Slippery Places

Psalm 73. Asaph looks at people who ignore God and seem to prosper. He is bothered by the fact that the unrighteous seem to have an easier time than God's people.

They say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?" Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long And chastened every morning. (Psalms 73:11-14)

I think it is easy for Christians to feel this way and to be swayed. As Asaph says in verse 2, "my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped." There are days when you wonder as you see what is going on in the world. "When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight." (V. 16) BUT the perspective is in verse 17. "Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end (fate)." It is so easy for us to keep a worldly perspective even as we are aware of the heavenly reality. Our old point of view still can come too naturally to us. But here is what Asaph saw from the point of view of the sanctuary of God.

Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! (Psalms 73:18-19)

I love that phrase, "you have set them in slippery places." Like Yertle the Turtle, it may be a great spot, but it is not secure, not safe, and not permanent. Things can be hard sometimes now, and you may see others with more than you, but our joy, our security, our assurance is in the power and permanence of God.

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalms 73:23-26)

Those who trust in the flesh are in trouble when the flesh fails. But after this is all over and our flesh has failed, we will be received into glory. This is an encouragement to me today, I hope it is to you. I leave you with the last verse of the Psalm, "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works." I praise the nearness of God.