You have to admire the psalmist for his honesty and vulnerability - or to use a popular word today - his authenticity. In Psalm 73 he expressed 3,000 years ago the spiritual struggle of so many 21st century Christ followers. His circumstances were very different, but his humanity was exactly like ours.
We are surrounded by so many tempting choices in recreation, entertainment, and lifestyles. Far too much of it involves spiritual compromise.
The psalmist complains to God about how filled with pleasure life seems to be for those who have no regard for God. In their prosperity, with no restrictions from sin, life seems seems so good. "The evil conceits of their minds know no limits." They are "always carefree, they increase in wealth." He is evidently jealous of what seems to be "the good life" enjoyed apart from God.
In contrast he complains "Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence." Why be "good and godly" if a life that ignores God seems so much better? Millions of Christian teens and young adults have thought much like the psalmist. For too many it is a losing struggle to live as serious Christ followers while surrounded by a pleasure filled, amoral and immoral culture. Actually it can be a struggle for all of us.
The psalmist recognizes as he looks back, that this "enjoy life while you can, don't worry about displeasing God" kind of thinking made him no better than an animal. He writes:"I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you." Animals don't evaluate what is right before their Maker. Animals don't refuse pleasure because they have a long range view. Animals can't enjoy a personal relationship with the living God. We are made in the image of God, even though that image is marred by sin. A life centred upon God is available to us now and for eternity. If we are enjoying God, we will think differently and live differently.
It is very hard to get the average person to save for tomorrow or to invest for retirement. How much harder is it for the average Christ follower to say a strong "no" to attractive sin which in the short run offers great enjoyment?
"When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny." (73:16, 17) The psalmist changed when he regained an appreciation for God and a long range view, an eternal perspective, an "end results" view of life.
As the psalm moves toward its conclusion, the author is expressing his attachment to God, his appreciation of God, his dependence on God, his expectation of spending eternity with God. Now he sees that the vast short term pleasures enjoyed by the godless shrink in comparison to the deep enjoyment of God. He knows and enjoys the Maker of the Universe, his Father God! He will enjoy and live with God forever! What pleasure on earth can match this reality?
We need the same experience if we are to maintain lives of purity and commitment to biblical righteousness. We need to be daily enjoying life with God and regularly lifting our eyes to the eternal horizon. Then the "Divine Yes" will provide all we need to say a consistent "No" to the compelling attractiveness of sin.
We are surrounded by so many tempting choices in recreation, entertainment, and lifestyles. Far too much of it involves spiritual compromise.
The psalmist complains to God about how filled with pleasure life seems to be for those who have no regard for God. In their prosperity, with no restrictions from sin, life seems seems so good. "The evil conceits of their minds know no limits." They are "always carefree, they increase in wealth." He is evidently jealous of what seems to be "the good life" enjoyed apart from God.
In contrast he complains "Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence." Why be "good and godly" if a life that ignores God seems so much better? Millions of Christian teens and young adults have thought much like the psalmist. For too many it is a losing struggle to live as serious Christ followers while surrounded by a pleasure filled, amoral and immoral culture. Actually it can be a struggle for all of us.
The psalmist recognizes as he looks back, that this "enjoy life while you can, don't worry about displeasing God" kind of thinking made him no better than an animal. He writes:"I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you." Animals don't evaluate what is right before their Maker. Animals don't refuse pleasure because they have a long range view. Animals can't enjoy a personal relationship with the living God. We are made in the image of God, even though that image is marred by sin. A life centred upon God is available to us now and for eternity. If we are enjoying God, we will think differently and live differently.
It is very hard to get the average person to save for tomorrow or to invest for retirement. How much harder is it for the average Christ follower to say a strong "no" to attractive sin which in the short run offers great enjoyment?
"When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny." (73:16, 17) The psalmist changed when he regained an appreciation for God and a long range view, an eternal perspective, an "end results" view of life.
As the psalm moves toward its conclusion, the author is expressing his attachment to God, his appreciation of God, his dependence on God, his expectation of spending eternity with God. Now he sees that the vast short term pleasures enjoyed by the godless shrink in comparison to the deep enjoyment of God. He knows and enjoys the Maker of the Universe, his Father God! He will enjoy and live with God forever! What pleasure on earth can match this reality?
We need the same experience if we are to maintain lives of purity and commitment to biblical righteousness. We need to be daily enjoying life with God and regularly lifting our eyes to the eternal horizon. Then the "Divine Yes" will provide all we need to say a consistent "No" to the compelling attractiveness of sin.
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