Notes of Faith November 20, 2024
Sanctuary
When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me—until I went into the sanctuary of God.
Psalm 73:16-17
The writer of Psalm 73 knew in his head that God was good (verse 1). But this writer, Asaph, was troubled in his heart by what he saw around him. The wicked were thriving (verses 3-9). They scoffed at the notion of God (verses 10-11), yet they were growing richer (verse 12). Asaph, who tried to live a godly life, wondered why he had more problems than the arrogant (verses 13-14).
Psalm 73
Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
My steps [a]had almost slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boastful,
I saw the peace of the wicked.
4 For there are no pains in their death,
And their [b]body is fat.
5 They are not [c]in trouble as other [d]men,
And they are not stricken along with the rest of mankind.
6 Therefore lofty pride is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them.
7 Their eye [e]bulges from fatness;
The delusions of their heart overflow.
8 They scoff and [f]wickedly speak of oppression;
They speak from on high.
9 They have set their mouth [g]against the heavens,
And their tongue goes through the earth.
10 Therefore [h]his people return here, to his place,
And waters of fullness are [i]drunk by them.
11 They say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have [j]kept my heart pure
And washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken all day long
And [k]reproved every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will recount thus,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
16 When I gave thought to know this,
It was trouble in my sight
17 Until I came into the [l]sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cause them to fall to [m]destruction.
19 How they become desolate in a moment!
They are completely swept away by terrors!
20 Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their [n]form.
21 When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced [o]within,
22 Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like [p]an animal [q]before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With Your counsel You will lead me,
And afterward take me [r]in glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And [s]besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart fail,
But God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have [t]destroyed everyone who [u]is unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have set Lord Yahweh as my refuge,
That I may recount all Your works.
What did Asaph do? He expressed his questions to God. He went into the Lord’s presence like entering a sanctuary, and he gained new insights about the brevity of life for the wicked compared to the eternal glory afforded him by his faith (verses 15-24).
There’s a temptation when faced with spiritual questions to withdraw from God in frustration when we should withdraw to God in faith. We may not always understand our situations, but we’ll draw closer to the One who does understand.
Do you have spiritual questions? Go to God with them!
Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.
Elisabeth Elliot
I pray that this has sparked a thought or memory in your mind. Have you had spiritual questions? Whom did you turn to for answers? Do you have current spiritual questions? To whom will you turn to for answers today? I trust that you hear the Spirit of God calling out to you to listen to the heart of God. Even when we struggle with life’s daily circumstances we can trust the providence, plan and eternal perspective of God. May you be richly blessed as you seek to rest in the loving provision of God for you and His desire to have you be with Him forever!
Pastor Dale