The Pilgrim Path---Psalm 73: 1 – 20

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.

For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.

They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.

Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.

They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.

They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut through the earth.

Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.

And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.

For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.

If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.

How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!

Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

“…THEN I DISCERNED THEIR END”

The Psalmist let us know that he about lost his footing. Why? He was jealous of the wicked. The worldly people around him with no concern for God or His ways---seemed to be doing wonderfully well. He was envious of them! He was mesmerized by their lifestyle. They had “all” the neatest stuff. It did not appear to him that they ever had any significant troubles like he encountered. The particularly “ungodly” souls scoffed at the LORD and everything Holy. The only thing bigger than their ego---was their God-denying mouths! It was as if their blatant acts of outrage were only followed by “greater” periods of personal material prosperity and popularity. He wondered, “Well LORD---maybe it has not made that much sense to try to walk before you with a clean heart?” This pilgrim journey through the world was getting downright wearisome at times. Hmmm…

Then the Psalmist took a trip up to the sanctuary to worship the True and Living God. The LORD got a hold of him there. Jehovah-Jesus got a grip of his heart concerning eternity. Wow! He was powerfully reminded that “this” world is not all there is. He was grabbed by the fact that this world is the “only” heaven some people will ever know!

Tragic---terrible---unthinkable---This world, the only heaven---some people will ever know…

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73: 25, 26

From George Swinnock: The portions of the world are dying vines, deceitful brooks, and shadows. If God is your portion, he will forever be your portion…When fire burns up the world it will not even singe your portion. You may stand upon the ruins of the ruins of the world and sing: I have lost nothing, I have my inheritance, my happiness, and my God still…

From Ezekiel Hopkins: What wicked men possess of this world is all that they can ever hope for. The inequality of his providence in this life will be cleared up at the Day of Judgment. Blessings of this life may not be mercies, but snares.

From John Flavel: The soul…craves fulfillment from things outside itself and will embrace earthly joys for satisfaction when it cannot reach spiritual ones. The believer is in spiritual danger if he allows himself to go for any length of time without tasting the love of Christ and savoring the felt comforts of a Savior’s presence. When Christ ceases to fill the heart with satisfaction, our souls will go in silent search of other lovers…

From John Duncan: What will worldlings think when their god is all in a blaze?

A Prayer from Tim Keller: Lord, there has never been a human society without overweening pride at the top and bitter envy at the bottom. That is why if the “have-nots” ever overthrow the “haves” they become the same. Father, give our culture your grace, humbling both leaders and followers and giving us peace. Amen.

From the Psalter, Psalm 73, 1912

Whom have I, Lord, in heaven but thee, to whom my thoughts aspire?

And having thee, on earth is naught that I can yet desire.

Though flesh and heart should faint and fail, the Lord will ever be

The strength and portion of my heart, my God eternally.

To live apart from God is death, ‘tis good his face to seek;

My refuge is the living God, his praise I long to speak.

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason

*** This will be my last post for a while. Lord Willing, I will make a “come back” soon. The Lord Jesus keep and carry each of You!