What Did the Psalmist Perceive in Psalm 73?

    In Psalm 73 the psalmist is considering why the wicked seem to prosper and the godly suffer.  That looks a bit backwards, doesn't it?  But many times that's how it goes. And I'm sure the psalmist wasn't the only one who asked this question because I know I have!  The more he thought about a situation, the more it perplexed him, and it almost stumbled his faith.  

For I was envious of the arrogant,/When I saw the prosperity of the wicked./....When I considered this in order to understand it,/ It was a troublesome task in my sight,/ Until I went into the sanctuary of God;/ Then I perceived their end. Psalm 73:3, 16-17
 

    It's a good thing that the psalmist didn't let his confusion and maybe even bitterness keep him from going to God's sanctuary. In chapter 30 Witness Lee states that for us New Testament believers God's sanctuary is not only our spirit where He lives but also the church, God's house. Witness Lee explains that when the psalmist finally got to the sanctuary, he had a whole different view of what was happening.  

     More than the psalmist seeing that God does eventually even out the score, he realized that God was really his heart's unique goal. That is really touching. The end of this psalm is so beautiful.   My heart is encouraged by this part on page 355 in chapter 30 of the Life-Study of Psalms:

"Whom do I have in heaven but  you?/ And besides You there is nothing I desire on earth" (v. 25). This verse reveals that God's pure seeker would have God as his only possession in heaven and his unique desire on earth. God was the psalmist's unique goal. The psalmist did not care for anything except God and gaining Him.... Psalm 73 ends with these words: "My flesh and my heart fails,/But God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever" (v. 26)  Here we have the answer to the psalmist's question. The one who does not care for God may gain many things and seem to prosper. However, the one who cares for God will be restricted by God and even stripped by God of many things. As we will see in the upcoming Life-Study of Job, this is what happened to Job" (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Psalms. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1993, Print).

     You may have to read those last lines a few times like I did.  It may be hard to wrap your head around this fact that God allows heart-rending losses to occur so that we can really know and experience the grace of Christ. I've found out that it can be a bumpy journey sometimes, even scary and painful at times.  Even when I feel like a wreck  I know I just need to get one-on-one with God or get with another believer and pray.  During those times I just want to hear God speak to me!  So make the decision ahead of time that no matter what happens to you, you're going to keep talking to God and getting together His people!

Here's a beautiful song based on Psalm 73 it's called There are Times. 

 You can listen to excerpts of Witness Lee's speaking the Life-Studies of Psalms on Life Study of the Bible  with Witness Lee.   You can also read the online Life-Study of Psalms and check out other resources available to enhance your study of the Bible on Living Stream Ministry's website.


Others Posts on the Life-Study of Psalms:

What is the Focus of the Psalms?
How Does Psalm 8 Show Us God's Purpose in Creating Man?
Taking a Closer Look at Psalm 23 - Part 1 of 2
Taking a Closer Look at Psalm 23 - Part 2 of 2
Why is God's House Important in Psalms 25 -41?
Seeing the Divine Romance in Psalm 45
What Did the Psalmist Perceive in Psalm 73?
What are the Highways to Zion in Psalm 84?
Why Did the Psalmist Delight in God's Law in Psalm 119?