October 02, 2024
Change in Perspective #
Psalm 73:1-3
Introduction
Most of the Psalms we have dealt with have been written by David. We are now given a series of Psalms that are ascribed to Asaph. It is unclear wether they were all written by Asaph, or simply given to his care to sing them. According to Scripture he did both of those things.
2 Chronicles 29:30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
1 Chronicles 16:7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.
We find a Psalm in which the Psalmist perspective is changed completely. He starts out with one thought, and by the end of the Psalm, his thoughts are completely different from that of the beginning. It is a very clear change of his mind and thoughts.
I. Confidence in God (1-2) #
A. Proclamation vs thoughts. #
1. We often think things we we never say. #
Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Psalm 139:1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
B. Go to God in Prayer! #
C. It is a slippery slope! (2) #
II. Concern of wicked prosperity (3-16) #
A. Envious of evil! (3-5) #
1. Warning in proverbs #
Proverbs 3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
**Proverbs 24:1 **Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
B. Wealth (7) #
1. Temptation to question #
2. Increase in riches (12) #
C. Wickedness! (9) #
D. Problem: #
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.