Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.
What a beautiful and heartfelt sentiment from Asaph, Friends. And who is Asaph? He was a member of the priestly tribe of Israel; the Levites, on whose shoulders Bruh David brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord up to Jerusalem with much fanfare and festivity. He then appointed Asaph the chief Levite, ‘to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel.’ (1Chron.16:4) That means Asaph had a big role in recording the Psalms; which are in effect ‘sacred songs sung to musical accompaniment’, hymns of praise. He seems to be a learned man who played the cymbals; ‘but Asaph made a sound with the cymbals.’ (1Chron.16:5) Psalms #50,73-83 are also ascribed to his authorship. On a point of interest, the Psalms have been ascribed to six authors: Moses, #90; Asaph, as above; Solomon, #72,127; Heman, #88; Ethan, #89; and Bruh David, 73 of them. Guess that’s why they’re usually referred to as The Psalms of David, because he wrote most of them. The scholars assume that the few titled, ‘For the Sons of Korah,’ were written by others, just for them to perform. And that’s today’s History lesson! (smile) Anyway, Psalm 73 deals with poor Asaph wondering how the wicked could be wicked and yet so prosperous. ‘They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.’ (vs.5) And though he knew that God was good to those with good hearts, pure intentions, when he saw the wicked prospering with no comparable suffering, he began to stumble. ‘But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.’ (vs.2-3) Yes Friends, it’s been happening since day one; we all envy the wicked who prosper. ‘Behold these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches,’ (vs.12) But Friends, note Asaph’s words, ‘who prosper in the world.’ Only in this mortal, sinful world do they prosper. But remember, Jesus said we shouldn’t be concerned about earthly riches because they rot and rust and you can’t take them with you into the next life. And though Asaph knew, as Bruh David says in Psalm 37:1; ‘Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious of the workers of iniquity,’ with his human frailty, he still had problems doing that, like all of us occasionally do. Yes people, it is difficult to see the wicked prospering while you, who’re trying to live a good life, suffer the pangs of this cruel world. It does seem unfair and unjust, especially when Bruh David claims ‘For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.’ (Ps.37:2) But Asaph saw them living long, healthy lives, not being cut down in their best years. He was understandably confused. ‘Until I went into the sanctuary of God: then understood I their end.’ (vs.17) He realised that God would deal with them in His own time. ‘So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.’ (vs.22) ‘For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.’ (vs.27) When all this had sunk in, he was able to say with renewed confidence and courage: ‘Whom have I in heaven, but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.’ Oh Friends, it’s not easy to see the wicked prosper, but we’ve got to be strong and refrain from envy, for they will pay a steep price at some stage. Ours is not to reason why or when, just to be steadfast and faithful to our calling, knowing that we will be rewarded in due time. Much LOVE!…envy only hurts the envious…not the envied…
What a beautiful and heartfelt sentiment from Asaph, Friends. And who is Asaph? He was a member of the priestly tribe of Israel; the Levites, on whose shoulders Bruh David brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord up to Jerusalem with much fanfare and festivity. He then appointed Asaph the chief Levite, ‘to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel.’ (1Chron.16:4) That means Asaph had a big role in recording the Psalms; which are in effect ‘sacred songs sung to musical accompaniment’, hymns of praise. He seems to be a learned man who played the cymbals; ‘but Asaph made a sound with the cymbals.’ (1Chron.16:5) Psalms #50,73-83 are also ascribed to his authorship. On a point of interest, the Psalms have been ascribed to six authors: Moses, #90; Asaph, as above; Solomon, #72,127; Heman, #88; Ethan, #89; and Bruh David, 73 of them. Guess that’s why they’re usually referred to as The Psalms of David, because he wrote most of them. The scholars assume that the few titled, ‘For the Sons of Korah,’ were written by others, just for them to perform. And that’s today’s History lesson! (smile) Anyway, Psalm 73 deals with poor Asaph wondering how the wicked could be wicked and yet so prosperous. ‘They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.’ (vs.5) And though he knew that God was good to those with good hearts, pure intentions, when he saw the wicked prospering with no comparable suffering, he began to stumble. ‘But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.’ (vs.2-3) Yes Friends, it’s been happening since day one; we all envy the wicked who prosper. ‘Behold these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches,’ (vs.12) But Friends, note Asaph’s words, ‘who prosper in the world.’ Only in this mortal, sinful world do they prosper. But remember, Jesus said we shouldn’t be concerned about earthly riches because they rot and rust and you can’t take them with you into the next life. And though Asaph knew, as Bruh David says in Psalm 37:1; ‘Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious of the workers of iniquity,’ with his human frailty, he still had problems doing that, like all of us occasionally do. Yes people, it is difficult to see the wicked prospering while you, who’re trying to live a good life, suffer the pangs of this cruel world. It does seem unfair and unjust, especially when Bruh David claims ‘For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.’ (Ps.37:2) But Asaph saw them living long, healthy lives, not being cut down in their best years. He was understandably confused. ‘Until I went into the sanctuary of God: then understood I their end.’ (vs.17) He realised that God would deal with them in His own time. ‘So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.’ (vs.22) ‘For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.’ (vs.27) When all this had sunk in, he was able to say with renewed confidence and courage: ‘Whom have I in heaven, but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.’ Oh Friends, it’s not easy to see the wicked prosper, but we’ve got to be strong and refrain from envy, for they will pay a steep price at some stage. Ours is not to reason why or when, just to be steadfast and faithful to our calling, knowing that we will be rewarded in due time. Much LOVE!…envy only hurts the envious…not the envied…
SCRIP-BITS 