Learning a new perspective on life (Psalm 73)
Ps 73:1-28
A single friend confessed to me once how hard she found going to weddings. On one occasion, it was particularly riling when the bride was known to have had a rebellious phase earlier in her faith. At the time she left the church and moved in with someone, then eventually broke up with him and now she claimed that the Lord has brought the man of her dreams into her life. My friend who has consistently followed the Lord ever since she had become a Christian was crying out to God, ‘What about me, Lord? When will my turn come? Haven’t I been faithful to you, more so than this girl?’ Most of us have known the anguish of watching someone else get everything that we have hoped for and wondered in pain why our prayers have not been answered.
The psalmist describes just such a situation. On the one hand, he confesses the truth that God cares and is good to His people who seek Him (Ps 73:1). On the other, he sees all those people who do not follow God faithfully (or at all) have their needs met and enjoying life while boasting about all that they have (Ps 73:1-9). In fact, the NLT with a particular apt phrase renders v.9 like this, ‘They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.’ They really rub it in! No wonder there is a feeling that God does not know or care about what is happening and the psalmist questions whether it is worth being faithful to God at all (Ps 73:10-14).[1]
As he struggles to make sense of reality, he recognises that his thoughts undermine God’s truth and his bitterness will affect His people; he simply cannot betray them like this (Ps 73:15). He wants to understand the gap between how things should be and how things are, and this is where the turning point comes. It is only in God’s presence that he learns a new perspective (Ps 73:17). Not only does he see beyond the surface success and outward appearance of things to God’s ultimate justice (Ps 73:18-20), but he acknowledges the problem with his own attitude (Ps 73:21-22). Reflection on God, whether through individual Bible reading or in fellowship with other believers, will inevitably teach us self-reflection too and the Lord can transform our perspective on what really matters.
At the beginning, the psalmist focused on God’s reward and it almost sounded like a business transaction (v.1): I have done my bit, now it’s your turn, Lord. From v.23 onwards, however, the focus shifts to the relationship. The emphasis is on God’s presence and guidance with a long view towards the final end (Ps 73:23-24). Notice how the psalmist’s desire is for God rather than earthly gifts, for His nearness that is a strength in trouble (Ps 73:25-28). I have to admit that I am challenged by the perspective of this psalm. As I look to the year ahead, there are things I would like to see happen in my life and it is difficult not to feel disappointed at the prospect that they might not. Is God really enough? Can the knowledge of the ultimate future in the life to come bring peace when we face disappointments in this life? Perhaps the psalm is not so much about an either-or scenario, but a matter of priorities. The Lord calls us to delight in Him (Ps 37:4) and seek His kingdom first (Matt 6:33) and when our hearts are aligned with Him, we find that He gives out of an abundance what is best for us. May we start this year with a renewed desire to know and love Him.
[1] Ps 73:10 in the NASB follows the Hebrew, but it is difficult to make sense of it. Possibly, God’s people turn to the place where they would expect to find waters of abundance (perhaps the imagery comes from Psalm 1:3, where the righteous are planted by the waters that do not dry up even in drought). Instead, the wicked have already drained the waters.
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