Find your Faltering, Flickering, Fading Faith under Fire (Psalm 73)

"…till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood …" (Ps 73:17). [Find your Faith that is Faltering and Flickering under Fire (Psalm 73)]

When your faith is challenged: Psalm 73 explores themes of faith, envy, and the ultimate justice of God. It highlights the challenge of faith when confronted with the visible success of the wicked, and the ultimate goodness, faithfulness and justice of God.

A. Faith professed (Ps 73:1). God is good.

B. Faith questioned (Ps 73:2-14). The evil of envy.

C. Faith refocused (Ps 73:15-20). A new perspective.

B1. Faith unquestioned (Ps 73:21-26). Guided by God's counsel.

A1. Faith affirmed (Ps 73:27-28). God's closeness is good.

A. Faith professed (Ps 73:1). God is good. Never doubt the goodness of God.

1. What is the psalmist's foundational belief and profession of faith (Ps 73:1)? Is this the main theme of Psalm 73?
• Why is God good to Israel (Gen 12:2-3)? Is God good to you? Why (Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 4:8, 16)?
• What does it mean to be "pure in heart" (Mt 5:8; Dt 6:4-5; 2 Pet 2:14)? What did Kierkegaard say?
• Is everyone in church "pure in heart"?

B. Faith questioned (Ps 73:2-14). The evil of envy.

1. What did the psalmist see (Ps 73:3) that caused him to almost lose his faith (Ps 73:4-6)?
   • What does envy and jealousy do to a person (Ps 73:2; Gen 3:1, 4-5)?
• Do they seem to die peacefully surrounded by loved ones (Ps 73:4)?
• What do they not seem to face (Ps 73:5)?
• What do they not hesitate to display (Ps 73:6)?
2. What is their appearance (Ps 73:7a)? Their thought world (Ps 73:7b)?
• Their speech and lifestyle (Ps 73:8-9)?
• Their influence (Ps 73:10)?
• Their thoughts about God (Ps 73:11, 9)?
• Their net worth (Ps 73:12)?
3. Compared to the wicked, what did the psalmist think about the way he lived (Ps 73:13)?
• How did he feel about his life (Ps 73:14)?
• What does "heart" and "hands" suggest?
• What caused him to think and feel like this (Job 1:9; 2:9)?

C. Faith refocused (Ps 73:15-20). Find a new perspective.

1. Despite his inner conflict, struggle and torment (Ps 73:16), who was he concerned about (Ps 73:15)? Why (Rom 14:113, 15, 21; 1 Cor 8:11-13)?
2. How does his view of God (Ps 73:17) differ from the wicked (Ps 73:11)? What did he discover and understand (Ps 73:17b)?
3. What is the ultimate destiny of the wicked (Ps 73:18-20, 27; Dan 12:2; Mt 7:23; 25:12)?

B1. Faith unquestioned (Ps 73:21-26). Go with your gut to God.

1. When he thought of himself with envy and self-pity (Ps 73:2-3, 13), what did he realize about himself (Ps 73:21-22; 49:12; 92:6; Prov 30:2; 2 Pet 2:12)? Was he different from the wicked?
2. When illuminated what did he realize about God (Ps 73:23; Jn 10:28)?
3. What is the difference between his "future" (Ps 73:24) and the future of the wicked (Ps 73:17, 18-20)?
• What does it mean to be taken "into glory" (Gen 5:24; 2 Ki 2:1, 3, 5, 9, 10)?
4. How should Christians discipline themselves living in this world (Ps 73:25-26; 1 Jn 2:15-17; 1 Pet 1:3-4)?

A1. Faith affirmed (Ps 73:27-28). Being close to God is good.

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• Ps 73:1; Mt 5:8. What does it mean to be "pure in heart"? Pure means more than clean-minded, though it certainly includes it (2 Pet 2:14). Basically it is being totally committed to God. "heart" occurs 6x in this psalm (Ps 73:1, 7, 13, 21, 26 [twice]). 
• Ps 73:2-3. The evil of envy. The psalmist is refreshingly frank for his crisis of faith (Ps 73:2). He confesses to envy and to only judging what he saw (Ps 73:3). Spiritual self-interest and self-pity drains all the joy out of your life, making it impossible to enjoy what you have. The power of envy made even the Garden of Eden feel that it was not enough (Gen 3:1, 4-5).
• Ps 73:4-9. The sound and sleek. The elites, the beautiful people, have healthy, sleek bodies, which they display dauntingly (Ps 73:4) and arrogantly (Ps 73:6, 8). They have wealth and power to avoid the burdensome responsibilities most people face (Ps 73:5, 12). They are fortunate, but they take full credit for it (Ps 73:6, 8). The world considers them "blessed." Their vanity is intimidating, limitless, overblown, overweening and oppressive (Ps 73:7). The root for their arrogance is that they see no need for God, while laying claim to both heaven and earth (Ps 73:9).
• Ps 73:10-14. Do I get anything for being godly? Am I being godly for nothing? In the world sin seems to pay off and is even well thought of, even by the godly who are drawn to it and even seduced by it (Ps 73:10). It is the worship of success and wealth. It unmasks the psalmist's heart. His obedience was not a way of pleasing God but rather a means of getting God to give him what he wants and expects. God has become just a necessary apparatus for his own gain and benefit. In every difficult situation, God is saying, "Are you serving Me for Me or for something else?" As Satan says to God, "Does Job fear God for nothing?" (Job 1:9).
• Ps 73:15-20. The dawn of truth. Turn from self-interest (Ps 73:3) and self-pity (Ps 73:13) to remember basic responsibilities and loyalties (Ps 73:15). Though the psalmist had no answer from God (Ps 73:16), the shift of attention released him from fixation on those who prosper and succeed in the world (Ps 73:3-5, 9, 12). The first step out of the sinkhole of resentment and envy is to enter the presence of God with His long-term perspective (Ps 73:17): the rich without God will be eternally poor (Ps 73:18); the celebrities without God who receive all the attention of the world will one day be ignored (Ps 73:18-19). All the world's power and wealth are like a dream. They can neither enhance nor ruin a Christian's deepest identity, happiness and inheritance.
• Ps 73:21-26. Self-awareness and future confidence. The antidote for envy and self-pity is humility. The psalmist knew that his sin hurt him (Ps 73:2, 13) and others (Ps 73:15). Finally he saw he had been as arrogant toward God as the people he despised. There is in us a fierce, instinctive self-will as unthinking and inhuman as that of a wild beast (Ps 73:21-22). Deep in us something snarls, "No one tells me what to do." Only by admitting this darkness within can the glorious word of grace--"yet" (Ps 73:23)--dawn on him. God will never let him go. Only when we see the depth of our sin will we be electrified by the wonder of grace.
• Ps 73:27-28. The certainty of personal conviction. 

Quotes:

• "The state of the heart determines whether a man lives in the truth, in which God's goodness is experienced, or in the semblance of truth, where the fact that it 'goes ill' with him is confused with the illusion that God is not good to him" (Martin Buber, Right and Wrong, 1952).
• "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times." - Martin Luther.
• "Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation." - Andrew Murray
• "Faith is unseen but felt, faith is strength when we feel we have none, faith is hope when all seems lost." - Catherine Pulsifer
• "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King Jr. 
• "Faith is believing BEFORE what will only make sense AFTER." - Romans 8:31, 28; Gen 50:20.
• "Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them." - Alistair Begg
• "Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light." - Helen Keller
• "Faith is like radar that sees through the fog -- the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see." - Corrie Ten Boom
• "God will always be with you, even in the darkest storms."
• "Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods." - C.S. Lewis

The psalmist is struggling with envy and bitterness as he observes the apparent prosperity of the wicked.

What is the initial declaration about God's character in Psalm 73:1, and how does it contrast with the psalmist's own experience and feelings?

How does the psalmist describe the prosperity and circumstances of the wicked in Psalm 73:3-12?

What are the specific behaviors and attitudes of the wicked, as mentioned in these verses?

What impact does the prosperity of the wicked have on the psalmist's faith and perspective, as seen in Psalm 73:2, 13?

How does the psalmist describe his own experience and struggles in these verses?

What emotions and inner turmoil does the psalmist express regarding the apparent success of the wicked?

How does the psalmist's experience in these verses reflect common struggles with envy and doubt in our own lives?

What do you think the psalmist is wrestling with in terms of his faith and understanding of God's justice and goodness?  

What is the turning point in the psalmist's perspective, and how does he find resolution to his doubts?

1. What foundational belief do we see Asaph holds in verse 1? (Psalm 73:1)
2. In what way had Asaph almost stumbled? (Psalm 73:2-3)
3. What lesson do we learn from this about where to search for answers to life's tough questions? (Psalm 73:16-17)
4. What answer did Asaph discover to this problem? (Psalm 73:17-20)
5. What will finally happen to the wicked? When will this happen? Who will cause it to happen? (Psalm 73:18-19, 27)
6. What do these verses teach us about God's character? (Psalm 73:23-26)
7. How do we see Asaph's attitude changing in verse 22? (Psalm 73:22)
8. How do we see prayer changing his feelings and attitude as he moves through the Psalm? (Psalm 73:28)

The turning point is in Psalm 73:17-20, where the psalmist enters the sanctuary of God and gains a new perspective on the destiny of the wicked.
What does the psalmist ultimately conclude about the fate of the wicked and the righteous?

He concludes that the wicked, despite their apparent prosperity, are on a slippery path towards destruction, while the righteous are held by God and will be ultimately rewarded.
How does the psalmist describe his relationship with God in Psalm 73:23-26?

He describes his nearness to God, acknowledging that God is his strength, portion, and refuge.
What are the psalmist's final thoughts and expressions of faith in Psalm 73:27-28?

The psalmist expresses his commitment to remain near God, to make the Lord his refuge, and to proclaim His deeds.