Good morning,
…why the wicked prosper(Ps. 73:16)
The prophets had been talking about it since Moses, and the same theme had continued on through the prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. King David had struggled with the theme when writing his psalms (songs) and even Solomon warned people at the dedication of the temple what would happen if they abandoned their God. By the time the prophet Asaph came along, he had to live through the reality of God’s threatening promises as they moved toward reality. Asaph was overwhelmed as the wicked people around him were doing so well while he, as a God fearing man, was living with pain and frustration. He stopped looking up and started to look around, and the result was that he became self focused and envious of their good life. Where was his God? How could he let them get away with this? Asaph finally went to where he could spend time with God, and God opened his mind to how He saw these people from his perspective. God helped him to see beyond their prosperity to their destiny. God showed him that he had put them on a slippery path and (would) send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. These people were about to be destroyed, and swept away by terror.
But God didn’t stop there. God showed Asaph what was going on inside his heart as well. He saw that he was bitter and foolish. He had been looking at life through sinful eyes that had blinded him to what God was doing in his life.(vs 21,22) Then he realized that God was holding him in his right hand, guiding him with perfect counsel, and leading him to a glorious destiny. Asaph stopped wondering what was wrong with his God and instead began looking at his God with eyes filled with wonder. Now he could sing 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.(vs.25,26) God was allowing his servant to see the contrast between the outcome of a rebellious life and the outcome of a godly life in preparation for the time when he would see his beloved city, God’s beautiful temple and his beautiful country, all in total ruin.(Ps.74) Dear Lord, in days like these will you help us to Turn our eyes on Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, so that the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! 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.(Psalms 73:16-18)
Roy Wisner
