Sermon Tone Analysis

!! Is walking with God worth it?

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Psalms 73:1-73:28 (NIV, NIRV, TNIV, KJV)

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As we turn to Psalm 73 let me ask you a question.

\\ · Have you ever wondered why it seems that the people that are prospering \\ in this world are those who have no respect for God or His ways?

\\ · Has it every grated on you that those who are trying to be obedient to \\ God and live a life in right standing with him, seem to have the most \\ difficulties while those who could care less about their relationship with \\ God seem to get all the breaks?

\\ · Have you ever been passed up for promotions at work because of your \\ convictions as a Christian only to know that the person getting the \\ promotion was just a scoundrel or character!

\\ · Every wonder "Why do the wicked prosper Lord?" \\ t.s.

Well a poet and songwriter named Asaph experienced this inner \\ conflict and struggle and we get to read his poetry and discover Gods \\ truth about why the wicked seem to have it all in this world.

\\ \\ Whole Psalm: \\ Psalm 73 is a Psalm of Lament and Declaration.

The psalmist Asaph laments \\ the prosperity of the ungodly.

\\ · This psalm is known as a lyric as is all the poetry of the Bible.

\\ · Poets speak using word picture and imagery.

They contrast things and use \\ simile and metaphor to make their point.

\\ · This is a descriptive psalm and we share in Aspahs inner struggle, \\ conflict and turmoil.

We, in fact, enter into Asaphs dialogue of thought.

\\ · When you read the psalms take time to really meditate on each line.

\\ Don’t gloss over them.

Biblical Poetry is meant to be pondered.

When a \\ writer compares a feeling or describes something next to something in \\ nature or an object - think this over- for it will reflect a true \\ comparison from life! \\ · In this psalm Asaph looks out and reasons what he sees - and finds no \\ comfort.

He looks within for answers - and still no comfort!

Then he looks \\ up and discovers meaning!

\\ · Let’s take a look now at Psalm 73.

\\ Explication: \\ 1 _ Truly God is good to Israel, \\ to those whose hearts are pure.

\\ · The Poets of the Bible often directly state the theme of their writing \\ within the first verse.

\\ · The simplicity of Psalm 73’s theme should not be overlooked.

Simply \\ stated it is this: God shows His goodness to the upright.

\\ 2 But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff!

\\ My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

\\ \\ · Asaph compares himself with those who are clean in heart but he also \\ goes on to confess his inner struggle.

\\ · What is his inner struggle?

He uses a metaphor describing the heart of \\ the pure in contrast to his own attitudes.

"My feet" - his own walk with \\ God.

\\ · He had almost lost his confidence in God.

He felt close to the edge of a \\ cliff and we can almost visualize the pebbles and stones making their \\ ascent as he is near the precipice of his despair!

\\ · [appl] Often when the perceptions of our heart are wrong our feet are \\ soon to follow our folly.

\\ · Like walking on a sheet of ice our attitudes can run away from us.

\\ 3 For I envied the proud \\ when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

\\ \\ · The psalmist gives the primary reason for his inner struggle - He began \\ to be envious of those around him.

\\ · His eyes were fixed too much on one thing.

He looked at the present and \\ forgot the future.

\\ · Envy became the root source of his lament.

\\ · And sohe begins to contrast and compare the godly to the ungodly.

\\ \\ 4 "They seem to live such a painless life; their bodies are so healthy and \\ strong."

\\ 5 "They aren’t troubled like other people or plagued with problems like \\ everyone else." \\ 6 "They wear pride like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of \\ cruelty.

\\ 7. "These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for".

\\ \\ · Next to the common man the ungodly seem to live a painless life and even \\ remain healthier!

\\ · Common troubles such as: financial security, adequate health care, \\ shelter do not trouble the well to do.

\\ · Asaph speak in a metaphor when he describes the arrogance of some of \\ these "types" of people.

\\ \\ · Their pride and arrogance is like a "jeweled necklace" - flashy and \\ showy before others.

\\ · Asaphs second metaphor describes these people’s intentions: As cruel.

\\ How are clothes woven?

In the days of the Bible?

\\ · Clothes were woven on looms and by hand - with great care.

It could take \\ a long time to weave a garment by hand.

\\ 1.

Just so - the intentions of some people are cruel and often plotting \\ and purposeful.

\\ 2. Do you see how this poet begins to describe things using the imagery of \\ life?

We can appreciate the poetry of the Bible if we look for its \\ imagery.

\\ · Asaph then says " Hey these guys have everything!

Anything their hearts \\ can wish for!" \\ 1.

But he uses hyperbole: Exaggerating or overemphasizing to make his \\ point.

\\ 2. No one can have absolutely anything he~/she wishes for no matter how \\ well of they are.

\\ 3.

But we can relate because it sure seems there are those who can. \\ 8 They scoff and speak only evil; \\ in their pride they seek to crush others.

\\ 9 They boast against the very heavens, \\ and their words strut throughout the earth.

\\ \\ · Many times the ungodly not only convey an attitude of arrogance but they \\ propagate their pride.

\\ · Is Asaph literal in that these people seek to crush others?

\\ · Perhaps the means of some people crushing others is through the means of \\ the first part of verse 8 \\ · By their scoffing and speaking.

\\ · Asaph also conveys this through another word picture.."They boast \\ against the heavens".

\\ · In other words - There are people in this world that have no respect for \\ authority - not even Gods sovereignty over them for the O.T picture of God \\ dwelling in the heavens is what Asaph has in mind.

\\ · Have you any contact with people like this? \\ · And so the proud, the arrogant and the self-sufficient "Strut" their \\ words throughout the earth.

\\ 1.

Now what is Asahp saying through this metaphor?

\\ 2. Can words Strut?

Horses strut-but how do words?

Ever see a horse strut \\ his stuff?

\\ 3.

Even so is the attitude and boasting of some to any authority at all.

\\ \\ 10 And so the people are dismayed and confused, \\ drinking in all their words.

\\ 11 "Does God realize what is going on?" they ask.

\\ "Is the Most High even aware of what is happening?"

\\ 12 Look at these arrogant people- \\ enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

\\ 13 Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure \\ and kept myself from doing wrong?

\\ 14 All I get is trouble all day long; \\ every morning brings me pain.

\\ 15 If I had really spoken this way, \\ I would have been a traitor to your people.

\\ 16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

\\ But what a difficult task it is!

\\ \\ · What is the result of such arrogance?

\\ · What effect does this have on the people of God? \\ · The people become dismayed and confused.

\\ · Metaphorically speaking there are people who "drink in" the words of the \\ ungodly, perhaps trying to gain the same prosperity \\ · So, a real hard relevant question is asked that I am sure non of us have \\ every articulated " Where is God in all of this?" \\ · "Is it for nothing that I am living this Christian life when the wicked \\ seem to be the ones getting all the blessings!"

\\ \\ 16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

\\ But what a difficult task it is!

\\ 17 Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God, \\ and I thought about the destiny of the wicked.

\\ 18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path \\ and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

\\ 19 In an instant they are destroyed, \\ swept away by terrors.

\\ 20 _ Their present life is only a dream \\ that is gone when they awake.

\\ When you arise, O Lord, \\ you will make them vanish from this life.

\\ \\ · Now the entire Psalm shifts from Asaphs perceptions to God’s Truth.

\\ · Everything was put into perspective when he went to place of prayer and \\ into the presence of God.

\\ · He saw clearly the end of the wicked.