“WHAT’S GONE WRONG?”
I grew up in rural America in the 50s and 60s. On any given day, you could walk through the high school parking lot and observe that half the vehicles parked there were trucks with windows rolled down and doors unlocked. Most of them carried, as standard equipment, an FFA sticker (Future Farmers of America, for you city folk) and a gun rack with at least one gun, usually loaded. You could make the same observation at any of the four high school campuses in our county. Amazingly, I do not even recall reading or hearing about mass shootings in any of those high schools. What has changed in America is not the accessibility of guns, but the character of man.
On the wall in my parents home is a plaque awarded to my father in recognition
of service for 27 years on the local school board. He told me that
for years, a standard requirement on every Teacher's Contract was membership
in a local church. I remember starting every school day with the
Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. I remember when girls who got
pregnant in high school were ashamed, when abortions were illegal, when
the divorce rate was not 50% because couples stayed together for the kids’
sake, when there were no X-rated movies, when milk cartons didn’t have
missing kids’ faces on them, and I didn’t know anyone personally who used
drugs. I remember when kids were taught respect for authority and
accountability to God. I hear people say that the good old days weren’t
always so good, but please don’t tell me you think these are better.
The more this country struggles to free itself from religion, the more
we become entangled in the consequences. The question that people
should be asking is not, “Why does God allow tragedies?” but “When will
we realize that no nation, in the history of the world, has ever separated
itself from God and evolved to a better society?”
— Dr. Joyce Minor (Alabama School of Law)
Psalm 73:
“I Needed to Know Why the Wicked
Are Doing So Well—
And I Found Out—From God”
This poem is an inspired treatment of a question that God’s faithful children have asked in many ways in all three Bible dispensations (Patriarchal—Job; Mosaic—David; Christian—the saints in Revelation). It begins with a thesis, a statement that the author believed “surely.” Verse 1 is that statement:
“Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.”
The heading of the psalm says that the author was Asaph. He was one of the men who worked with the music that was used in the temple (1 Chronicles 15, etc.). We do not know the exact situation that may have led to the writing of Psalm 73, but the fact that Asaph was the author dates it in the time of David. It is good to know that the sentiment of verse 1 is true, and that the Bible shows how to maintain faith in this truth; even when the apparent successes of the wicked tempt us to lose faith.
Let us look at this poem as if it were four scenes of a play:
Scene One: Here is what I saw (73:2-12).
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them like a garment.
Their eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They speak loftily.
They set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.
Therefore his people return here,
And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
And they say, "How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?"
Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
The first scene presents the problem. Asaph sees the wicked escaping the difficulties that plague others. He claims that they know that they are evil, but that they are convinced that there will be no price to pay for their evil. They even mock the idea that God might know what they are doing! This attitude gives them courage to become even more wicked. They become secure in their evil thinking, and in their physical well being. They are building their lives on the apparent power of arrogance, health, insulation from trouble, pride, wealth, evil fellowship, and a refusal to consider that God will apply the principle of reaping and sowing to them.
Scene Two: Here is where I was (73:13-15).
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation
of Your children.
The second scene presents Asaph’s view of the problem. If these wicked ones are right, then what value is there in being pure in heart? What use is it to be pure and upright in one’s soul? What relief is there for the tortured soul of a holy person? And if the righteous one begins to speak these sentiments out loud, what good can he do for other children of God?
Scene Three: Here is what I learned
(73:16-20).
When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me--
Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.
The third scene presents the always available and clearly right solution: God exists, God does know, and God has given answers to these questions! Apart from “going into God’s sanctuary,” no one can know the answers! But when we go to Him, learn what He has revealed in the Bible, and add His “input” to the situation, we know that the wicked are not going to get away with anything! It is true that they will reap as they sow (Galatians 6:7,8). It is also true that they who have sown the wind will reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7).
Scene Four: Here is where I am (73:21-28).
Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.
I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless
I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works
(NKJV).
The fourth scene presents Asaph’s personal conclusions about all of this. He is humbled as he considers the foolishness of his own doubts. He is convinced of the truth he has learned from God. He is determined to go with God continually, being guided by His counsel in all things. He knows that having God is always enough. And he knows that all of this is good for him.
In the last verse, Asaph does something that is rather common in the Psalms: he says that he will announce these things. Is this not his commitment to tell others the truth? Is this not a better approach to the “problem of evil” than to speculate in doubt (verse 15)?
— Skip Andrews
Psalm 74:
How Long?
Sixty Times!
TRUTH FOR THE WORLD
P. O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096
Phone: 770 622-1525
Fax: 770 622-0881
Email: tftworld@aol.com
tftworld@tftw.org
Web Page: www.tftw.org
SICK LIST: Josh Reid
was ill last week. Jackie Wilson’s daughter-in-law had surgery Tuesday.
Steve Fishel, the Grubbs’ daughter-in-law’s father, needs our prayers as
he struggles with cancer and the side effects of treatment.
RESPONSE: Lydia Reid asked for the prayers of the church Sunday.
We appreciate Lydia and her courage and determination to live right.
GROUPS: Group 3 is in charge of the services at Plantation South
at 1:30.
Group 1 is in charge of the service at Gwinnett Extended Care at 2:00.
CHILDREN’S CLASS: 5:30 today.
FOR THE RECORD:
AM Class 131
AM Worship 140
PM Worship 119
Wednesday Class 122
Contribution $7190
Budget $6500
HOLIDAY PARTIES: Adult:
Dec. 16, 6:00. Covered dish dinner downstairs followed by a Yank-ee
gift exchange. Please bring a $10 gift (men for men; women for women).
Non-Adult: Dec. 17, following evening services. Bring a $5
gift (boys for boys; girls for girls—labeled for your age group).
Parents: Please send “kid-friendly” snacks and pick up your non-adult
at 8:45.
NEW YEAR’S EVE SING:
Please plan to stay after Sunday evening services, December 31, and we
will sing in the new year together. Bring snacks and drinks.
Also, bring your favorite board games.
BUILDING CLEANING: Please check out the building cleaning schedule
for 2001 on the bulletin board. If each family would sign up to clean
part of the building twice, it would really be appreciated.
AWAY: Remember John Grubb in your prayers as he works in Indonesia.
He will be returning December 22.
KIEV: Chuck and Jodi Northrop are working in Kiev, Ukraine.
Let’s keep them in our prayers.
INDIA: Ernest Burnette leaves on December 26. He is to
return on January 19.
VOLUME 2:34 December 17, 2000