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Church mattersPsalm 73 is a Psalm of two distinct halves. The first half (verses 1-16) finds the Psalmist focused on the wicked. He sees the evil deeds of the wicked and how they seem to get away with everything, and the Psalmist is bugged by it all. In a way, he even finds himself growing envious of their carefree lifestyle.
In the second half of this Psalm (verses 17-28), the Psalmist focused on the Lord. With his newly-found focus, his envy of the wicked turns into pity. Why? Because he recognizes that their lifestyle is short-lived and will end with judgment and condemnation. No life, no matter how advantageous it may seem right now, is ever worth that!
Going from envy to pity is quite a swing. What caused it? Notice that this shift in perspective can be traced back to the fact that the Psalmist "went into the sanctuary of God." It's in God's sanctuary, in that place where His plan and presence are preeminent, that things are put in proper perspective.
More and more, people are questioning the necessity of the local church. Some feel it's an outdated institution that can be replicated or substituted elsewhere. But this Psalm shows us that the sanctuary of God, or the local church in our New Testament times, is a place that has a powerful and practical impact on our lives. Church is where our focus gets off man and onto God, where proper perspective is restored, and where envy is replaced with pity.
It's important for us to see things God's way, and as this Psalm attests, being in His sanctuary plays a major role in being able to do so.
Lord, may our hearts never be found far from Your sanctuary. Keep us close to Your house, and may our perspective be restored and fine-tuned as we spend time there.
Psalm 73 is a Psalm of two distinct halves. The first half (verses 1-16) finds the Psalmist focused on the wicked. He sees...Think about it...
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
In the second half of this Psalm (verses 17-28), the Psalmist focused on the Lord. With his newly-found focus, his envy of the wicked turns into pity. Why? Because he recognizes that their lifestyle is short-lived and will end with judgment and condemnation. No life, no matter how advantageous it may seem right now, is ever worth that!
Going from envy to pity is quite a swing. What caused it? Notice that this shift in perspective can be traced back to the fact that the Psalmist "went into the sanctuary of God." It's in God's sanctuary, in that place where His plan and presence are preeminent, that things are put in proper perspective.
More and more, people are questioning the necessity of the local church. Some feel it's an outdated institution that can be replicated or substituted elsewhere. But this Psalm shows us that the sanctuary of God, or the local church in our New Testament times, is a place that has a powerful and practical impact on our lives. Church is where our focus gets off man and onto God, where proper perspective is restored, and where envy is replaced with pity.
It's important for us to see things God's way, and as this Psalm attests, being in His sanctuary plays a major role in being able to do so.
Lord, may our hearts never be found far from Your sanctuary. Keep us close to Your house, and may our perspective be restored and fine-tuned as we spend time there.
Psalm 73 is a Psalm of two distinct halves. The first half (verses 1-16) finds the Psalmist focused on the wicked. He sees...Think about it...
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
Scripture
About this Plan
Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, founded in 1985, has grown to be one of the largest churches in the country, and now has nine regional campuses in Florida in addition to the main campus in Fort Lauderdale. The church has established and now operates dozens of ministries to answer the needs for foster care, addiction recovery, and discipleship training. The church's mission is simply, "make disciples."
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We would like to thank Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale for providing this daily devotional. For more information about the church and other media resources it provides for personal discipleship, please visit www.calvaryftl.org
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