Asaph’s Lament

u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eIntroductionu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn our last two lessons, we have seen the u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/samuels-call-and-ministry/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u00229371u0022u003ecall of Samuelu003c/au003e and when u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/isaiahs-commission/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u00229400u0022u003eIsaiah was commissionedu003c/au003e to carry out the will of the Lord.  Our lesson this week does not take a look at the call of another scripture.  However, through Asaph, a psalmist (musician) who was also faithful, we will see the struggle that many believers face when it comes to being faithful.  This week’s lesson is being taught from u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+73%3A1-3%2C+12-13%2C+16-18%2C+21-26u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ePsalm 73:1-3, 12-13, 16-18, 21-26u003c/au003e.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eThe Envy of the Wickedu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAs you have heard me speak about for the past month or so, u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/tag/the-journey-sermon-series/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ethe walk of faithu003c/au003e for the believer is not an easy one at all.  There is so much that we deal with in life – our afflictions, infirmities – our troubles and our burdens.  Yet, there is something else that believers deal with that can be incredibly dangerous to us and this danger is more u003cemu003eself-inflictingu003c/emu003e.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eNot appreciative of Godu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAsaph, as a believer, recognized that the Lord truly is good as we see him say in the opening of this psalm, “truly God is good to Israel, to such as are u003cemu003epure u003c/emu003ein heart (v.1).”  Asaph, in speaking of the Lord being good in this verse, was speaking of the Lord’s faithfulness to those who love Him and who He loves.  As Moses said to the children of Israel, “know that the Lord your God, He u003cemu003eisu003c/emu003e God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut.+7%3A9u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eDeut. 7:9u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennGod is faithful, but Asaph in considering his faithfulness towards the Lord, realized that he was not nearly as faithful as he should have been.  He speaks of a time when he had u003cemu003ealmost u003c/emu003estumbled (v.2).  What almost caused him to stumble?  Envy.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAsaph says, “I was u003cemu003eenvious u003c/emu003eof the boastful, when I saw the u003cemu003eprosperity u003c/emu003eof the wicked (v.3).”  Envy, jealousy, is one of the greatest afflictions of the believer and we are constantly advised to put away envy.  To be envious is a sign of not being grateful for what the Lord has done; it’s a lack of appreciation for Him.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eBelieving the wicked have better blessingsu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennLet us then consider that Asaph said he was u003cemu003eenvious u003c/emu003eof the “prosperity” of the wicked.  What was he envious of?  Asaph looked at the wicked and believed that they were u003cemu003ealways u003c/emu003eat ease and u003cemu003eincreased u003c/emu003etheir riches (v.12).  Do you ever look at others, especially those who you believe are sinners, and think that they have it made?  That’s what Asaph got caught up in doing.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSome of us will look at the fancy cars, fancy houses, or clothes that they may have with a desire that we want those things too.  There are many people that will play on envy against the believer.  They will say things along the lines of, u003cemu003e“why hasn’t God blessed you with this nice thing or that nice thing?”  u003c/emu003ennu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThis kind of thought, and envy itself will u003cemu003eplay u003c/emu003eon the mind of the believer as we will begin to wonder why we don’t have such nice things.  Asaph, we will see said to himself, “Surely I have cleansed my heart u003cemu003ein vainu003c/emu003e, and washed my hands in innocence (v.13).”  He is saying here what a lot of believers have said about their faith – that he believed for nothing.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennI want to be clear about something – you don’t believe in the Lord because you desire to be rich.  Some people actually do believe that they should be rewarded with great riches because they have believed in the Lord.  In scripture, we see Simon, the magician, think this very way about believing in the Lord to only to be told to think otherwise.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThere are u003cemu003emany u003c/emu003etimes when believers will look at what the wicked ones have and we will u003cemu003ewant u003c/emu003ewhat they have out of envy.  To be envious of what someone else has, again, is to not be appreciative of what the Lord has blessed you with.  To be envious of the wicked ones, speaks even louder volumes!  What many of those who are envious end up doing out of their envy is try to do what others have done to gain what they have.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWe must push envy out of our system.  The reason why is because envy is most certainly a slippery slope that leads one into wickedness.  We should be u003cemu003efaithful u003c/emu003eand u003cemu003ehappyu003c/emu003e with all that the Lord does for us – be content.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eRecognizing the gifts of Godu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTherefore, we must u003cemu003elearn u003c/emu003eto be thankful and appreciative of all that the Lord has done for us.  Personally, I don’t believe that this is an easy task to learn.  Asaph says this same thing as he reflected on this matter.  He said, “When I thought u003cemu003ehow u003c/emu003eto understand this, it was u003cemu003etoo painful u003c/emu003efor me (v.16).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennI have had so many of the faith approach me and wonder why the Lord seemingly allows them to be u003cemu003e“broke”.  u003c/emu003eThey often question, “does God enjoy me being poor?”  Absolutely not!  God will certainly give to us the desires of our hearts and all that we u003cemu003erequire.  u003c/emu003eYet, struggle can be so difficult for many of us that it pushes our faith to the limits.  Our faith should not break over the gaining of the riches of this world.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAsaph also had to come to this very understanding in his walk of faith.  He tells us that he went to the u003cemu003esanctuary of Godu003c/emu003e and was able to u003cemu003eunderstandu003c/emu003e the end of those he envied (v.17).  Asaph needed the Lord’s guidance in this matter, and I believe that many of us should also turn to the Lord especially when it comes to envying what others have.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennYou see, we must learn how to become content with what God has given to us, rather than look at what others have.  What God has given to you is unique and perfect – don’t make lightly of it by envying what others have, especially wicked ones!  The wicked ones, Asaph realized, may have some worldly riches today, but those riches are only temporary (v.18).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eTreasure heavenu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAs we have seen and studied in the past, Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+6%3A19-20u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 6:19-20u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe greater riches that we should desire are the riches in the heavenly kingdom.  Something that you hear me often preach about is how we should always look ahead to the greater blessing of the Lord over the riches of this world.  At this realization, Asaph tells us that he was grieved in his heart (v.21).  In other words, he felt rather u003cemu003efoolish u003c/emu003eto believe that those of wickedness had it so good compared to him.  He said, “I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You (God) (v.22).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThough he felt foolish for envying the wicked, he said he would turn to the Lord (vss.23-26).  God, Asaph said, would guide him on his journey and afterward, would receive him to glory.  So, Asaph was moving past his envy and put his hope in receiving the heavenly treasures of God.  Asaph concluded, “God is the u003cemu003estrength u003c/emu003eof my heart and u003cemu003emy portion u003c/emu003eforever.”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhy should we, the genuine believer, ever be envious of those who have a temporary treasure when our treasure is eternal?  Now, I do want to say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with desiring the “finer things” of life.  What is wrong is not appreciating what the Lord has done for us and blessed us with.  It is certainly wrong of us to be envious of others!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e