“Truth for Truckers” *April 13, 2014* Psalm 73 “Heart Conditions”
This next Psalm in our series of five
Psalms corresponding to the 13th day of the month is meaty and
lengthy indeed. But we will treat the major theme which is the contrast between
Asaph’s earthly view of the wicked and the eternal view he eventually sets
forth when he came to a full understanding.
The Psalm is outlined in three sections
with the first showing The Necessity of A Clean Heart (v.1) ‘Truly God is good to Israel, even to such
are of a clean heart.’ The goodness of God therefore, relies on the heart
condition of man. The heart must be pure allowing nothing between the soul and
the Savior is the emphasis and the necessity for communion with a holy God.
Secondly, The Negatives of A Clouded
Heart (v.2-14) are set forth showing the source of these negative thoughts
was envy. Not only are these thoughts of Asaph negative, but some of them are
not true, but only the misguided and errant thinking of an envious mind.
But,
the third section, The Knowledge of A Clear Heart (v.15-28) is the
turning point of this Psalm, especially when Asaph says: ‘Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.’
It was not until he was in the presence of God that the LORD gave him a clear
heart’s view of the ‘End’ of those
that are without Christ.
This description should bring great
compassion to the lost from us who are saved, for they are truly in a desperate
and eternally dangerous situation: ‘Surely
Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou cast 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 awakes; so, O Lord, when Thou awake, Thou
shall despise their image.’(v.18-20)
Asaph’s response to this dark and
destructive picture of those who are lost is declared: ‘Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish
was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee.’ He recognizes his faulty
error in thinking, it convicts his inner-most being, he recognizes his own
folly and lack of knowledge, seeing himself as an animal, void of compassion
and mercy and feeding only upon the selfish views of a clouded heart, and the
beastly desires of the flesh.
This, my friend, should awaken our souls
to the great need of the lost around us, they are without Christ and have no
hope unless we pray for them, and minister the Word of God to them, that they
too might have the faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and repent of
their sins.
It is enough to say that this is the
emphasis of the Psalm. Asaph was awakened to the reality of the terrible end of
the lost souls around him. The closing verses are some of the most revealing in
the Psalms as it concerns the end of the believer when he says in (v.24) ‘Thou shall guide me 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.’ This verse shows the
expectation of the Old Testament saint was the same as the New Testament saint.
The ‘Blessed Hope’ was and is the
same in both cases, glory was anticipated in heaven...Amen!
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