Asaph's Struggle: The Heart of Psalm 73
Many people think the book of Psalms was written only by King David, but the truth is that several authors contributed to this collection. Moses, for example, wrote Psalm 90. In my quiet time this past week, God really spoke to me through Psalm 73, written by a man named Asaph. Besides David, Asaph has become one of my favorite voices of wisdom in the Psalms. Hopefully, God will speak to you as well through his lyrics.
Asaph begins Psalm 73 with a confession. He says, “God is good to the pure in heart, but as for me, I almost blew it!” (verses 1–2). “Ok, Asaph, what did you do?” Well, it turns out Asaph allowed his eyes to stray: “…I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (verse 3). He continues to describe what the “prosperity of the wicked” looks like. They don’t have pain when they die; they are well-fed and not starving. They don’t have troubles like other people, and they do whatever they want. Asaph writes in verse 7, “…the imaginations of their hearts run riot.” Their desires are literally untethered, with no restraints on their thoughts.
If I’m honest, Asaph’s feelings of envy are all too familiar. Throughout my life, I’ve dealt with the same desire to throw caution to the wind. I remember moments in high school when I felt envious of my peers who were unrestrained in their speech, relationships, how they treated others, the movies they watched, and the things they did together. I knew I was called to be different as a follower of Jesus, but it was an intense struggle. There were times when I held my ground and times when I gave in to the pressure around me.
If you are remotely serious about your walk with Christ, then you understand the tension I’m describing. God calls all believers to walk in holiness after Him (1 Peter 1:16), which is a very high calling (in fact, it’s impossible without the Spirit in your life). God will also hold everyone accountable for the way they live their lives, even their thoughts (Matthew 5:27–28). That’s a lot of work! Wouldn’t it be easier and more freeing to let the imaginations of our hearts run riot like the wicked? In the midst of this struggle with envy, Asaph exclaims, “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence” (verse 13). It’s almost as if he’s asking, “What’s the point of being different when everyone else seems better off?” Here is where the tide changes.
All of this was troublesome to Asaph until he “…came into the sanctuary of God…” (verse 17). When Asaph drew close to the Lord, his eyes were lifted, and his perspective changed. He perceived where the path of the wicked led—slippery places, destruction, being swept away by terrors, and more. Not only did his perspective change, but his heart changed as well! “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth” (verse 25). Wait a second! Didn’t he open this chapter with envy for all the wicked had? Now, his only desire is God! “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good…” (verse 28). How do you live a life that is holy and satisfying? I believe it comes from learning to say, like Asaph, “The nearness of God is my good!”
As a wrestler, I’ve learned it’s not good to keep your eyes focused solely on what’s happening with your opponent. You also need to look up! When I looked up during a match, I saw my dad’s love and encouragement from the stands. I saw the wise counsel of my coach, giving instructions for my good. Lastly, I saw the clock. It’s so important to be aware of how much time is left in a match—it changes how you wrestle! In the same way, we can fall into the same trap Asaph did when we only focus on what’s around us. We have to regularly look up to our heavenly Dad for His approval and affection. We need to consistently seek the counsel of the Spirit, our Coach! And finally, we must keep our eyes on the time. Life is short! If we keep this in view, it will change how we wrestle.