6. Whom Have I But Thee

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Hymns: RHC 324 Trusting Jesus, 355 Day by Day, 333 Yesterday, Today, Forever, 115 Constantly Abiding

PSALM 73

1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was asa beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: butGod is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 Butit is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. Psalms 73:1-28 (KJV)

WHOM HAVE I BUT THEE

  • The Prosperity of the Wicked Stumbles Me (v1-10)
  1. I envied them (v1-3)
  2. Their pride and strength seemed to receive divine consent (v4-7)
  3. They even blasphemed against God and seemed to get away without judgment (v8-9)
  4. God’s people greatly oppressed by the wicked (v10)
  • The Afflictions of the Godly Baffles Me (v11-16)
    1. The godly is discouraged by reason of their oppression crying out “Where is God?” (v11)
    2. The ungodly continues to prosper (v12)
    3. The godliness of the godly seemed to bring them no where (v13)
    4. The godly continues to be chastened in their sore affliction (v14)
    5. I dare not murmur against God lest the godly be stumbled (v15)
    6. Yet the sight of God’s afflicted people brings pain to my heart (v16)
  • But the Lord in His mercy enlightens me – I discovered the misery of the wicked as revealed in His Word (v17-22)
    1. The ungodly shall certainly not escape God’s judgment (v17-20)
      1. They are unknowingly sliding down to destruction (v17-18)
      2. There end will be sudden and most terrifying (v19)
  • The unsaved most miserable under God’s judgment (v20)
  1. I am most ashamed for envying the wicked (v21-22)
    1. My heart grieved (v21)
    2. How foolish in envying the wicked (v22)
  • Thank God I continue to abide in His presence (v23-28)
    1. I abide in God and He upholds me (v23)
    2. By guiding me with His counsel until I arrive in heaven (v24)
    3. I desire my God more than anything else (v25)
    4. Though my body and heart gradually weakens, God shall be the strength of my heart and my help forever (v26)
    5. All who wander from God shall perish without God (v27)
    6. But I draw near to Him and put my faith in Him and testify of His goodness in my life (v28)

INTRODUCTION

When Peter was asked by Jesus to walk on the water, he, in faith obeyed. When his gaze was fixed upon Jesus, he walked on the water. When his gaze was turned to the storm, the environment around him, he began to sink.

Matthew 14:30-33 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus encourages His disciples to abide in His presence. Although He would soon leave them, He will send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, help them. When they continue to abide in Him, to look to Him, He will see them through the most difficult of trials that come their way.

The psalmist in psalm 73 was facing great distress. As he sees the prosperity of the wicked and his dire predicament, he becomes discouraged. In that moment when his eyes were not focused upon His LORD by was shifted to compare his predicament to the prosperity of the ungodly, it threatens to undo him spiritually. He shares how he overcame such discouragement when his faith in God was side stepped.

When Christian in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress was off the track to the Celestia City, they came to Doubting Castle where they met with Giant Dispair and his wife Difference. They were tormented for the whole night until they realized that the had the key of God’s Promise that will unlock the door of the Doubting Castle where they could escape.

The thirving Christian life is one whose focus is constantly upon the Lord as the psalmist affirmed in his heart – 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

As the psalmist observed his predicament and the prosperity of the wicked. He cries out to God, Lord, that’s unfair! They seemed to “win” with their crooked ways. He was perturbed by his predicament until God showed him the destruction of the worldly wise.

  • The Prosperity of the Wicked Stumbles Me (v1-10)
    1. I envied them (v1-3)
    2. Their pride and strength seemed to receive divine consent (v4-7)
    3. They even blasphemed against God and seemed to get away without judgment (v8-9)
    4. God’s people greatly oppressed by the wicked (v10)

1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

He affirms in his heart that God is good to His people. All who are belongs to Him, all whom He justifies, can affirmed in their heart the goodness of God in their lives. But just as when we thought all is well with him, we realize that his heart is disturbed. He tells us that the prosperity of the wicked stumbles him. It just does not add up. A sense of discouragement seemed to be welling up in his heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

He admitted that he envied the wicked. When the beggar Lazarus had to eat from the crumbs that dropped from the rich man’s table, what do you think went on in his heart. Did he say in his heart, “Truly God is God to Lazarus, even to such as are of a clean heart.” He is truly a child of God as attested by the fact that he was carried to Abraham’s bosom in heaven when he died. In that moment when he was hungry and he saw the delicious food that the rich man eats every meal and every single day, do you think he would react in his heart like the psalmist? Or would his heart be steadfast trusting the Lord, a good question to ask Lazarus when we go to heaven!

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

How will that reconcile with the words of David when he said, Psalm 37:25-26 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

It seemed to us that this experience does not square the round peg of what David has observed in his lifetime.

Well, Jesus is staying to us that affliction can come to the righteous. But it will be temporal. David himself was hungry in the wilderness and he had to request for eat the shewbread in the tabernacle. What David is saying still stands true. God will not foreake His people, God is still on the throne, and He still remembers his own.

The psalmist is showing us how we must not fret even in the most afflicted of circumstances, but continue to trust the Lord. He knows what you are going through, hand on there – sing “I know the Lord will make a way for me” and the darkest night will turn today!

  • The Afflictions of the Godly Baffles Me (v11-16)
    1. The godly is discouraged by reason of their oppression crying out “Where is God?” (v11)
    2. The ungodly continues to prosper (v12)
    3. The godliness of the godly seemed to bring them no where (v13)
    4. The godly continues to be chastened in their sore affliction (v14)
    5. I dare not murmur against God lest the godly be stumbled (v15)
    6. Yet the sight of God’s afflicted people brings pain to my heart (v16)

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is thereknowledge in the most High?

When Job was stricken with boils after his lost all his material possession and his ten children and his servants and his wife charged him to curse God and die, he went through a time of soul searching as he sought to understand his predicament. We know that it was God who allowed Satan to afflict Job for a season but he was not allowed to take his life. Job did not know that God allowed him to be tested because God regarded him as a godly in His sight – one who fears God and hates evil.

He rejected the accusations of his three friends that it was because of his sin that he was afflicted by God. He defended his integrity.

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Like Job, the psalmist was unable to understand his predicament as he suffered, yet he does not want to lose his testimony to give glory to God but fretting and whinning and complaining that God is unfair. He was willing to endure his affliction and still trust God.

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

  • But the Lord in His mercy enlightens me – I discovered the misery of the wicked as revealed in His Word (v17-22)
    1. The ungodly shall certainly not escape God’s judgment (v17-20)
    2. They are unknowingly sliding down to destruction (v17-18)
    3. There end will be sudden and most terrifying (v19)

                                             iii.     The unsaved most miserable under God’s judgment (v20)

  1. I am most ashamed for envying the wicked (v21-22)
  2. My heart grieved (v21)
  3. How foolish in envying the wicked (v22)

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

When the psalmist was able to take hold of the promise of God’s faithful character that He is infinite, eternal and unchanging in His justice. He will surely vindicate His people, His heart was stilled. He confessed that he did show his weakness in that moment of weakness – I was as a beast before thee. He managed to overcome his weakness by the grace of God.

  • Thank God I continue to abide in His presence (v23-28)
    1. I abide in God and He upholds me (v23)
    2. By guiding me with His counsel until I arrive in heaven (v24)
    3. I desire my God more than anything else (v25)
    4. Though my body and heart gradually weakens, God shall be the strength of my heart and my help forever (v26)
    5. All who wander from God shall perish without God (v27)
    6. But I draw near to Him and put my faith in Him and testify of His goodness in my life (v28)

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Thank God we have his Word to guide us. We can always find comfort and strength meditating upon God’s Word. In the time of old age when our body gradually weakens, we lose all earthly desires. Even our appetite deteriorate, our longing to see places wanes, our ability for movement becomes more and more limited. The psalmist’s testimony is that his desire for His God increases. As earthly joys depart, heavenly joy increases more and more. He reached a point in his life when his entire desire is to be in the presence of His God always.

To be in the presence of God is the best state of life. Although the heart is weak, but God gives to his heart the strength needed each day and he is thankful. There is none who is able to wipe away his tears but God. There is none who is able to comfort his heart but God. Though his flesh and heart gradually weakens but God is the strength of his heart and his blessing both now and forevermore. For he knew in his heart that he is drawing closer and closer to the presence of God until one day, he shall be crowned with the glory of God to be in His presence forever and ever.

CONCLUSION

This is the most blessed state of man, the redeemed man with God sustaining and upholding him. There is that moment by moment dependence that his most blessed. This is the privilege of God’s abiding presence for the Christian as the psalmist wants to show to us by his own experience. May we be strengthened the encouraged to trust Him. Amen.