The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Psalm 73:16-17,
"When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny."
"This" in the verses above refers to Asaph's consternation over the health, strength, prosperity and freedom from struggles the wicked enjoy in life. Asaph observes that the wicked have callous hearts, verse 7, and scoff. They are violent, prideful and arrogant. They speak with malice and make threats. Not only this, but Asaph observes that, because of these things, the wicked gain a following, verse 10!
Because Asaph was a man who kept his heart pure and purposed to live an innocent life, verse 13, he found it all oppressive. He says, "All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning." Verse 14.
But Asaph's perspective changed, as he recounts in verse 17. He found trying to understand it all oppressive till he entered the sanctuary of God! There he gained an understanding, that although the wicked might be enjoying good things in this life, they will experience their "final destiny" at the hand of God's judgment following this life!
While Asaph eventually found the resolution to the conflict he felt, his observation that the wicked don't appear to suffer in this life for their wickedness initially brought him some turmoil in his understanding of God. It wasn't until Asaph "entered the sanctuary of God" that he gained the resolution to his turmoil. Worship is like that. I have found that as I focus on the Lord, learn to love him as he has revealed himself, the conflicts and concerns my inadequate understanding of him bring are relieved. The more I worship my Lord (enter his sanctuary) through the Scriptures, the better I understand him and what he teaches me about life today and life in the resurrection. I love the Lord who has decided to reveal himself to us!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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