July 11, 2021

I Nearly Lost Hope | Psalm 73

Preacher:
Passage: Psalm 73
Service Type:

Psalm 73 has the same theme as 37 and 49 and the Book of Job.
- Why do the ungodly “get on”, while the godly “struggle on”?
- How can God be good and sovereign while this seems to occur?

1 SOUND DOCTRINE
# First conclusion is orthodox [v1] “Truly God is good to Israel”
3Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?4 He who has
clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not
swear deceitfully. 5He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God
of his salvation. [Psalm 24:3-5]

2 BITTER EXPERIENCE
The Psalmist was. ....
i. Envious of the wicked [v3] free from disease and disaster [v4-5]
arrogant on earth and towards heaven [v6-9]
popular in the world [v10-11]
ii. Bitter against God [v20-21] “My soul was embittered” [v21]
He was reduced to instinct and appetite, and filled with self pity.
Emotion overruled reason.
iii. Tempted to give up [v16] The thought “was too painful for me”.
# Second conclusion - “Truly, in vain have I kept my heart clean” [v13]
“No future in frustration” [Alf Stanway]

3 RENEWED VISION
Step back. See things in perspective
“I went into the sanctuary [presence] of God, then I discerned their end” [v17]
“When men doubt the righteousness of God, their own integrity begins to waver” [ Spurgeon]
i. “Truly you have set them in slippery places” [v18]
# The Psalmist’s third conclusion
When ungodly people fall, they can never rise again. Destruction is the end for
those who scoff at God and put their trust in possessions. [v19-20, 27]
ii. “I am continually with you” [v23]
Emphasis moves from what the Psalmist reasons, based on envy [v3]
and doubt [v15], to what God promises and does.
“Afterward [ after this earthly experience] you will receive me” v24]
“Whom have I in heaven but you?” [v25]
“But for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge” [v28]