The Goodness of God
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The Goodness of God
If you have your Bibles, if you would, please turn with me to Psalm 73. Psalm 73. And if we haven't met yet, my name is Mark Ikerd, and I serve here in several ministry opportunities and help to give oversight to these. Adam helped me put them into categories so that I could kind of keep my arms around it and stay focused on it. So there's four C's-Care Ministry, Counseling Ministry, Connection Ministry, and the Campus. So I help oversee the campus. Um, any questions or problem with the campus, just email Caleb White. Seriously. So he has come on board and he's much better at it than I've ever been. So he's... He's just been a blessing to me. And just I mean, he was already very well aware of the campus when he came on, and he's excellent in the kitchen and just very talented young man, and I'm thankful for him.
So as we continue our study on the attributes of God, today I would like to draw our focus to the goodness of God. I think it's helpful for us to know that in the goodness of God, as well as in the greatness of God, he is perfect in all of his ways. So not only is he perfect in all of his ways, he's perfect in all his perfections. There's nothing lacking or to be added to his character. One commentator put it this way God is fully each of his perfections. Whatever God is, he is totally in essence. If God is not fully and absolutely love or fully and absolutely holy or fully and absolutely good then he is not fully and absolutely God. God's perfection must characterize him totally, eternally, and indefinitely. Because if they do not, God would neither be immutable or simple. And Brother Dave, I had to do my definition, as you've taught me. Um, immutable being, um, ageless, changeless and consistent. Psalm 34:8-9 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you saints, for those who fear him lack nothing." For the word "fear" here, church, is not the same as being anxiously afraid of something. The word fear in light of the Scripture would would be a believer's reverent respect and natural response to the knowledge of God. So in summary, God's goodness is that he is the perfect sum and source and standard of all that is beautiful, wholesome, virtuous, and beneficial both for himself and for all that he has created. Consequently, when he loves his creatures, he loves them with a chief regard to himself. He he is absolutely perfect and good. God is the source of all his creatures' blessings. He is the highest good for his creatures, which is the proper good for all who strive for true goodness.
So now that's of course not exhaustive, of course, but I feel like that gives us a theological foundation to work from. So I would like to, I would dare say that the majority of, of us here today would easily say yes and amen to all those things. But even as we agree that God is perfect, perfectly perfect, and that he is always good, and that all good things come from above. And his chief desire is to bless and encourage and have intimate fellowship with his own. Here's the question. Why would we ever doubt, fear, fret, and agonize over life's situations? Well, I hope you would say, wow, that's a great question and I'm glad you ask. My hope and my prayer today is that Psalm 73, with God's help, will help give us some insight and answers to those questions.
So as we turn to Psalm 73 and we clearly see an open and transparent and sincere heart, if you would, if you just glance over the text. There's 28 verses, a lot of material to cover. If you notice, the word heart is used over five times in the text, depending on what translation you're using. So we see this is a true confession of the heart. The word heart here in this case refers to your very core, the very center of your being, the data center, so to speak, from where all your emotions and convictions originate from. So Psalm 73 is written by Asaph. He is a chief musician. He is a worship leader under King David. He writes 12 different psalms. This particular psalm is a song of wisdom, but it reads more like a testimony. And I think you'll see that as we work through it. Asaph writes this particular psalm, looking back over a season of life that he has already gone through. So we will see very clearly that even though a very godly and gifted worship leader, he experiences a crisis of faith, which proves that even those who lead in the church are susceptible to sin, temptation and doubt and fear. No one is exempt. And I think that's helpful to know. There are no super Christians. Amen? Amen. None of us have arrived or ever will till we get to heaven. And I'm thankful for the Apostle Paul. If I were to ever think about a Christian being a super Christian, uh, unhuman, it would be Paul, of course, with with all his trials and accomplishments that the way God mightily used him. But I'm thankful that even Paul, as godly a man, missionary, witness that he was and all that he suffered. I'm glad in Paul's openness and honesty, he didn't say, oh, wretched man that I was. He said, oh, wretched man that I am. And that that gives me hope. Amen?
So our subject today is the goodness of God. The big idea, which there should be some blanks on your outline, the big idea is the goodness of God cannot be measured by the success or failure of man. And I feel like I'm hollering. My daughter told me this morning or last night, Dad, you don't have to holler the whole time. You can just emphasize the points you want to make, which is good and helpful. And I need to remember that. So forgive me if I'm hollering. Hey, I'm excited. Amen? This is God's word. Alright, so Psalm 73, if you would please look with me as I read. "Truly, God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled. My steps had nearly slipped, for I was envious of the arrogant. When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death. Their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are. They are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore, pride is their necklace. Violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell through fatness. Their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice. Loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens. Their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore, his people turn back to them and find no fault in them. And they say, how can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the wicked, always at ease.
They increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I've been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said I will speak thus, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went to the sanctuary of God. Then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places. You make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, oh Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, I was pricked in heart. I was brutish and ignorant. I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I'm continually with you. You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail. But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord my refuge. That I may tell of your works."
Please pray with me. Lord Jesus, thank you for your word and we are praying, Lord, that you will speak and work through your servant, Lord, and by your spirit, through your word and, Lord, as I talked to Ronald this morning, Lord, I just pray that your spirit would carry me away. I just pray that I would just be along for the ride, that you would speak and work and move as only you can. That you would do something that I would never be able to do. So Lord, just work and move through your word by your spirit. I pray that your people would be blessed, that they would be encouraged, and that they would also be challenged. And so bless as only you can, be glorified, in Jesus' name, Amen.
So again, the big idea or the heart or theme of the message again is the goodness of God cannot be measured by the success or failure of man. As I read Psalm 73, just on a surface level or at face value, which is really one of our hermeneutical responsibilities. I remember in school our professors used to say, men, what does the text say? And we're like, well, I mean, you know, we-we get it. No, no. Literally, what is the text saying? And before you start poking and prodding and tearing it apart and adding your own opinion and getting on your own soapbox, what does the text say? And I hope I haven't oversimplified this. Um, but in saying that, I felt like I had an immediate connection with Asaph, when he starts out in verse one by saying God is good, which is right and true in every sense of the word. Then right after that, him being a mature, grounded in his faith leader, he immediately followed up with in verse two...But. And I thought, man, that's that's me second guessing as I normally do, which is a tendency of mine. So which comes across to me is doubtful or second guessing. So I'm not claiming this is scriptural or biblical, but just in my simple mindedness when I think of how I relate to Asaph and Psalm 73, here's a good way I relate to it. In many, if not most, couples, opposites often attract. That certainly is the case with me and my wife, Jackie. My tendency, my bend, my personality is to be critical, negative, and judgmental. In most cases, the cup half empty mentality. Now Jackie, on the other hand, hers is positive, uplifting, choosing to see and believe the best. In other words, to look on the bright side of things. So hers is the cup half full mentality. So I'm uptight. She's laid back. And so that's all great and good, for a while. So early on it can be an interest or attraction for couples while dating. But as time goes on, as I hope that y'all would agree with me, these characteristics can easily, easily lead to major differences. I would call it a rub, a grind, can lead to division, strife, but thankful both perspectives submitted to the Lord can be used by God in a mighty way to grow and refine each other, to help us to see things from a different perspective. So Jackie... I thought I saw you. Where are you at? Right here. She's hiding. Jackie, thank you for your patient endurance over the years. For the many ways that you have faithfully sharpened and refined me. You have been my God-given change agent. And I promise I won't mention Holy Spirit Junior. So with that, with all that being said, finally a text I can approach with a somewhat negative or critical questioning perspective, which leads me to the first point.
So how can I know, believe, and trust in the goodness of God when, number one, the proud prosper? If you would please look with me in verses one through three. We can see an honest confession. Verse one. God is good to Israel and this is, church, this is representing all his chosen people. It goes on to say to those who are pure in heart, and that would be those walking with God and in obedience to His word. Verse two goes on to say, but I almost stumbled, I nearly slipped, and the meaning of that would mean to bow or to bend under the weight of. So- question, why did he almost stumble and almost slip? Well, we see the reason in verse three, because I became envious of the arrogant. Asaph envied the wicked when he saw their prosperity; his focus, his concentration had weakened. He became distracted from the main thing. Psalm 37:1-2 says, "Fret not of evildoers. Be not envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass." Reminds me of Psalm 1, where the psalmist mentions the wicked. He says they're like chaff driven by the wind. In other words, no purpose, no impact in life, nothing that lasts. So what caused or led Asaph to envy, or to begin to admire the wicked? Look with me in verses four and five. A life free from pain. They're sleek and fat, for they have no pangs until death. Their bodies are sleek and fat. Verse five, they are not troubled or stricken. In other words, hit or wounded as others are. Another translation for verse four says no bands in their death speaks of cords of chronic disease or pain. Bands are translated to be knotted or tied. And speaking of the sleek and the fat, Paul warns us in Philippians 3:18-19. This is what Paul says for many of whom I have often told you, and now tell you with tears, walk as enemies of the cross. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly and they glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things. So, Asaph's observance is when they die, they die in their strength. No suffering. They do not struggle with slow, tedious sicknesses. They live in pleasure and they die in ease. Not a bitter death like the righteous often suffer. In verse five they even seem to be exempt from the troubles that most have. Look with me in verses six through 12. These verses give a great detail to the life and lifestyle of the proud. It says in verse six, they are proud of their pride and also their violence. It goes on to say it's as much a part of them as the clothes they wear. The Scripture goes on to say it covers them like a garment. It's kind of like we wear our name brand clothing. You know, when we invest the money in quality clothing and it's, you know, has a symbol on it. We don't hide it. I mean, we wear it and are often proud of it. Um, so they're proud. They're proud of their pride and violence. They wear it like name brand clothing. It covers them as a garment. Verse seven, their eyes are fat. This speaks of bulging from indulgence and always looking for more.
Their hearts desire more foolish, sinful, wicked, outlandish behavior seems to be normal to them. Verses eight and nine, they speak loud and proud of their behavior. The scripture says they scoff, in other words, mock and belittle. They ridicule and threaten anyone that disagrees with them. Verse nine it says, even against the heavens, they have scoffed. And what was the impact on God's people? I think it tells us in verses ten and 11. It says his people turn back to them and fail to find fault in them. Church, here's how that goes. So when the godly see the wicked and the wealthy prosper, they begin to easily envy the easy, luxurious lifestyle because of the wicked's wealth and prestige and influence, many again, even God's people, begin to respect or follow them. The scripture says they turn to them and find no fault in them, is what the verses say. And they come to the unfortunate conclusion that obviously God is allowing or or permitting this, so he must be okay with it? Verse 11, it goes on to say, how can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High? Is he aware, church, of the impact of their actions? Amen. So verse 12 summarizes this spiritual dilemma. These are the wicked living in a lap of luxury, a life of ease while their wealth increases.
So as we look for clarity, I think it's helpful to consider two scenarios. Um, one being the most popular, and I think we've heard and thought about this a lot. We think about why bad things happen to good people. And so most commentators, when they're unpacking this, these verses, this text, they refer to Job, um, as a, as an easy referral, to explain the text. And the second scenario is less popular, but is the case here in Psalm 73. The question is why do good things happen to bad people?...would be the question. So for an explanation on why the wicked prosper, most commentators do refer to Job in this context. A lot of commentators refer to the scripture and Job as an ancient theme. They even go on to call it the stumbling block of good men. So Job's friends could not seem to get past the prosperity of the wicked and the sorrows of the godly. So we see we're not alone in our temptation to question or despair when this happens. So as I studied Job, I saw two interesting arguments between Job and his so-called friends. Job 4, one of Job's friends, Eliphaz tries to explain Job's suffering by pointing out basically that the innocent always prosper. He asks a question, verse seven, who that was innocent ever perished. And he goes on to ask, or the upright were ever cut off. So of course he's he's insinuating that no suffering or harm comes to the godly. Then in Job 4, Zophar, along with his other well-meaning friends, Bildad and eventually Elihu have just emphasized in great detail, right? In great detail that suffering and hardship always indicates God's punishment for sin. That Job was just simply getting what he deserved. So verse 21, and I really appreciate this. Um. When Job stands up, Job's honest and transparent response. Job says emphatically. Now this is where I'd like to holler it out. Um, Job says emphatically. No, he said, the wicked do prosper. He goes on to say in verse seven, they live to a ripe old age, mighty in power and influence, even though they deny God. Verse 14, he says, they say to God, depart from us. We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. Verse 15, what is the Almighty that I should serve him? These are the same words, if we think back, that Pharaoh used when he was confronted by Moses in Exodus 5:2, when Pharaoh said, who is the Lord that I should obey his voice? So here's the point. God often allows the prosperity of fools, in the hardening of their hearts towards sin. This is not by their own doing, because they are thinking that they're in control of their own life. This is God's doing. God simply rewards them according to their deeds. And we see that in Galatians six where it says, we reap what we sow. So Job continues to question the punishment of the wicked. Verse 17, how often is the lamp of the wicked put out that their calamity comes upon them, that God distributes his pain and anger? So Job's friends knew nothing of the events in heaven that produced Job's suffering and loss. These men tried to oversimplify the logic of Almighty God.
So back to the simple question that I have failed to answer. Why and for what purpose would the Lord allow the proud to prosper and the godly to be oppressed? I'd like to share a true story with you that I think will help bring some light to this. Um, there was a young man in his mid 20s, and he was from a family that was once wealthy and influential. This young man was cocky, arrogant and proud, which led to an attitude of entitlement. I told you I was critical. Shortly after the company started, by God's grace, the Lord sent another man to work for this family who was gifted and experienced in construction. This man was humble, meek and lowly and had recently come to Christ. He was a new believer. He was born again and on fire for God. So let me ask you this question. Why would the Lord orchestrate or even allow the connection between this wicked and proud person and this meek, humble, and lowly new believer? Why would the Lord allow a new believer to be placed under the arrogant and the proud? I thought through that and I asked myself this question-why would Christ obey His father and submit to the Roman government, unjustly, unfairly, to cruel, unlawful punishment?...for a greater good, for the salvation of all mankind. Back to these two men. A couple of things come to mind. In the new believer in his life, how can the Lord use it? The Lord could use it to test, to develop and refine the new believer's faith, to let his light shine into a dark place. I think of Romans 5:3-5 where it says, perseverance leads the character, character to hope, and the hope that doesn't disappoint. The other case with the arrogant and prideful man. So the Lord could use the mercy, grace, and patience, along with the long suffering of the believer's life, to soften the proud heart of the other man to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Part of the true story is the Lord did just that. The relationship between these two men has lasted for over 30 years. They are still very close and intimate to this day. Both of these men are serving in ministry. Have you figured out who the arrogant and prideful man was? Absolutely.
Psalm 37 says, the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. The wicked plots against the righteous, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees his day coming. Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of the wicked. So the prosperity of
the wicked greatly troubled Asaph, for they seem to have no pain and sorrow. Asaph's focus was their worldly prosperity, despite their wicked lifestyle, he saw the wicked and forgot their future. Matthew Henry said this on the prosperity of the wicked. He said, "It's not because God has forsaken the earth, or because he does not see, or does not hate or cannot punish their wickedness. It's because the measure of their iniquities is not yet full. This is the day of God's patience, and in some way or the other, he makes use of them in their prosperity to serve his own counsel while it ripens them for ruin."
Okay, so, number one, how can we trust in the goodness of God when the proud prosper? Number two. How can we trust in the goodness of God even when the saint struggles? So this is where Asaph seems to question his own guarded life. So read with me verses 13 and 14 where it says, all in vain have I kept my heart clean, and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. So Asaph had guarded both the inner and the outer spiritual man, and it was a very bitter thought for him to think that it was all in vain or completely useless. Matthew 5:8 says, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. So, friends, that's not saying that Asaph had sinless perfection or innocence, but this is referring to a whole-hearted devotion toward God, um, to be set apart. It's the word consecration. Um, so that's where Asaph felt like that he was serving the Lord out of a whole heart, that he was devoted completely. So this statement, all in vain have I kept myself, it's just not from a clear headed, right hearted believer. Amen? I think all of us have been there, I certainly have. And so the point I'd like to make here is a worldly focus can lead to spiritual amnesia. A worldly focus or distraction can lead to spiritual amnesia.
The example of this would be Moses in Exodus 32 and 33. This is right after the nation of Israel has experienced miraculous events, and has been miraculously delivered from Egypt. And all the people saw these things, um, even the Red Sea being parted and the Egyptians all washed away. All these people are witnesses to this. And then in Exodus 32:1, this is when Moses went up on the mount. When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves to Aaron and said, Up! Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses, this man, we we don't know what has come of him. I mean, how do you forget that? I mean, he leads like a nation of a million people out of Egypt after 400 years of slavery. Are we quick to forget? Or is it just the Israelites? Amen. So this goes on to say how quickly we tend to forget. Notice the events that followed that scripture. Verse ten, God threatens to wipe them out. Verse 11, Moses reminds God, hey, these are your people whom you have delivered. Verse 12, Moses begs God to please relent and do not destroy your people. Verse 13, and this is important, he then reminded God of his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. If you notice with me, he uses the name Israel instead of Jacob. Perhaps this is a reminder of back in Genesis 32:28, of one who wrestles or strives with God. So speaking of the struggling saint, Jacob's personal name, which meant heel, catcher, twister, trickster or deceiver; of course, none of those good, was changed to Israel, meaning God's fighter, the name God gave him after he wrestled with the Divine Messenger in Genesis 32:28, meaning one who struggled with God and man, and won! Amen? A victory. So I listed some of the the victories that Jacob had. I think it's important if we're looking at the struggling saint. Um, a record of Jacob's battles and also his dominating victories in those battles. One, he struggled with his brother Esau in the womb and would eventually become two divided nations. Number two, he struggled with Isaac, his father. Even though God told Rebecca, these are two divided nations, and the older will serve the younger, Isaac still wanted to anoint or give the heir to Esau. So he struggled with his father, struggled with Laban, his father-in-law, over the wages, and his daughters. He struggled with his wives, Leah and Rachel. And here's the important part, he struggled with God at Peniel before crossing the river and emerged victorious. So this can be seen as the sanctification in our lives, in other words, working out of our salvation. It's referred to in Philippians 2:12, and this is simply a commitment to obedience in the hard things. It's not referring to a works-based salvation, but a believer's responsibility for a continued active pursuit of obedience in the process of sanctification. It's a working out what God has worked in through salvation. So did God have a plan and a purpose in Jacob's struggles? I think he did. And I think it was important that Jacob fought through. So Jacob's experience at Jabbok ultimately becomes the foundation for the nation of God's chosen people. Jacob, or Israel, as he's known after that battle, um, is the father of 12 sons that would ultimately be known as the 12 sons of Israel. That later became, of course, the nation of Israel.
So, friends, a question, what hard task does the Lord have before you right now? And you feel it's a battle. It's ongoing. It's unrelenting. Is it health? Is it finances? Is it a relationship? Is it a wayward child? Is it your job? Whatever it may be, God is faithful in the battle. He does have a plan, and he does have a purpose. And ultimately it should lead to intimacy with him. Not anger and frustration and bitterness. But we have to guard our hearts because we can easily default to that. Um. Psalm 37:39-40 said, the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord. He is their stronghold in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them. He delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him. So Asaph is far from being the only saint to struggle with his call and service, as well as his sacrifice. C.S. Lewis said this, "He who has God and everything else has no more than the one who has God alone." Um, so the the saint's struggle can be a good thing.
Look with me in verse 15 as Asaph reaches the turning point, reaches a turning point. If I had said, I will speak thus- and this would be, of course, a worldly and cynical view- I would have betrayed the generations of
your people. Asaph is reminded that his words are far reaching and have great impact as a leader. So it's not always wise to speak your mind. I thought of a situation that I normally face with my family. Anytime I say something, and this is not often, anytime I say something wise or helpful, nobody remembers. But anytime I say something sinful and selfish, it's almost like the date and the time and even the place... I mean, the whole deal. And I'm just saying it seems that way. Um. And I think you can get that. Um, and just speaking of struggling saints that have suffered well, um, have recently fought through some struggles and adversity and loss, have been a great example and encouragement to me. Um, I just want to mention a couple of them. They're dear to my heart, and I believe they're dear to this church as well, um, like a cornerstone of, so to speak. Think of Dwight Stone, Chris Shook, Larry and Deedy Ferguson. Just recently, Bill and Joyce Plough, Ed and Brenda Ragan. I mean, I could go on and on and on. But I think y'all get the point. Um, Mike and Angie Cleary. Um, all of these suffered well and were not angry. And I never heard them question the goodness of God. Ever. Matter of fact, it was just the opposite. They were telling others about the greatness of God. And so while I'm giving out roses... Um, somebody on staff has, um, done the same thing. Um, we've been together 12 years. Pastor Kurtis. Some of these other guys left for a season. They got a break. We stuck to the stuff, didn't we, brother? We've been together 12 years. And in those 12 years, we've been through a lot. Not all of it pretty. I haven't always been pretty, and I'm talking about my attitude and behavior. We have lots of similarities. So if you haven't noticed, we look alike. Um, some people confuse us as twins. At least brothers. Um. No, seriously. Um, we dress alike, a lot of times. Both of us have four kids. Both of us have two boys. Both of us have two girls. Our kids all need braces. Our kids all need cars. Our kids all need surgeries. And all our kids want to go to college. So we're yoked together... No, I can't dance. I didn't mention that. Absolutely not. I don't even get beside him when he breaks out. Um, so anyway, through it all, and it's been a lot. Um, when you spend 12 years with somebody day in and day out. You see the man. You see the man. He refuses to give in to being critical of God's purpose and plan, whether it be health, family, finances, the weight of counseling. He chooses to trust God and give him the glory. And for that, I'm thankful. I love you, brother.
So how can I know God is good even when the proud prosper, the saint struggles, and finally, when the flesh fails. If you would please look with me in verses 16 and 17. We see Asaph have a right focus. Scripture says, when I thought how to understand this, it became a wearisome task until I went into the sanctuary of God, then I discerned therein. Friends, he received clarity when his mind entered heaven, where God dwells in his holy place. Spurgeon said this, "His heart gazed within the veil. He stood where the thrice and holy God stands." Point being, my help comes from the Lord. And here's the enormity of God and the greatness of God. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Hey friends, if he made heaven and earth, spoke it into existence, are my problems a problem? No, but I think they are. Amen? Get overwhelmed by them, I lose focus. Um. So 18 through 20. Then we see a proper view. The scripture says, Truly, you set them on a slippery slope and make them fall into ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment. Swept away by terrors. Like a dream when one awakes. Oh, Lord, you rouse yourself. You despise them as phantoms. One commentator said the same hand that placed him on a pedestal shook them from it. Their eternal punishment will far outweigh their former prosperity. So those who despise him will be despised. His eyes shall see his destruction, which he would not be persuaded to believe. The eyes that have been willingly shut against the grace of God shall be open to see their destruction. Verses 21 and 22 we see an honest confession. Asaph says, when my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant like a beast toward you... I don't know why I thought of this. I don't know why I think a lot of things. But when I thought of brutish like an animal, I thought a road rage. So we don't compare ourselves to animals, but now I've acted similar to an animal with road rage. Can anybody...? Am I...? I got one hand in the whole place. One honest man in the whole place! Two honest men in the whole place. So, I mean, we can become like an animal in such a simple thing. And so I was brutish like an animal to you. So it's not that hard to get to that place. My heart gave into despair. I had become embittered. The psalmist had foolishly judged happiness and contentment by the outward appearance and fleshly enjoyments of the wicked. Friends, it will not last.
He goes on to say, I was senseless and ignorant, I judged unjustly. I allowed my faith to become buried in self-pity and self-realization, so he had become totally focused on himself. Verses 23 through 25, we see a joyful remembrance. Nevertheless, I'm continually with you. You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel. And afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? There's nothing on earth that I desire besides you. Point being, our past failures become blessings when it drives us to this realization. Asaph stumbled, but God was steady. He never left or forsook him. Verse 26, my flesh and my heart may fail, but God alone is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. His flesh failed him, but his God would not. In Old Testament times, the priests were not allowed to be heirs or owners of property, to manage property because it would distract them. Um, and so God himself was their portion, their property, their inheritance, their sustenance. It's really no different than us. We don't own anything. We just manage it. Amen. Because we're just passing through. This is not our home, ultimately. C.S. Lewis said, "We are
half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink, sex and ambition. When infinite joy is offered to us like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea, we are far too easily pleased." Look with me in verse 27. We see the destiny of the wicked. Those far from you shall perish. You put an end to those who are unfaithful to you. So when I thought about this. I thought about the life and the destiny of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. If we remember, the rich man, of course, was clothed in fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day. Where, Lazarus, on the other hand, was the poor man covered with sores, dogs licked his wounds, and he longed for the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. But their destinies were quite different in the end. The rich man to Hades, being tormented by flames, he could see but not reach, Lazarus being comforted in the bosom of Abraham. Here's what one commentator said, "Our Lord has let us know how little pleasure the rich man had in hell, and in his house after him. When the remembrance of the good things he had received in his lifetime would not cool his tongue for eternity, but added much to his misery, as did the sorrow of his five brothers, who he left in his house after him should follow him to the same place of torment." Friends, what example are you setting? Who's following you? What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Verse 28, we see a testimony of praise. And praise be to God, we as well as Asaph, return right back where we started in verse one, dwelling on the goodness of God. Verse 28, but for me it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord my refuge. That I may tell of your great works.
Two things I'd like to try to take away, as we close. Friend, do you have a testimony? Can you clearly and confidently proclaim to yourself and to others that God is your strength and your portion forevermore? I encourage you today if you hear the the voice of the Lord. Do not harden your hearts, but repent and believe. There is forgiveness and hope as well as peace in the Lord Jesus. Hebrews 9:27 warns us, it is appointed to every man once to die, but then the judgment. We'll simply be judged according to our deeds. And to be clear, this is an appointment that every one of us will keep. Second take away... Have you given God thanks for his unfailing, unfading goodness and mercy? Or are we taking it for granted because God has been good? Amen? Amen. Let me close and pray. Lord Jesus, I thank you for your faithfulness. It's, uh, unending, matchless; we can't comprehend it, and certainly our words can't give credit to it. But we thank you that we are not the only ones that struggle, that we can be open and honest about our questions and our doubts and our fears. We can wholeheartedly take them to you. And that you meet us where we are. I just think of Jacob and all the trials that he suffered through, and I think of how miraculously you used him to birth a nation, your nation, your people. And we're heirs from that. And so, Lord, thank you for who you are and all that you've done. I pray that you'd be glorified through everything that's done and said in Jesus name. Amen.
