First, let’s fill in the profile of the writer of Psalm 73, a guy named Asaph. Look up 1 Chronicles 16:1-6 and 16:37. On a piece of paper or in an edoc, write down as much detail as you can about Asaph.
Now to his psalm. Below you’ll find some bite-sized chunks of Psalm 73; each of these gives you a quick look into Asaph’s spiritual journey. For best results, print these passages or paste them into an edoc. As you read, draw or indicate Asaph’s attitude with an appropriate emoji for each chunk of Scripture.
“Surely God is good to Israel, those who are pure in heart.
“But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
“For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
“They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
“They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills” (Ps. 73:1-5).
“When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
“till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
“Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
“How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!” (Ps. 73:16-19)
“When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
“I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand.
“You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. (Ps. 73:21-24)
“Those who are far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
“I will tell of all Your deeds.” (Ps. 73:27-28)
The So What
How would you describe Asaph’s spiritual condition in the first chunk of Scripture (vv. 1-5)? What seemed to be bugging him the most?
Has there been a time when you felt the same way about your faith?
What was Asaph’s turning point (vv. 16-19)?
How did Asaph’s perspective change regarding the wicked around him after his sanctuary experience (vv. 16-19)?
How would you describe Asaph’s spiritual outlook after his turning point (vv. 21-24, 27-28)?
Seal the Deal
Bear in mind that Asaph was a spiritual leader, a Levite charged with overseeing the Ark of the Covenant. That’s a big job, and yet his faith faded to the point of having no meaning. It’s easy to get busy, including spiritually busy. Maybe we talk a lot about God but spend very little time with God. It was a sanctuary experience that turned Asaph around.
So, how about having your own sanctuary experience? Think about a time during the next two days when you can carve out some one-on-one time with God. Start with some worship music. Include some words from Jesus (e.g, Matt. 5—7). Write a prayer of thanksgiving. Enjoy God’s presence. When you finish, schedule your next sanctuary time. As you can see from this psalm, the sanctuary experience is what keeps your faith vibrant and alive.
