When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
Psalm 73:21-22
I thank God for giving us Psalm 73 in His Word. It is a Psalm I believe many of us can relate to. Asaph is describing a condition that comes from observing the prosperity of the wicked and the lack of reward for those who are living righteously on earth. It is when life isn’t fair. We see no righteous judgement and justice for God’s people. The wicked are mocking the Most High. You can read the full description in Psalm 73. It is exactly what we are experiencing right now in our lifetime. If we get distracted, and take our eyes off the counsel of God’s Word it will happen to us also. But we must continue reading the Psalm for the full counsel of God, and Asaph’s conclusion after entering into the Presence of God and allowing Him to show him their end. We must remember this world is not our home. We are told we are strangers and aliens in this world. We will never fit in with the world if we are followers of Christ.
Let us look closely at James 4:4-8:
"You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
The father of lies has Asaph confused. Asaph states surely he has kept his heart pure in vain and washed his hands in innocence. He says he has been stricken all day long and chastened every morning. But then in verses 16 and 17 he declares:
"When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end."
We must do the same. We must get alone with God, and allow Him to reveal eternal truth to counter the lies of the enemy. If not, we shall become as Asaph described himself, senseless and ignorant, like a beast before the Father. But then we see the truth set him free from the lies of the enemy as we read His conversation with God Himself in verses 23-28:
"Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 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 will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works."
O how glorious is the truth of God’s Word! It can transform us from being a wild beast, pierced within, with an embittered heart before Him, as it did Asaph. He guides and counsels us through the Holy Spirit revealing the hidden mysteries of His Word. May we allow these verses to encourage our hearts today, and may we all determine in our own hearts the nearness of God is our good. May we honestly be able to say He is truly our refuge we run to, and then we cannot help but tell of all His works to one another!
In His love.
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An incredibly picture perfect day enjoying the five peaks in Hanging Rock State Park with running buddies and Braveheart! We continuously stood in awe of the wondrous works of God! Blessed beyond words kind of day!
