I Have A Problem

Psalm 73

Homiletics was an interesting class. If you check Wikipedia you will find:

In religious studies, homiletics is the application of the general principles of rhetoric to the specific art of public preaching.

Basically, it teaches the principles of developing and preaching a sermon. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, for me I only had one year of the class. But neither in the class, nor in listening to sermons throughout my lifetime have I ever heard a preacher get behind the sacred desk and say:

Yet God is good to Israel: even, to the pure in heart.

Psalms 73:1 GNV

Then after giving such a glorious beginning say:

But I have a problem.

Somehow in my life I feel like I relate better to Psalm 73 then I do to Psalm 23.

As for me, my feet were almost gone: my steps had well near slipped. For I fretted at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalms 73:2 - 3 GNV

Yes, I suppose I could have entitled this "Greener Grass", but recognizing how in my own current struggle the feeling is so similar. Some believers might say "Why me?" when at the exact same time other believers are saying, "Why not me?" Either way is fretting, and as it says, "fretted at the foolish".

Yes, reading line after line about them it appears the wicked live comfortably and confidently in their arrogance and attitude and prosper doing so. And it gets very discouraging. While the opening line is that God is good to the pure in heart his discouragement is so deep that he says:‬

Certainly I haue cleansed mine heart in vain, and washed mine hands in innocency.

Psalms 73:13 GNV

Everything I do to live a pure life just isn't worth having done it.

If I say, I will judge thus, behold the generation of thy children: I have trespassed. Then thought I to know this, but it was too painful for me,

Psalms 73:15 - 16 GNV

Pain? I don't want to talk about pain. It's not a migraine, it's not an arm broken in three places, it's not a broken back or neck. No, this pain is the shattering of hopes, dreams, or maybe even the hurt from broken love, loss of a parent, a child, or a spouse. All I have put my heart and mind to, put my whole life into, "it was to painful for me". By this time I have given up on that feeling that "God is good to the pure in heart". It just isn't worth trying anymore...

Definitely not the expected rhetoric of the everyday preacher.

Until I went into the Sanctuary of God: then understood I their end.

Psalms 73:17 GNV

We've given up by now, but oh the necessity of holding on to seeking God, not just to say, Oh, I found God, but how important it is to know God Himself and recognize His work, and that His work directly involves me, at least necessitates me recognizing it is His work and answers the very thing that is to painful for me to endure.

God doesn't, isn't allowing anyone to get away with anything. We are very impatient people. God has arranged what lies ahead for the wicked. It isn't necessarily in our time that retribution takes place. Just the same as when we seek God to work we wonder if He is actually answering, or is going to answer. What a need to fully trust God in a greater way.

Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and I have desired none in the earth with thee. My flesh faileth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalms 73:24 - 26 GNV

The writer started describing his problem with "As for me...". He declares His final thoughts, solution to his problem, at least in the English language, also with "As for me...". May we learn to do the same.

As for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: therefore I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

Psalms 73:28 GNV