Psalm 73

3 John 1:4

King James Version (KJV)

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

I hope you guys have had a better week than I've been having. My husband, my son, and I have all had some sort of bug. And I don't mean the little guy in the photo, he's been healthy and happy for a few weeks now, and seems very fond of my dining room window. We, on the other hand have been achy and coughing all night long for what seems like eternity. I feel if we could just get some good sleep that our bodies will begin to heal. Thank God for pastors who have their sermons on the church website, right? Best thing since sleep-inducing cough medicines (please work tonight, we need sleep!).

Whenever I am touched by a sermon, I feel the need to pass it on to those who weren’t there to hear it. This sermon was on Psalm 73 (attached below if you’d like to read it). Our pastor is preaching a chapter of Psalms each week. In this Psalm Asaph cries out to God. He asks God why the wicked seem to flourish and prosper, but the good Christian is poor and wanting. He is jealous and angry and wants to understand this because it seems backwards from how it should be. The wicked should be punished and have a terrible life, and the good Christians should be living life easy with riches, right?

 

That’s not how it works. Asaph then goes into the sanctuary of God and the realization hits him. For Christians, this life on earth is as bad as we will have it. We prove that we love and serve God during our short time on earth, through thick and thin, and our reward is literally heaven for the rest of our existence. For the rest of our existence we will have it soooo good! Life will be amazingly easy and beautiful, our bodies will be healthy and perfect, we will want for nothing.

 

For the wicked and unbelievers, it’s a different story. Their life here on earth may look pretty nice and blessed. They may have a big house, fancy cars, and all the latest gadgets, but that’s all they’ll have. When THEIR short life of abundance here on earth ends, they’ll spend the rest of eternity in hell. They’ll be miserable every single moment.

 

Kind of makes the crummy days not seem so bad, huh?

 

 

Psalm 73

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

 ²But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

 ³For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 ⁴For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

 ⁵They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

 ⁶Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

 ⁷Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

 ⁸They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

 ⁹They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

 ¹⁰Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

 ¹¹And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

 ¹²Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

 ¹³Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

 ¹⁴For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

 ¹⁵If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

 ¹⁶When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

 ¹⁷Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

 ¹⁸Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

 ¹⁹How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

 ²⁰As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

 ²¹Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

 ²²So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

 ²³Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

 ²⁴Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

 ²⁵Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

 ²⁶My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

 ²⁷For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

 ²⁸But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Have a wonderful week! I have some crafts I'm going to do when I feel up to a challenge. I hope to post them soon. 

~This Glorious Day~