The Benefits of the Presence of God (Psalm 73:28-36)
It is obvious from the preceding verses in
the psalm that the author had gone through a period of great difficulty in
which he had been disappointed and perplexed about what had taken place. Verse
17 indicates that relief only came when he spent time at the temple. He went
there to get his perspective on life changed. This is a reminder that it is
possible to assess life from inadequate viewpoints. In times of trouble, we
need to select the best viewpoint, and that is to see where God is and what he
is doing. The psalmist did this eventually and in the verses we will consider
we read about what he saw.
This psalm is a reminder that the Bible
does not conceal the wrong ideas and suspicions that believers can have at
times. Asaph was not an ordinary believer (if there is such a person), but a
prominent one, with important public roles in the worship of God as a priest
and psalmist.
The psalm is an example of how to wrestle through situations that cause us to doubt the providence of God and his care over his people. Denying the existence of God was not an issue for Asaph. But he had problems with what he saw taking place around him. ‘What was God doing?’ was the question. No doubt, that is a problem still for people, and if we find ourselves there we can use this psalm as a means of grace to express our thoughts and to find help.
Several commentaries mention that Charles Wesley, on his deathbed, was thinking about the closing verses of the psalm, especially the verse that describes the psalmist’s fainting and frailty. Wesley even at that stage could write poetry and composed this verse:
The psalm is an example of how to wrestle through situations that cause us to doubt the providence of God and his care over his people. Denying the existence of God was not an issue for Asaph. But he had problems with what he saw taking place around him. ‘What was God doing?’ was the question. No doubt, that is a problem still for people, and if we find ourselves there we can use this psalm as a means of grace to express our thoughts and to find help.
Several commentaries mention that Charles Wesley, on his deathbed, was thinking about the closing verses of the psalm, especially the verse that describes the psalmist’s fainting and frailty. Wesley even at that stage could write poetry and composed this verse:
In
age and feebleness extreme,
Who
shall a helpless worm redeem?
Jesus,
my only hope thou art,
Strength
of my failing flesh and heart;
O,
could I catch one smile from thee,
And drop into eternity.
His biography says he became unconscious shortly after dictating the verse.
I want to focus on the closing verses of the psalm and point to some of the thoughts that Asaph had.
The faithfulness of God
The first detail that the psalmist mentions is the faithfulness of God. Asaph realises that the Lord is with him wherever he goes, and is with him throughout each moment. The Lord’s presence did not depend on the strength of the psalmist’s faith because previous verses show that at time he was wavering. We make a mistake about this often, imagining that the Lord only supports us when our faith is strong. Instead we need to remind ourselves that he remains faithful even to someone whose faith for a time is shaky and weak.
In what way did the psalmist realise that the Lord was with him? He mentions that the Lord was his personal guide. The nearness of the relationship us expressed in the image of the Lord holding the psalmist’s hand. At the same time, the picture indicates that the Lord was speaking to his servant, probably by reminding him of instructions found in the Old Testament books that were available. The holding and the guiding would last all the way through life until the psalmist reached heaven. And when he reached there, he knew that he would be welcomed into glory.
That was an incredible perspective for this previously-troubled man to experience. The question that comes to us is not only if we can have it, but if we can have a better one. Right away, our answer should be yes, that we can have a clearer perspective, and the reason that we can is because of Jesus. He promised his disciples that he would be with them in a special way by the Holy Spirit, he informed them that nothing could remove them from the grip that he and the Father had on them, he assured them that the Holy Spirit would reveal to them the information required for living for God in this world, and he promised them that he himself would welcome them into his Father’s house, the place of glory. This is the perspective that we can have, that we should have, as we gather together in the presence of God and look at where we are in life.
The preciousness of God
The psalmist then says to God that he is his highest possession. He considers the inhabitants of heaven – there are the angels and the souls of God’s people – and says that God means more to him than they do. No doubt, he was aware of the fact that God sends angels to help his people in scores of ways, and maybe he could deduce occasions when that must have happened with him. Still, the Lord meant more to him than all the angels.
Asaph would also be aware of some of the believers who had gone to heaven: the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Moses and Aaron; Joshua and the various judges whom God had used; David his fellow psalmist; and many others, including close friends and family members. He had a strong love for them, but he loved the Lord more.
Then the psalmist considered the situation on earth. He was gathered with others in the sanctuary of God, but he loved God more than them. His description extends to more than to people. He includes all the beautiful and precious things of earth and says that his desire for God is stronger than his desire for anything else.
Why does he feel this way? We can mention two reasons. One is connected to the fact that he was God’s creature and that he had been made to know God as his highest delight. The other reason is linked to him being an Israelite, which meant that he regarded himself as one who belonged to the redeemed community, rescued by God from slavery in Egypt.
We can see why we should be able to say that we desire Jesus more than anyone or anything else. It is true that we should do so because we are his creatures and we were made to know him. And it is also the case that we should find him very desirable because he is the Redeemer who liberated us from our sins by his death on the cross. It is inconceivable that a Christian would prefer anything in heaven and in earth higher than the Saviour.
The power of God
The psalmist had gone through a very difficult experience that had affected him physically and emotionally. Various kinds of fears had been endured. He admits that he had not been able to endure the strain; he had realised that he was not a spiritual superman, untouched by the pressures of life. Yet he had discovered that someone did not change in all the changing circumstances of life and that was God. Asaph realised that God was with him in the present and would be so forever.
The apostle Paul reveals that he had fears within. There were moments when he too felt the weakness of his body and of his heart. Yet he knew what the real situation was when he also said that he could do all things through the one who strengthened him, his Saviour and Lord (Phil. 4:13). He exhorted the Ephesians to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Moreover, Asaph discovered that a difficult present experience did not mean an uncertain future. There could be many things that he would lose if the wicked became powerful. Yet he had God as his portion for ever. We could say that the Lord was his chosen and his certain portion. Similarly, believers today can have the same outlook as Asaph had, with regard to Jesus. He is their chosen and certain portion whatever happens in the meantime.
The judgement of God
His time in the sanctuary had convinced Asaph that the period of prominence for the wicked will not last long. Eventually, God would deal with them in judgement. They live far away from God, but not so far that his punishments will not reach them eventually. Even in this life, they will discover that God will deal with them. Perhaps Asaph had seen such things in Israel.
We too have to remember that Jesus is the ultimate Judge. One day he will be revealed as such when everyone will stand before him at the Great White Throne. That will be an awful occasion for those who will receive condemnation from him, condemnation that will last for ever.
The conclusion of Asaph
Asaph has been on a roller-coaster experience in which his faith has been tested. Yet although it was such a difficult time, he realised that it had actually helped him because he had discovered that faith in God will become stronger through such experiences. He had discovered that it was good for him to draw near to God. We have already mentioned some of the things that he had discovered.
The conclusion we can summarise in two words – trust and tell about. Asaph expresses his trust in the words ‘my refuge’. He had discovered where he should go if he had another period of crisis about his faith in God. Moreover, he now had something to tell to other people, which was that the Lord would help them in times of distress. And he knew too that temporary prosperity and satisfaction could not meet the needs of the human heart.
His biography says he became unconscious shortly after dictating the verse.
I want to focus on the closing verses of the psalm and point to some of the thoughts that Asaph had.
The faithfulness of God
The first detail that the psalmist mentions is the faithfulness of God. Asaph realises that the Lord is with him wherever he goes, and is with him throughout each moment. The Lord’s presence did not depend on the strength of the psalmist’s faith because previous verses show that at time he was wavering. We make a mistake about this often, imagining that the Lord only supports us when our faith is strong. Instead we need to remind ourselves that he remains faithful even to someone whose faith for a time is shaky and weak.
In what way did the psalmist realise that the Lord was with him? He mentions that the Lord was his personal guide. The nearness of the relationship us expressed in the image of the Lord holding the psalmist’s hand. At the same time, the picture indicates that the Lord was speaking to his servant, probably by reminding him of instructions found in the Old Testament books that were available. The holding and the guiding would last all the way through life until the psalmist reached heaven. And when he reached there, he knew that he would be welcomed into glory.
That was an incredible perspective for this previously-troubled man to experience. The question that comes to us is not only if we can have it, but if we can have a better one. Right away, our answer should be yes, that we can have a clearer perspective, and the reason that we can is because of Jesus. He promised his disciples that he would be with them in a special way by the Holy Spirit, he informed them that nothing could remove them from the grip that he and the Father had on them, he assured them that the Holy Spirit would reveal to them the information required for living for God in this world, and he promised them that he himself would welcome them into his Father’s house, the place of glory. This is the perspective that we can have, that we should have, as we gather together in the presence of God and look at where we are in life.
The preciousness of God
The psalmist then says to God that he is his highest possession. He considers the inhabitants of heaven – there are the angels and the souls of God’s people – and says that God means more to him than they do. No doubt, he was aware of the fact that God sends angels to help his people in scores of ways, and maybe he could deduce occasions when that must have happened with him. Still, the Lord meant more to him than all the angels.
Asaph would also be aware of some of the believers who had gone to heaven: the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Moses and Aaron; Joshua and the various judges whom God had used; David his fellow psalmist; and many others, including close friends and family members. He had a strong love for them, but he loved the Lord more.
Then the psalmist considered the situation on earth. He was gathered with others in the sanctuary of God, but he loved God more than them. His description extends to more than to people. He includes all the beautiful and precious things of earth and says that his desire for God is stronger than his desire for anything else.
Why does he feel this way? We can mention two reasons. One is connected to the fact that he was God’s creature and that he had been made to know God as his highest delight. The other reason is linked to him being an Israelite, which meant that he regarded himself as one who belonged to the redeemed community, rescued by God from slavery in Egypt.
We can see why we should be able to say that we desire Jesus more than anyone or anything else. It is true that we should do so because we are his creatures and we were made to know him. And it is also the case that we should find him very desirable because he is the Redeemer who liberated us from our sins by his death on the cross. It is inconceivable that a Christian would prefer anything in heaven and in earth higher than the Saviour.
The power of God
The psalmist had gone through a very difficult experience that had affected him physically and emotionally. Various kinds of fears had been endured. He admits that he had not been able to endure the strain; he had realised that he was not a spiritual superman, untouched by the pressures of life. Yet he had discovered that someone did not change in all the changing circumstances of life and that was God. Asaph realised that God was with him in the present and would be so forever.
The apostle Paul reveals that he had fears within. There were moments when he too felt the weakness of his body and of his heart. Yet he knew what the real situation was when he also said that he could do all things through the one who strengthened him, his Saviour and Lord (Phil. 4:13). He exhorted the Ephesians to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Moreover, Asaph discovered that a difficult present experience did not mean an uncertain future. There could be many things that he would lose if the wicked became powerful. Yet he had God as his portion for ever. We could say that the Lord was his chosen and his certain portion. Similarly, believers today can have the same outlook as Asaph had, with regard to Jesus. He is their chosen and certain portion whatever happens in the meantime.
The judgement of God
His time in the sanctuary had convinced Asaph that the period of prominence for the wicked will not last long. Eventually, God would deal with them in judgement. They live far away from God, but not so far that his punishments will not reach them eventually. Even in this life, they will discover that God will deal with them. Perhaps Asaph had seen such things in Israel.
We too have to remember that Jesus is the ultimate Judge. One day he will be revealed as such when everyone will stand before him at the Great White Throne. That will be an awful occasion for those who will receive condemnation from him, condemnation that will last for ever.
The conclusion of Asaph
Asaph has been on a roller-coaster experience in which his faith has been tested. Yet although it was such a difficult time, he realised that it had actually helped him because he had discovered that faith in God will become stronger through such experiences. He had discovered that it was good for him to draw near to God. We have already mentioned some of the things that he had discovered.
The conclusion we can summarise in two words – trust and tell about. Asaph expresses his trust in the words ‘my refuge’. He had discovered where he should go if he had another period of crisis about his faith in God. Moreover, he now had something to tell to other people, which was that the Lord would help them in times of distress. And he knew too that temporary prosperity and satisfaction could not meet the needs of the human heart.