JUNE 14 & 15 PSALMS 73-77

June 14/15 BIBLE BLOG (Happy Flag Day!)

Psalms 73-77; Today, we begin BOOK THREE of the Psalms. As I said yesterday, we begin to see fewer of David’s psalms and more of Asaph’s (David’s worship leader) and those of the sons of Korah. 

Psalm 73 is one of my favorites. The final six verses are my very favorite passage from all the psalms, but their meaning deepens when we understand the whole. Asaph, the author, has just endured a spiritual crisis, a “dark night of the soul.” It all centered upon the question: Why do the wicked prosper (v. 3)? He began to question his own walk, wondering why he had worked so hard to be righteous. His bitterness turned him into a “brute beast” (v. 22). What helped him out of this spiritual mess? Help came when he “entered the sanctuary of God.” There God gave him heavenly perspective on wicked people. Their prosperity is a mirage. If they refuse to repent, their end is sheer ruin. After coming to his senses, Asaph pens some of the most wonderful words of faith in scripture. My favorite of these six favorite verses is v. 25: Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire beside you!

Psalm 74 is another of Asaph’s psalms, an intercession for Israel. Twice, he asks, “Why?” First, why are you angry with your sheep, Lord? (v. 1), then, why won’t you destroy Israel’s enemies, Lord? (v. 11) But Asaph’s favorite word in this psalm is “Remember.” How many times does he use it? And what are the things he calls on God to remember?

Psalm 75 is a short song by Asaph that glorifies God as the righteous Judge.  

In Psalm 76, Asaph strikes another theme: the fear of the Lord. We “New Testament” Christians like to quote 1 John 4:18 on the subject of fear: There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear. Yet, the word of the Lord through Solomon still stands: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). There is a place, even still, for a holy, awe-struck, worshipful fear of God, even if we no longer need to fear punishment (1 John 4:19). 

Psalm 77, like all the other psalms for today, is by Asaph. Like Psalm 73, it describes a troubled time in Asaph’s life. Read the first nine verses slowly and thoughtfully; have you ever felt as hopeless and helpless as he does? In verses 10-12, Asaph gives himself some timely advice: I will appeal (Pray!), I will remember (God’s good deeds in the past!), I will ponder and meditate (on those deeds). In the rest of the psalm Asaph tries to take his own advice, which is good advice for us, as well!

Monday, we read Psalms 78-83!

Your brother in the Word,
Pastor Gary