Clearing Minefields in God’s Presence

Psalm 73
 
The Psalms are generally not theological in their content, but are more descriptive of the human aspect of daily living – its blessings and struggles. As such, many of them openly expressed their writers’ raw emotions under different circumstances; providing us vignettes of life in ancient eras, at times replicating our experiences today. Psalm 73 is no exception, as Asaph, an exemplary upright Temple choirmaster, was processing his anger at Yahweh (vv.21-22), for the apparent prosperity of the wicked in comparison to the hardships of the righteous.
 
Here we have a person who values integrity, fairness and justice, but what he saw around him bothered him greatly, to the extent that it nearly destroyed his faith in God (v.2). The Bible does not condone doubt but encourages it (John 1:45-46; 20:24-29), when it is positively directed as we genuinely seek answers to questions that trouble us. The issue that tripped up Asaph was his perceived injustice of what was taking place in the market place where the wicked and ruthless were having a field day and their arrogance finally got to him (vv.3-12). He saw their prosperity and well-being, pride and violence, their power and abusiveness, godlessness and independence. The only thing that kept him from denying God was His people, whom he had served all these years; he could not betrayed their trust in him and the testimony of his position in the Temple (vv.13-16). This was extraordinary, for few would have been so other-centred in their personal decisions! The basis for doubt is the incomprehensibility in our hearts and minds in grappling with the evidence before us, while faith is the expression of holding on to a belief despite the presenting evidence in God’s economy.
 
Asaph came through this deep bout of doubt by discerning his own motives in God’s presence, seeing with the eye of faith God’s unchangeable wise justice, and appreciating His faithfulness. Our motives are probably the most difficult to fathom, as we have internalized many of them, resulting in various behavioural outcomes from our automatic (unconscious) thinking. Doubt is never born in a vacuum, as the psalmist confessed. It was his envious heart that sowed the initial seeds of doubt: the temptation to possess a part of the arrogant’s pie (v.3). Seeking God’s presence (v.17) implies a willingness to surrender the desires of his heart, in order to listen and obey. The constant Temple proceedings and sacrifices would have been a vivid reminder of God’s gracious mercy towards him. Asaph taught us an important lesson: when we are angry with God, we normally stay away from meeting with His people, from communicating with Him, and from participating in the spiritual disciplines, but Asaph deliberately entered God’s presence. And he got involved with all that was going on in the Sanctuary, even though his faith was shaky. As he served, he finally saw and understood God’s perspective for those who did not trust Him, their faithlessness would end in eventual judgment and destruction. God’s view of the world is far more complex and multifaceted. He realized that the God who was his strength and refuge, was standing by him, holding his hand, during his senseless and ignorant stint (vv.18-28); and He would not let go of his hand. 
 
          All I once held dear, built my life upon
          All this world reveres, and wars to own
          All I once thought gain I have counted loss
          Spent and worthless now, compared to this
 
               Knowing you, Jesus
               Knowing you, there is no greater thing
               You're my all, you're the best
               You're my joy, my righteousness
               And I love you, Lord
 
          Now my heart's desire is to know you more
          To be found in you and known as yours
          To possess by faith what I could not earn
          All-surpassing gift of righteousness
          Oh, to know the power of your risen life
          And to know You in Your sufferings
          To become like you in your death, my Lord
          So with you to live and never die.
                                                                                      Graham Kendrick, 1993.