Scripture:
Psalm 73:23-26
23 “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.”
Observation:
Psalm 73 is written by Asaph, who is the leader of one of David’s Levitical choirs. This is a word of wisdom based on his life experience. At first the author envies the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles and seem like they are not plagued by human ills. “With callous hearts they wear their pride like a necklace.” The author almost falls to the level of beastly stupidity, but God will not let him go – ever! Asaph enters the sanctuary of God to pray. He is saved by the realization that God will always be with him, guiding him and taking him to glory. The wicked who are far from God will perish. For the righteous, earth has nothing to desire but God and his glory.
Application:
Very often I find myself in the same place as the author. I see people who seem less “Godly” than I. They are dishonest and take shortcuts. They do wrong and do not get caught. They don’t even know enough to know that they are sinning. Maybe they even know but they don’t care. The wicked seem to always be free from care. Often, I am tempted to envy them and I have even thought to join them in their sin. I am saved when I remember to spend time in my sanctuary, the word of God. When I am immersed in God’s word, I begin to see things from God’s eyes. The wicked are enslaved by their sin. They know of no other choice but to sin. God’s law sets me free from my sin. I am free because I can make my choice to forgo sin. I am no longer enslaved and behind the bars of my weakness.
Verses 23-26 is so uplifting because we can all be set free to pursue Christ. Nothing on earth compares to the Lord holding my hand, guiding me and taking me into his glory.
Prayer:
Holy Father, lead me not into temptation. Lead me not into greed and jealousy. Lead me to your still waters. I am sure in my knowledge that by choosing to follow you, my destination will be basking in your glory forever.
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