SOUNDING
OUT:
How To Be Distracted
In Psalm 77 Asaph had trouble when
he looked within. In Psalm 73 we will see he got into
trouble because he looked at others. We saw how looking
within made him miserable. Now we will see that looking
at others distracted him. He starts with a positive
declaration, but it doesn't take long before he's distracted.
Psalm
73:1,2: {A Psalm of Asaph.}
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.
Asaph recognized that God is good to Israel
and those of a clean heart. However he did not realize
that goodness himself. When it came to him things weren't
working out right. Indeed, he felt like he was in slippery
places. His foundations were removed and his feet were
unsure. What he had counted on or relied upon before
was now failing him. The next verse tells us why.
Psalm
73:3:
For [giving us the reason] I was envious at the foolish,
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
He looked around and saw the wicked prospering,
and he was entrapped by the deceitfulness of riches.
He then carefully notes his observations.
Psalm 73:4-12:
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?
12Behold, these are the
ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in
riches.
From the outside looking in, they all seemed
to have everything together. Nothing ever seemed to
go wrong for them. They even mocked God without consequence.
He became confused seeing gain without godliness. He
began to doubt himself and became disgruntled, thinking
that all his effort was apparently in vain.
Psalm 73:13-16:
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed
my hands in innocency. [I do the Word, and what
do I have to show for it?]
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;
It didn't matter what he did; he seemed
to always get into trouble. When he tried to figure
out why, it only caused him pain. His attitude suffered
as he let himself be distracted. However, he did turn
things around. It started when he went to the sanctuary
of God. The other believers helped him get his thinking
straight. He finally understood that his observations
were wrong, when he saw things from God's perspective.
Psalm 73:17,18:
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.
Before he thought that he was in slippery places now he
realizes that the wicked are the ones without the proper
foundation for life. Their momentary success pales in
the light of eternity.
Psalm 73:19,20:
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 [a word for mind that indicates
the minds ability to direct one's life].
He was almost embarrassed when he realized
how inappropriately he had been thinking. He felt foolish,
like a beast led about. If we do not control our thinking,
our adversary will be more than happy to lead us about
like a brute beast, too.
Psalm
73:22-24:
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before
thee. [That's how he was when he as distracted by the
wicked.]
23 Nevertheless [but not now that he is thinking
correctly he realized] 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.
Well
hallelujah! It's about time he got it right and realized
God's presence with him is more important than anything
the wicked had to offer. When he looked around he was
distracted from the true riches of life ? not any longer.
He has set His affection on things above and is thrilled
by God's presence in his life.
Psalm 73:25-28:
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.
Drawing near to God is a good thing! Our trust in Him
is shown by speaking of His greatness. Even when our
flesh and heart fail, God is still the strength of our
heart and our portion forever. He is our all in all.
Let's learn from Asaph's mistakes and avoid the trap
he fell into. We do not want to look within, and we
do not want to look around us at others. Then, where
should we look?
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