, don’t look to yourself.  All the ends of the earth means everybody, and thus we may be saved from our iniquity and inquity of the wicked about us.  God is God, and there is none else.

Lastly, the realization of Differing Destinies.

Verses 26-27 simply describe two different destinies. Notice the first,

“For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou has destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.”

Notice their proximity to God, himself.  “Far from [him]“

They whore around committing adultrey against God like the young woman of Ezekiel 16.  What is their destiny?  They will perish.  They will be destroyed.

Then the main and most important exhortation of this Psalm is found in the good destiny.

“But…” Note the opposing conjunction.

“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.”

Notice the proximity to God himself.  “Near”

What does that create? Knowledge of Him.

What does that create? Trust in Him. “I have put my trust in the Lord GOD”

What does that create?  Obedience to Him. “that I may declare all thy works.”

Yes, the logic is amazing.  The meditation is complete.  Know your God and take comfort in the knowledge thereof.

He is Good.  That’s the Attribute.

He is Good to His people.  That’s the Grace.

What can you add to your life by worrying about this country?  Nothing.

Know him, trust him, obey him.

Working with you to draw near to God for the glory of His name and for revival in this country,

Vince R.