Conventional wisdom
Psalm 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
Solomon wrote: Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Jesus said: Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Paul wrote: What a man sows, is what he shall reap.
Asaph lamented, “But” it is not working.
Psalm 73:2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity (shalom) of the wicked.
a. Good things happen to
Psalm 73:4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens
common to man; they are not plagued
by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes
iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds
know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten
oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of
the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?
12 This is what the wicked are like
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
b. Bad things happen to
Psalm 73:13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart
pure; in vain have I washed my hands
in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued.
I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it
was oppressive to me.God offers a
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a
man, but in the end it leads to death.
Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
1 Corinthians 2:6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
a. God’s wisdom comes from
Psalm 73:17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
b. God’s wisdom comes from
Psalm 73:23-24
Promise 1: vs.23 Yet I am always with
you;
Promise 2: you hold me by my right
hand.
Promise 3: vs. 24 You guide me with your
counsel,
Promise 4: and afterward you will
take me into glory.Wisdom comes from
Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.