Don’t give up on hope. It’s the last great thing you have.”
–Ken Pratt (Dragon’s Fire)
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
–Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
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Several years ago a friend of mine was working inside a building. He was a contractor and was so caught up in his work that he didn’t notice his location. Taking a step backwards he fell down the elevator shaft. He had to be rushed to the hospital. There were several broken bones and internal injuries. He did survive the fall, but he was never the same. Simply by not paying attention to his surroundings his life was changed.
Asaph is the composer of Psalm 73 and quickly we find that he was somewhat jealous of those who, he thought, had a better lot in life. He saw the wicked prosper and he thought it was unfair. Because of their wickedness or their wealth they didn’t seem to have the problems of others. Perhaps he wrote this Psalm to help heal his mind, for as Matthew A. Castille said, “Envy is a sickness that only faith can heal.”
1 — Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.
2 — But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 — For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 — For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 — They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men.
6 — Therefore pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. (NKJV)
God is good to Israel, but to me, well, that is another matter. It seems as though the promises of God are not meant for me. Have you ever found yourself thinking those thoughts? Have you ever found yourself envying the wicked or the wealthy? Perhaps you are in a form of spiritual coma, and you are just merely going through the motions of life and your Christian experience.
However, we cannot see into the hearts and minds of those who seem to have it made. What problems are they facing in their lives? I knew of a man who made between $5000-$10,000 a week. Was he happy? He had the best of everything…BUT he lost his family. His wife left him for he was married to his career. His two children were estranged from him, addicted to drugs, and had been in jail. Was he happy? He was wealthy, but what was the turmoil that was going on in his soul?
Dwell on verse 2–almost… Asaph says he “almost” stumbled, slipped and fell. There was a saying in the old West that when a cowboy sold his saddle it was over for him. He might not own a horse, most did not, but he had his saddle. That term then moved on to other areas. A man “almost” left his wife. A man “almost” stole something. A man “almost” committed suicide. A man “almost” …. But! He did not sell his saddle, he almost slipped, but he remembered who he was.
“How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend!
His love is as great as His power
And knows neither measure nor end!”
–Joseph Hart