“The Song Of God’s Fairness”—Psalm 73″ (Part Two)

This is the third and final psalm in our trilogy of psalms on the law, or doctrine, of retribution we have been considering, and again, Derek Kidner’s commentary on psalms has been a great help in this study. First of all, let’s be reminded of what that law stated in OT thinking…

God blesses the righteous according to his righteousness, and judges the wicked according to his wickedness.

The great problem before the psalmist is that this doesn’t seem to work in the living out of life. The righteous seem to suffer, and the wicked seem to prosper- and to us that just is not fair! He continues by considering…

II. Life’s Inequities (vv.4-11)

It is the conflict between the “prosperity of the wicked” and the “suffering of the weak.” Still today, there are those who say, in spite of this and other passages, that the believer’s birthright is to be “sound and sleek.” It is that most distasteful of current doctrinal heresies- the “Health, Wealth, and Prosperity Gospel.”

You’ll never sell that bill of goods to Asaph, or David! You would have an easier time convincing them of the opposite! Look at the conduct of the wicked as seen through the eyes of the sufferer…

• v.4- “no pains in their death”- they die full and satisfied!
• v.5- no troubles or plagues like other men
• v.6- their pride and violence seem to be rewarded
• v.7- they bulge with abundance
• vv.8-9- the speak with pride and arrogance
• v.10- they rob the poor of the very basics of life that they need
• v.11- they mock God in all that they do

Why does Asaph struggle? Notice v.12- in all these evil behaviors they still seem to prosper! No wonder the righteous sufferer is frustrated! The problem comes, however, when we see how that kind of frustration respond to these apparent, but clearly perceived inequities….

III. Frustration’s Response (vv.13-16)

There are few verses in the Psalms where gut-level, honest, human emotion is more clearly seen than in v.13….

“Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, And washed my hands in innocence”

That is hard! “In vain I have kept my heart pure.” It means that he no longer values purity and righteousness. He is ready to give up and sell out. But, at the heart of it, hard as it is, is the reality that for Asaph to decide it is all in vain is tragically self-centered!

• What did I get out of it?
• When does my back get scratched?
• What is in it for me?

There is lots of resentful anger there. Beyond that, however, something else is true. When you consider life and it really looks like God is NOT in control, it can make you want to give up (like Solomon’s testimony in the book of Ecclesiastes). Asaph says that, all of a sudden, purity of heart and life just don’t seem to be worth it. In return for his commitment to purity, he received (v.14) plagues and chastening. His response is very human–

“It doesn’t make sense- why bother?”

(v.15) He wants to declare (“thus” refers to vv.13-14) his disapproval of God’s handling of life- but he stops short. Why? The power of influence! He resists expressing all that is in his heart because it could cause great hurt and disillusionment in the young ones! This is so critical, for here the wisdom of the righteous starts to take back the heart that almost slipped. This is Asaph taking his first step back from the edge! What pulls him back?

A sense of moral responsibility!

This forms a reminder to us as well, for we too must be discerning. Who do we share our concerns, fears, doubts and crises with? There is great danger of doing damage to the heart of one that is a young believer (“young in faith”). We have a profound responsibility- and it is that responsibility that pulls the psalmist back from off the ledge.

(v.16) So, he suffers. And what intensity of suffering it is! Even just the attempt to comprehend it all is filled with agony!

• When will there be answers for the questions?
• When will there be relief from the suffering?
• When will there be justice in the world?
• When will it all make sense?

We’ll see the answer he discovered tomorrow…