My Feet Had Almost Stumbled Until…

Story of Whale Exploding (and picture)

Isn’t that just like life sometimes? 

You are going about your business, and it all explodes.  You didn’t see it coming.  You didn’t plan for it.  You certainly didn’t welcome it.  And you are hurt, confused, and weak with lots of unanswered questions.

-Where you did the right thing but got the bad deal.

-You have been gossiped about.

-Someone did something unfair to you at work.

-Someone else did something wrong and didn’t get caught.

-Something that is unfair.

-How do you hold to God is Good when Life Stinks?

To help us we will turn to the Psalms, where the raw emotions of real people write who just hit the wall are expressed, and where deep reservoirs hit the wall are expressed, and when we think God is nowhere to be found, GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.

So, lets sit with a choir director named Asaph.  Asaph was one of the three directors who worked under King David. He was one of the great worship leaders in the OT.  And he’s about to get as real as it gets.

Psalm 73

1Truly God is good to Israel,to those who are pure in heart.  (Asaph is acknowledging what Hebrews 11:6 names as the very essence of faith, following God).  Asaph believes God exist, that He is good and sovereign over all. But He is in trouble)

² But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,my steps had nearly slipped.(He nearly lost his grip on what he believes.  He keeps tripping on something that just doesn’t make sense and it’s not fair. This God inspired Worship leader is getting ready to walk away from it all, he on the edge of throwing in the towel, and calling it quits.)

³ For I was envious(he was checking out the players playing for the other team, maybe thumbing through the magazines at the doctor’s office looking at celebrity houses, he did business with an ungodly person who has the midas touch, he started wanting what everyone else had)of the arrogant (people who make sure you notice them)when I saw the prosperity(fallen into the trap of loving the world)of the wicked (those who are against God).

Asaph had let envy in the door and it covered EVERYTHING that he saw.

Look as he continues (from the message version)

Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, pampered and overfed, decked out in silliness.  They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words.  They’re full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace.  People actually listen to them—can you believe it?  Like puppies, they lap up their words.  What’s going on here?  Is God out to lunch?  Nobody’s tending the store.  They wicked get by with everything; they have it made piling up riches.  I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me?  A long run of bad luck, that’s what—a slap in the face very time I walk out the door.Vs 6-14

¹⁵ If I had said, “I will speak thus,”I would have betrayed the generation of your children.¹⁶ But when I thought how to understand this,it seemed to me a wearisome task,

Before you quit,

Before you throw in the towel,

Before you stop coming,

Before you listen to the lies of the world…

Consider the next generation (spiritual generation) …

(some of us need to repent right there because we have allowed our emotions to deceive us and it has affected the spiritual generations around us and Asaph new better. We think it is only about us but NOTHING could be further from the truth!!  We are connected.  When you quit and throw in the towel if affects me.  It affects my kids.  It affects my spiritual family.  I may not see it physically, but it is happening spiritually.)

Consider your children…

Consider your children’s children…

Consider every decision that will be made outside of the will of God…

Don’t be selfish and think your actions only impact you!!

Your actions influence the generations coming behind you!!

None of these words that he had written changed Asaph’s feelings, they just changed his immediate actions.  Have you betrayed a generation of God followers by your actions?

Because you were in your feelings?

¹⁷ until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end

Asaph went to church

You can sense this music director’s relief when he comes to worship.

Everything changed in the sanctuary.

God was his focus, not his problems.

There he was reminded of God’s attributes, character and power.

He could see God’s judgement of sin as well as God’s solution offered to sinners.

Their prosperity was only temporary.  (you only win in this lifetime)

They enjoy their sin for a while, maybe even a lifetime, but from the perspective of eternity, from the point of view in worship, there is a quick ride to the bottom. 

Everything makes senseagain in the sanctuary of God

Living for Eternitymakes Sense in the sanctuary of God

Getting Rid of Sinmakes Sense in the sanctuary of God

Being Faithfulmakes senses in the sanctuary of God

Tithing and being Generousmakes sense in the sanctuary of God

Forgivingmake sense in the sanctuaryof God

Picking up your Cross and following Jesusmakes sense in the sanctuary of God

And where does the enemy try to keep you from?

Where does he fight the hardest?

Asaph….Don’t go to the sanctuary. 

The last thing he wants is for Asaph one of Israel’s most anointed worship leaders getting back to the sanctuary.  Because if Asaph can just get to the sanctuary…his mindset will change and it will not only affect him is will affect future generations.

Maybe you are still struggling with the injustice you’ve been dealt, and you’ve felt your commitment to God wane because of it. 

Before you bail out on God, quit it all.  Come back to the sanctuary!!

And Asaph does.

Will you?

Vs 23

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Vs 28

But for me it is good to be near God;  I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your good works.