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

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! In despair, he searches for answers…

IV. Worship’s Understanding (vv.17-28)

Now, at last, Asaph will begin to see the truth beyond the circumstances. In v.17a, we find him “in the sanctuary”- the place of worship- and that ushers him into a new perspective! He has been beset by the onslaught of the temporal, but now gets a point-of-view that is laced up by the eternal. In the presence of the holy God, the inequities of life and the apparent prosperity of the wicked are overshadowed by a new set of insights. His relationship with God brings fresh light to his struggling despair and darkness….

• “Against His (God’s) eternity and underived being these men of the moment are seen as they are.”
• “The solution begins when the psalmist turns to God- not as an object of speculation, but as an object of worship.” (Kidner)

How does that reality play out? Notice…

A. The End of the Wicked (vv.17b-20)

“Their end” = the wicked. Only in the perfect wisdom of God can the thing be reconciled, but retribution will prevail! They will bear the judgment of God, fully and completely. It is a judgment from which there is no escape (see vv.18-19). This is not cause for celebration for the psalmist, but it is cause for awakening. At last, the long view comes into play- and the psalmist can rest that justice will out.

B. The Beginning of Wisdom (vv.21-22)

Asaph recognizes his condition as foolish- why? Because his focus was on acts of injustice instead of on the God who IS justice. To allow such conflict of faith to overwhelm us is to set aside the comfort and peace that faith is intended and designed to bring! How foolish! (cp. v.2) Now, the psalmist’s repentance is in full bloom- notice…

• In v.2, he saw what he almost did to himself
• In v.15, he sees what he almost did to the brothers
• In vv.21-22, he clearly sees his attitude and actions as an affront and an offense to the God who is perfectly just (“before you”).

Asaph and Job had to learn the same lesson! See Job 42:6, “I repent!”

C. The Instruction of God (vv.23-24)

As I trust Him, notice the benefits I receive that carry me through the moments and episodes of doubt and despair. He will…

be with me, uphold me, guide me with His counsel, receive me into glory! (heaven)

Does that sound like the treatment of a God who has forgotten and abandoned us? Never! It sounds like the treatment of a God who never leaves us or forsakes us, never abandons us, and always sticks closer than a brother to us! He never forgets us- on the contrary, His care is ever complete as He ministers in grace to His child.

D. The Conclusion of the Matter (vv.25-28)

Hear the lessons that Asaph has learned…

• v.25- God is my only Resource
• v.26- God is my only strength
• v.27- God is responsible for the execution of judgment
• v.28- I am responsible for the depth of my relationship with Him- “Therefore, I draw near to God, trust in Him, and declare His good works (not my darkened despair as in v.15) with all those around me!”

It is “Theodicy”- the biblical and theological reality that God, in goodness and omnipotence, is in control- even when I suffer and don’t know why! Now, Asaph, by faith, understands- and believes.

Conclusion: The key is that the answers became understood in the reality of faith and worship. What made the difference?

A deep relationship with God that enabled the psalmist to say v.1 and v.25- in spite of vv.4-11!

Knowing God in His character keeps us from seeing the external and wrongly assuming that God is NOT in control, or is NOT fair, or does NOT care.

The difference comes in knowing God deeply, so that we trust Him implicitly- and that is the relationship that is fostered and founded in worship. It interjects the eternal into the here and now, and reminds us that . He makes all things appropriate- “In His Time.”