Last Week:
We spoke about the ‘principle of the path’ - When the Psalter opens at number one, it does so as an invitation to consider the path of wisdom. Psalm 1 stands as a road sign to contrast two paths of life: one is the way of wisdom, the other the way of wickedness/way of the world. It makes no assumptions as to which way you will choose; it only invites you to pick the path of wisdom. Choose the path of leaning into God’s Word, live your life following them and let that grow you like that tree the Psalm discusses.

Quote:
"If I look at the world, I will conform to ways of the world.
If I look at the Word, I will conform to the will of God" --AW Tozer

Psalm 73:1
(NLT) - Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.

(MSG) - No doubt about it! God is good—good to the good-hearted.

As the curtain rises on Psalm 73, its premise (key takeaway) leaps forward.

Then this Psalm hits a tension. If God is good, shouldn’t we receive more “good” things in our life? Shouldn’t we at least have more blessings than those who don’t even care about God? As Asaph looks around, he realizes that the reality of his world seems at odds with that above statement.

In fact the discord is so great that it almost trips him up. He looks around and who is it that he sees apparently receiving the “Good Life”? It isn’t the godly. It’s the arrogant, the wicked – those who have no regard for God…they seem to be prospering - and his confusion abounds.

Sooner or later, all of us come to that intersection of contradiction in the journey that is called life. The good seem to suffer; the wicked seem to prosper. The reality is, as Scott Peck put it in The Road Less Traveled: "Life is hard." All of life's music is not in perfect harmony.

When the unexplainable descends upon us, we wonder: 'what on earth God is doing?' Where is God when we are hurting so?

The writer of Psalm 73 - had seen enough of life to be bewildered and bitter. Feeling abandoned, alone, and in despair from cruel circumstance, he began to ask the crucial questions: Does God realize what's going on down here?

Asaph looks around and from a human perspective wonders what is going on?

V17 – key verse to this psalm. When I went in to be with God, he reminded me!! His perspective is changed as he sees that what they have – they can’t take with them (see psalm 49) *see Psalm 49 as a reminder that ‘you can’t take it with you’ / this life is NOT all there is…

In the first half of the psalm, he is viewing life from a human outlook. In the second half, he reframes his understanding of reality by looking from heaven’s viewpoint.

What is it that changes everything for Asaph? The same thing that will transform our perspective: worship.

Everything is put into proper perspective when we go into the presence of God.

If we don’t fix our gaze on God, we’ll default to our human perspective and could drift toward unhealthy viewpoints, jealousy & bitterness within our heart.

It was only in the sanctuary of God / in the presence of God - that Asaph could understand the precarious predicament of the wicked and the sweetness of God’s grace and mercy in his own life.
The mysteries of life only make sense in the presence of the Majesty.

1) the psalmist saw clearly that the present is not permanent.

2) the psalmist saw in worship that the promises of God are sufficient and strong.

3) the psalmist made a personal decision to trust in God.

4) the psalmists ends with an outward action of evangelism. His internal perspective changed and it has resulted in him now looking to take an outward action. He will share what’s he’s rediscovered about God and His love – he must share this with others.

We’re never to be a hoarder of God’s grace, but a deliberate and intentional SHARER of God’s grace – the hope that life with God is possible through faith in our amazing Jesus. His love is Good and it’s good for ALL people!

When you are feeling the pull of bitterness growing in your heart or spiritual confusion growing within – create space & time for worship! Worship matters and realigns us to God's perspective. It's why meeting together keeps us tethered to God, His ways, His sovereignty and His hope!

One day He will make all things new and set all things right. In the meantime - aim to stay near Him, with Him. Recognize he’s always holding your hand…

NEED PRAYER?
....we've got some of our prayer team and pastors available following service to pray with you. You can also submit your prayer request via our app. We look forward to partnering with you in prayer.

**IF YOU'RE NEW:
we throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room, if you're new, we'd love to meet you and welcome you! We invite you back next weekend as we continue this series...