Psalm 73

Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+73&version=ESV

There was a lot of meat to chew on here!

The beginning stood out to me:

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
    my steps had nearly slipped.
³ For I was envious of the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Yep I’ve done that. I’ve often thought things would be simpler if I just looked out for number one. If I didn’t go to church on Sundays I could get more free time, I could avoid church voter’s meetings, dances at church that don’t have alcohol, so many things I could get away from and there are non-believers who seem quite successful. Then he goes into his logic and it gets more and more sad. I don’t think I envy these people he’s talking about.

⁴ For they have no pangs until death;
    their bodies are fat and sleek.
⁵ They are not in trouble as others are;
    they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
⁶ Therefore pride is their necklace;
    violence covers them as a garment.
⁷ Their eyes swell out through fatness;
    their hearts overflow with follies.

This is an aside but it’s interesting that he describes non-believers as fat and sleek. Those two words don’t go together. Almost sounds like he’s describing a seal. According to the dictionary that can mean rich and stylish not necessarily aerodynamic. But I think fat works to describe someone who is me centered which gets to the word the psalmist focuses on most.

Why do I want to be like non-believers? Pride. I want life to be about me. And I would want to fight for what I believe is right and for my life above all else instead of fighting for the rights of others. Being part of the church has led me to know more about medical issues than I would have otherwise. Because we pray for sick people all the time.

Instead of a story about someone else. As a Christian your story no longer can be about you. You are not the hero. Jesus is. He’s the one who saved you. You are the villain and the victim, but you’re not the hero.

This stood out as well:

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
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 works.

It is sad to think that there are those who turn away from the goodness of God. It’s good to be near God. I can’t say I feel His presence often, but I don’t think turning from God and going my way is going to help me feel Him more. Just be near and at times the feeling will be there. God is at work in our lives and He is near us whether we acknowledge it or not!

May you seem, may you know that life is about so much more than you. It’s about our savior, a grand plan for people to be saved by the hand of God.