Green with Envy,or Focused on Truth?

PSALM 73, Book IIIMarch 4, 2018

Book II ends with Psalm 72 and a doxology

18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders.19 And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.Amen, and Amen.

Psalm 73

A Psalm of Asaph: Asaph lived in (circa 1020 - 920 BC), from David's reign, through Solomon's to Rehoboam's, having written the ‘lost’ music for the Psalms. And having written 12 Psalms makes him one of the prolific writers of the Bible.

Outline of Psalm 73vv 1-3 The faith statement which Asaph knows is true, along with his confession

vv 4-14 Describing the arrogant and the wicked along with their prosperity

vv 15-17 A change in perspective

vv 17-28 The reality of the final destination for the wicked and for the righteous

VV 1-3 The faith statement which Asaph knows is true, along with his confession

Asaph makes a faith statement and then confesses that he missed the mark – he sinned. Asaph is envious of the arrogant and the wicked. He is envious with a jealousy which borders on rage. And it is because he believes that the wicked have a life of prosperity – a life of Shalom…a life of health, wealth, peace, safety, and prosperity.

VV 4-14 Describing the arrogant and the wicked along with their prosperity

Why would you ever be jealous of the life that is described here?

Asaph stumbled in the sin of envy

“O! Beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” — Othello

Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

(See also Deuteronomy 5:21)

Driven toward envy…

What envy does to us• Envy is: 1 a feeling of discontent or covetousness with

regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.; 2. an object of such feeling. Dictionary.com

• Envy is sin and, like all sin, it causes us to miss the mark, or miss the standard that has been set for us. Envy taps into the selfish desires of the flesh – ‘it’s all about me’; I am entitled; I am more important; I want to satisfy my wants –then everything will be fine…

• Envy is the only commandment out of the 10 which is all about attitude and desires of the heart:

James 3:14-16 14 But if you have bitterjealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

Envy leads us into quarrels:James 4:1-2 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.You do not have because you do not ask.

Envy weakens our witness: Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

Rising Above Envy…

vv 15-17 A change in perspectiveI need to recognize a change of perspective

VIDEO https://youtu.be/OetrSxmFZSI

Rising Above Envy…

vv 17-28 Glory awaits me while the wicked will perishI need the sanctuary of God to be in my heart

Matthew 22:36-38 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOURGOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOURSOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment.

v 17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end.

Mark 8:36-37 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 13:30 30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

I need to come back to the simple truths of the Christian faith; v1 Surely God is good;

Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

v28 God is my refuge

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength,A very present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should changeAnd though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;3 Though its waters roar and foam,Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah

Action:

-Check our perspective once in a while.

-Go back to the simple truths of the Christian faith, over and over again.

-Claim God as your refuge = shelter from danger and falsehood.