From Doubt and Struggle to Trust

Psalm 73

God is My Strength and Portion Forever

Introduction

There is a class of psalms called the “wisdom psalms.”

Wisdom psalms typically reflect on the difficult experiences and questions of life. Often, these psalms are written as the psalmists face adversities or contradictions as they attempt to live out a life of faith. Sometimes the psalmists reflect upon seemingly irreconcilable conundrums such as the juxtaposition of God’s righteousness and His love.

Psalm 73 is a wisdom psalm that contains reflections on the experiences of life. Is God truly righteous and at the same time truly loving? Is God really sovereign over the universe? Why does darkness envelop me? Why is the enemy still attacking me?

In the 20^th century the greatest doubt on God’s existence and his sovereignty came from the Holocaust—the massacre of six million Jews by German Nazis.

The German people were Christians and so-called most civilized people on earth by that time. They were champions in classical music, philosophy and science. That is why the whole world was stunned by the horrific view of gas chamber killing in Auschwitz, Poland.

How could they commit such extent of atrocities? Why did God allow such atrocity done on his own chosen people, the Jews? Maybe God does not exist? Or God is not able to help?

Following the incident, many theologians left the profession to become philosophers because they said God was dead. But not long after, they realized that, hey! We have all this while trusted in the beauty and good of humanity, including the German hegemony. We think they represent God.

But Bible reveals to us that God is a transcendent God. He cannot be confined by anything on earth. We need to humbly listen to him through his words in the Bible. Humans are truly evil, even the human civilisation is polluted by sin. We need salvation from God.

Besides, they realized that, hey! Jesus though was God himself, also battled by human violence for he was crucified on the cross. Where there is suffering, Jesus is there to suffer with the victim and he is there to help.

So the existence of suffering does not negate the presence of God, but calls us, the church, as Christ’ s proxy on earth, to walk into suffering to do the same as Jesus ministered to people needs and died on the cross.

The Chiastic Structure of Psalm 73

A	Verses 1-3	God is good to the pure in heart
B	Verses 4-16	Psalmist’s struggle
C	Verse 17	Psalmist enters the sanctuary of God
B’	Verses 18-26	Psalmist relieved from struggle
A’	Verses 27-28	It is good to be near God

Exposition

In verse 1, the psalmist declares his fundamental faith in the covenant God – “Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.”

The LORD God is forever Israel’s God. He has entered into a covenant relationship with Israel. Who are the people whose hearts are pure?

According to the Psalmist, they are people renewed by God’s Spirit (51:10), commit themselves to lives of godliness, keep away from anything that is sinful, and enjoy God’s presence (24:3-4).

This confession above is not only the content of the psalmist’s faith but it is also the starting point of his faith.

But from verse 2 to verse 14, the psalmist does not conceal what is in his heart – feelings of injustice, anger, disappointment, dissolution and doubt. He complains to God:

“But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness (vv. 2-3).”

The Psalmist sees the prosperity of the wicked as unfair and resents it. His feet were slipping form the way of wisdom and godliness.

“Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain (vv. 13-14).”

“So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is (v. 16)!”

The psalmist is filled with dissatisfactions and doubts as he sees that things are going so smoothly for the wicked and as evil becomes more and more rampant.

Then he presents a caricature of the bliss of the wicked:

They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jewelled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut though the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.  “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happing?” Look at these wicked people—enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply (vv. 4-12).

The proud adorn themselves with pride and cruelty rather than wisdom. The proud boast, claiming that they own everything and are not subject to anyone.

The notion that the wicked are in power and the righteous are suffering contradicts and conflicts with the psalmist’s doctrine that “God is righteous and loving.” He does not understand why this is so and does not know the best way to deal with this conundrum:

If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked proper. But what a difficult task it is (vv. 15-16)!

As the psalmist surveys the world’s horizon, he sees that it pays to be wicked. The wicked prospers while the righteous suffers. How is God righteous? Why did God not intervene each time the psalmist was attacked by his enemies?

The psalmist is deeply troubled. His mind becomes sceptical and he continues to struggle. It is not true that he does not believe. An unbeliever does not believe God. Rather, the psalmist is a doubter for he is trying to believe amidst his confusion, dissolution and struggles.

If he voices his doubts and dissatisfactions to the public, it is tantamount to inciting the people to doubt and oppose God. The psalmist dares not offend God or stumble others. What then can he do?

The psalmist persists to worship God, sing praises to God, listen to God’s word, and cares for the community of faith. He did not withdraw from God or hide from him.

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning (vv. 17-20).

At this time, God’s sanctuary was the Temple in Jerusalem. There, in God’s presence, in the midst of worship, the psalmist receives a deeper knowledge and wisdom from God. His eyes are opened by God. He can now see from God’s perspective with a broader horizon. The cloud of doubts in his heart are swept away by the rushing wind of the Spirit.  

Worshipping in the sanctuary of God brings forth renewal and transformation in human’s heart, soul and mind.

Now the psalmist’s eyes are fixated on God’s ultimate plan, the destiny of good and evil. God deals with the wicked over the long term. He waits patiently and gives them time to repent; those who do not repent will get what they deserve.

It may seem that the wicked prospers and the righteous suffers, the reality is that the peace that the wicked enjoy is short and in vain just like dreams in the morning. Although the wicked may seem all glittery now, but their final outcome is destruction. They will ultimately perish.

The Psalmist’s attitude changes tremendously. He is now at peace and full of joy because he has gained a deeper understanding of God’s righteousness and love.

Compare verse 18 with verse 2:

But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone (v. 2).

Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction (v. 18).

This comparison is a vivid depiction of the respective fates of the righteous and the wicked. The plight of the righteous is only superficial and short but the destruction of the wicked is total and is forever.

Then, the psalmist expresses regret for his ignorance, doubts and bitterness. As he regains composure, he feels at peace. God is leading him through his troubles and changes his misery into splendour. He continues to follow God:

Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny (vv. 21-24). 

The psalmist sees that he has truly been ignorant and feels that he has fallen short of God. His negative emotions had clouded him from thinking and seeing clearly God’s work and power. But God does not forsake him but leads him to the truth.

Ultimately, the psalmist gains a more mature understanding and assurance from God, and established a deeper spiritual relationship with God. He has become an overcomer in faith.

The psalmist declares:

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. (vv. 25-28).

The psalmist once again reinforces an important and unchanging truth that is found in the wisdom literature, which is also the core of the faith of the Israelites: “In the end, the wicked will perish; while those who place their trust in the LORD and take refuge in Him will be blessed. The blessed ones inherit God and, thereby, inherit everything! Nothing in heaven or on earth is better than being near God.”

Not only does the psalmist know God even deeper, he also further develops his spiritual walk with God. His commitment to God is now total. He trusts God to lead him higher and higher into glory!

The psalmist understands that true blessedness is found in trusting God because God is the eternal sovereign of life. God reigns in eternity. God alone is our refuge. Everything that we need is found in Him. This is the distinctive characteristic of wise men and women of faith.

By the end of the worship session, the psalmist’s doubts and suspicions are transformed into solidified faith even though difficulties and evil still remain. He calls on the congregation to draw near to God and to meet Him so that they too will have the eyes of their hearts opened to see that God is sovereign over everything.

Conclusion

Deuteronomy 32:35 echoes Psalm 73, for God said, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time, their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive, and their destiny will overtake them.”

Let’s put our trust firmly in God. Let’s cast all the worries, fear, burden, grievances and un-forgiveness unto the Lord Jesus. He shall give us rest! We can hold our heads up high, and ride calmly into the worldly fog as we battle with evil. Our future is bright ahead!

Let’s declare together with the psalmist: In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom 8:37).