The psalm is about about a man who has taken his eyes off of the Lord and to make matters worse. He starts comparing his life to the life of an unbeliever. Then, he questions why they have it so good and he has it so bad. For about 19 verses, he’s doing nothing but complaining about keeping his heart clean and working for the Lord wow struggling and the unrighteous are profiting.
What God says about this is that seeing is fun for a season, but the season comes to a close. His judgment is final. The price is a high price that they are going to pay. They might be rewarded in this life, but in their internal life, they are going to burn in hail. So what profit of man that loses his soul?
The word “ignorant” occurs 13 times in the Bible and is connected with some important spiritual facts we should all know and never forget. That is why today we cover the spiritual Truth that God is always near.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the word “ignorant” means unaware or uniformed. I would like us, for the next few weeks, to look at some spiritual facts that you may be unaware of or have forgotten. Most of the time we forget important spiritual truths when it comes to God and our relationship with Him. I am not sure why we forget such important matters, but I know it to be true. That is why God had Israel erect monuments and write down accounts and tell stories about all the events that took place in their relationship with Him. They forgot easily! We forget easily! This word “ignorant” occurs 13 times in the Bible and is connected with some important spiritual facts we should all know. That is why today we cover the spiritual Truth that God is always near.
READ PSALM 73:21-28
“When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, (angry or resentful at having been treated unfairly.) I was senseless and ignorant; (unaware) I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 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.”
I. LIFE SOMETIMES GETS THE BETTER OF US
The Psalm describes a life situation that we all sometimes face. The Psalmist says that his heart is grieving and his spirit is embittered. (angry or resentful at having been treated unfairly.). He describes himself as a “brute beast.” I would say that life is getting the better of him. He feels like life has kicked his teeth in. He walks around the growls at all his family members and feels as though the weight of the world is on his shoulders. Life many times is not an easy place to live!
There are always money troubles and unexpected bills
There are always family problems and tensions
There are always spiritual questions and wanderings
There are always questions about death and grief
Perhaps some of these are creeping around you. Maybe all of them. Jesus never promises that our life in Him will be trouble free. Jesus never says that. In fact, Jesus assumes trouble will come (Matthew 5:10-12) and says that we are blessed.
Matthew 5:10-12 (New International Version) “10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Some tell me: “Blessed? Are you kidding me?! Where is the blessing in my stack of bills? Where is the blessing in my sickness? Where is the blessing in the death of my loved one? Where is the blessing?”
Well, we are blessed, because we have Jesus Christ. We are blessed because we’re on the side of victory.
I imagine that some of the people in Scripture wondered the same question. Where is the blessing or the good in any of this?
o I imagine David asking this as several of his sons rebelled against him and died. (2 Samuel 13)
o I imagine Daniel asking that question as they lowered him into the lion’s den. (Daniel 6)
o I imagine Jonah asking this as he was tossed off the boat and swallowed by a whale. (Jonah 1:17)
o I imagine Esther asking this when she is taken from her home and married to a pagan king. (Esther 5).
o I imagine Paul and Silas asking this as they were tossed into a jail cell for preaching the Gospel. (Acts 16:16)
o I imagine Mary asking this as she held her dead son after they took Him off the cross. (Matthew 20:20)
God could have kept Daniel out of the lions’ den. . . he could have kept Paul and Silas out of jail.. . . he could have kept the three Hebrew children out of the fiery furnace. . . but God has never promised to keep us out of hard places . . . what he has promised is to go with us through every hard place, and to bring us through victorious.
God promises us that He will always be near.
II. GOD IS ALWAYS NEAR
Psalm 73 describes a God who is active in our lives. He is actively aiding us in getting through these tough times.
The Psalm tells us that God holds us by the hand as a loving parent holds a child as they cross a busy street.
It tells us that God guides us with His counsel and I would add to this thought that we have boundless advice and help in the form of God’s Word.
Our God knows our life struggles and has not left us alone without any directions… we have the Bible as our guide and we must read this Word and avail ourselves of His counsel.
The Psalm also tells us that God strengthens our heart in times when we are weak and heavy laden.
The last statement of this passage I think is one of the most powerful. He says, “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.” This person knows without any doubt that whatever comes his way, that God is with him. He has decided to rest in God and His wisdom. He has decided to tell everyone about the things God has done in his life so that he does not forget that God is always near.
Let me give you a visual through the next story. It’s like a parable. It’s not true, but could be true.
A small boy was in his sand box playing and digging in the sand. He finally struck a rock as he dug in deeper. He kept on digging and found it to be a huge rock that he could barely move. He struggled and fought to get the rock out of the box. With one final effort he used all his strength to get the rock out of the box. All it did was roll back and smashed his fingers. So he just sat there and cried. All of a sudden he felt a big shadow come over him. As he looked up through is tear filled eyes he saw his dad. He explained to his dad that he used everything he had to get the rock out of the box but failed. His dad said, “You did not use everything you had. You did not ask me to help”….
I would like to know this morning, without any doubt in your mind, that God is near to you in all situations and at all times. God never moves. He is constantly in our hearts and in our minds.
CONCLUSION
We can draw near to God by praying to Him. Deuteronomy 4:6-8: “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?”
We can draw near to God by asking Him this Psalm 145: 17-19: “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”
We can draw near to God by fearing Him and worshipping Him. Consider Psalm 85:8-10: “I will listen to what God the LORD will say; He promises peace to his people, his saints- but let them not return to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”
