Finding God in Life's Unfairness: Lessons from Psalm 73
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to Grove Church. Today, we delve into the book of Psalms, specifically Psalm 73, to explore where God is when life seems unfair and unjust. We began with a call to worship from Psalm 98, encouraging us to sing a new song to the Lord and to acclaim Him as King. We then moved into a time of confession, acknowledging our sins and our need for God's mercy. This was followed by a message for the children, focusing on the theme of desire and how our ultimate desire should be for God, as illustrated by Asaph in Psalm 73.
Asaph, a songwriter and worship leader, struggled with jealousy and envy, particularly when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. He questioned why those who live ungodly lives seem to flourish while the godly suffer. This tension is something many of us can relate to, especially in a world that often seems unfair. Asaph's journey through this Psalm reveals that it's okay to bring our doubts and frustrations to God. He found solace and understanding when he entered the sanctuary and worshiped God, realizing that the prosperity of the wicked is fleeting and that true contentment comes from God alone.
We are reminded that our perspective is limited and that we often don't understand God's plans. However, we are encouraged to stay connected to God and His people, especially during times of doubt and struggle. Worshiping God helps us regain our footing and find strength. The Psalm concludes with Asaph acknowledging that God is his ultimate desire and refuge, and that despite life's unfairness, God remains good and just.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Confession and Preparation: Before we can fully worship God, we must acknowledge our sins and prepare our hearts. Confession is a vital step in removing the obstacles that prevent us from experiencing God's presence and peace. It allows us to be open to His guidance and love. [02:26]
2. Desire God Above All Else: Asaph's struggle with jealousy teaches us that our ultimate desire should be for God. Earthly possessions and achievements are fleeting and often lead to disappointment. True contentment and fulfillment come from desiring God, who is eternal, pure, and unfailing. [09:55]
3. Honesty in Lament: The Psalms teach us that it's okay to be honest with God about our struggles and doubts. Lament is a form of worship that acknowledges the disharmony between our experiences and our faith. God welcomes our honesty and uses it to draw us closer to Him. [24:13]
4. The Role of Worship in Finding Clarity: When life seems unfair, worshiping God can provide clarity and strength. Asaph found that entering the sanctuary and focusing on God helped him understand the temporary nature of the wicked's prosperity and the eternal value of God's presence. [35:32]
5. Eternal Perspective: Our understanding of life's fairness is limited to our earthly perspective. In the grand timeline of eternity, God's justice and holiness will prevail. We are encouraged to trust in God's ultimate plan and not to envy the temporary success of the ungodly. [37:40]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:26] - Call to Worship and Confession
[05:40] - Assurance of Pardon
[06:58] - Children's Message: Desiring God
[11:34] - Worship in Song
[20:58] - Personal Reflection: Life's Contrasts
[23:08] - Introduction to Psalm 73
[24:13] - The Honesty of Lament
[25:27] - Wrestling with Envy and Injustice
[28:03] - The Tension Between Faith and Experience
[30:39] - The Temptation to Envy the Wicked
[32:31] - The Cry of the Worship Leader
[33:57] - Bringing Concerns to God
[35:32] - Finding Clarity in Worship
[36:50] - The Eternal Perspective
[38:39] - Conclusion of Psalm 73
[41:36] - Prayer and Benediction
[44:22] - Announcements and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 73:1-28
- Psalm 98:1-3
#### Observation Questions
1. What emotions and struggles does Asaph express in Psalm 73? ([24:13])
2. How does Asaph describe the prosperity of the wicked in Psalm 73:4-12? ([28:53])
3. What realization does Asaph come to when he enters the sanctuary of God? ([33:57])
4. According to Psalm 73:25-26, what does Asaph ultimately desire above all else? ([38:39])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Asaph feel envious of the wicked, and how does this affect his faith? ([28:03])
2. How does the act of worship help Asaph gain clarity and strength during his struggles? ([35:32])
3. What does Asaph mean when he says, "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you"? ([38:39])
4. How does the concept of an eternal perspective help Asaph reconcile the apparent unfairness he sees in the world? ([37:40])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt envious of others' success. How did it affect your relationship with God? ([28:03])
2. How can you incorporate regular confession into your spiritual practice to prepare your heart for worship? ([02:26])
3. When life feels unfair, what practical steps can you take to focus on worshiping God and finding clarity? ([35:32])
4. In what ways can you remind yourself of God's eternal perspective when you face doubts and struggles? ([37:40])
5. How can you cultivate a desire for God above all else in your daily life? What distractions might you need to minimize? ([09:55])
6. Think of a specific situation where you felt life was unfair. How can you bring this concern to God in a way that strengthens your faith? ([33:57])
7. How can you support and encourage others in your small group who may be struggling with feelings of envy or doubt? ([41:36])
Devotional
### 5-Day Devotional
#### Day 1: The Necessity of Confession
Description:
Before we can fully engage in worship, it is essential to acknowledge our sins and prepare our hearts. Confession is a vital step in removing the obstacles that prevent us from experiencing God's presence and peace. It allows us to be open to His guidance and love. By confessing our sins, we admit our need for God's mercy and grace, creating a clean slate for genuine worship. This act of humility and honesty before God sets the stage for a deeper connection with Him. [02:26]
Bible Passage:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, ESV)
Reflection:
Think of a specific sin or burden you have been carrying. Can you take a moment today to confess it to God and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing?
#### Day 2: Desiring God Above All Else
Description:
Asaph's struggle with jealousy and envy teaches us that our ultimate desire should be for God. Earthly possessions and achievements are fleeting and often lead to disappointment. True contentment and fulfillment come from desiring God, who is eternal, pure, and unfailing. When we focus our desires on God, we find a deeper sense of peace and satisfaction that the world cannot offer. This shift in focus helps us to navigate life's challenges with a heart anchored in divine love and purpose. [09:55]
Bible Passage:
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26, ESV)
Reflection:
Identify one earthly desire or pursuit that has been consuming your thoughts. How can you redirect that desire towards God today?
#### Day 3: The Honesty of Lament
Description:
The Psalms teach us that it's okay to be honest with God about our struggles and doubts. Lament is a form of worship that acknowledges the disharmony between our experiences and our faith. God welcomes our honesty and uses it to draw us closer to Him. By expressing our pain and confusion, we open the door for God's comfort and guidance. This practice of lament allows us to process our emotions in a healthy way, leading to spiritual growth and deeper trust in God's plan. [24:13]
Bible Passage:
"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!" (Psalm 130:1-2, ESV)
Reflection:
Think about a recent struggle or doubt you have faced. Can you take a moment to honestly express your feelings to God in prayer today?
#### Day 4: Finding Clarity in Worship
Description:
When life seems unfair, worshiping God can provide clarity and strength. Asaph found that entering the sanctuary and focusing on God helped him understand the temporary nature of the wicked's prosperity and the eternal value of God's presence. Worship shifts our perspective from our immediate circumstances to God's eternal truths. It renews our minds and hearts, enabling us to see beyond the present challenges and trust in God's ultimate plan. [35:32]
Bible Passage:
"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." (Psalm 27:4, ESV)
Reflection:
Reflect on a time when worship helped you gain clarity or strength. How can you incorporate more intentional worship into your daily routine?
#### Day 5: Trusting in God's Eternal Perspective
Description:
Our understanding of life's fairness is limited to our earthly perspective. In the grand timeline of eternity, God's justice and holiness will prevail. We are encouraged to trust in God's ultimate plan and not to envy the temporary success of the ungodly. By focusing on God's eternal perspective, we can find peace and assurance even when life seems unfair. This trust in God's sovereignty helps us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that His justice will ultimately be revealed. [37:40]
Bible Passage:
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)
Reflection:
Think about a situation where you have felt life is unfair. How can you shift your focus to trust in God's eternal perspective and plan today?
Quotes
1. "I don't know about you, but I was cut to the quick by some of those confessions, but even as the sting hurts, God takes away the sting of death and sin. So hear this reminder, hear this good news. Who was in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone, a new life is life has begun, know that you're forgiven, and be at peace. Thanks be to God." [05:40] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I want to remind you that no matter all the things you see, I know it's back to school season soon, people are buying new stuff, and before we know it, it's going to be Christmas, that the only thing that's worth desiring, the first thing that our heart really wants, should want, is God. All the other stuff, you get candy, you eat it, and it's all done. You get too much candy, you eat it, you get a tummy ache. The only thing that our heart should truly desire, the first thing, the most important thing, is God." [09:55] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "It's interesting that God takes a whole different method of his curation. Think of all the information that is available about God, about who God is. Right? There's books, there's poems, there's songs, there's histories, and God, through his Holy Spirit, inspired our scripture, inspired these authors, these songwriters, these historians, these disciples, these academics, and these regular people to go and to put, write these books of the Bible to give us guidance and to tell us about him." [23:08] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God includes these laments or these complaints in the Holy Scriptures. God is not trying to hide the cries of humanity that vent to how difficult life is. God does not edit out his children's disappointment when things don't go the way that we think they should go. In Psalm 73, we read a song of wrestling from the author, Asaph. Asaph was a professional songwriter. David wrote many of the psalms, but some were professional singer-songwriters that were used in worship. They were worship leaders, and he lived in King David's time." [24:13] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "It's a reminder that we can be honest here we can be honest before God and one another from that what from our perspectives things don't seem to make sense we can be honest that we have sometimes plays for doubts sometimes faith is messy that our perspective is limited from our vantage point that our context has incomplete knowledge that in our humanity we can't understand we can't comprehend God's will we don't know why God is allowing things to happen in our lives but we come to the Psalms and join ancient believers before us who have to wrestled about when life seems unfair." [25:27] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "In lament, there's an honesty and even a confession of where we are with God, of where we struggle with God's plan. And we say it to God. It's not like gossip. We say to God, we say, hey, I know you're good, but I got tripped up because things were not good in my life, and I see other people doing amazing. And they're wicked people, they're evil people. They're people who hate. In lament, there's that honesty of the disharmony we experience. We're honest with God and ourselves." [28:53] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "God knows and hears that. He knows the sad song. your heart sings. He's aware of the tension you feel when you're doing the numbers and things don't add up. He knows the feeling when you're trying to live a good and faithful life. You try to make God a priority, and it looks like those people who are ignoring God, it looks like they're doing pretty well. And once again, God is big enough to handle this tension, right? This is Bible we're reading. This is God-inspired words, even as they share cares and concerns. He understands when we see life is not fair and does not sweep it under the rug or even ask you to deny your experience. God can handle your slippery seasons of doubt." [31:14] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Where do you run to when you have these seasons of doubt, when you feel your feet are slipping, when you're casting your eyes on things you want, when you're envious of other people, when you're dissatisfied with your connection from God? Where do you run to? When life doesn't seem fair and faith seems out of touch, we can still go to God. We can find solace there. We can be reminded of God's love, of his holiness, of his justice. We're not to walk away, but we're to press in forward." [35:32] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "The godless life looks good for a moment. But the eyes of eternity show that it's a dead end. It's not worth pursuing sin and self. There is a day of judgment. There is an eternal reckoning. God is patient, but he's also just. So let us not keep our eyes on others. Let's not envy others. That's a sure way to slip. That's a sure way to lose footing by keeping our eyes on someone else." [36:50] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Our incomplete understanding of life's unfairness is a three-second clip of eternity. So we have been our three seconds of life in the eternity timeline. It's hard to know who's coming in first, who's coming second, who's failing, who's on the podium. So we trust that God is holy and just. And in the timeline, in the race, in the race of eternity, it will be made clear and evident. We cannot envy someone's three seconds when we see how badly they lose the race." [37:40] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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