Asaph’s Spiritual Growth

Scripture: Psalm 73

“Psalms 73:0   A Psalm of Asaph.

Psalms 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!

Psalms 73:2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped.

Psalms 73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalms 73:4 For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat.

Psalms 73:5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind.

Psalms 73:6 Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them.

Psalms 73:7 Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot.

Psalms 73:8 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.

Psalms 73:9 They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.

Psalms 73:10 Therefore his people return to this place, And waters of abundance are drunk by them.

Psalms 73:11 They say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?”

Psalms 73:12 Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

Psalms 73:13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;

Psalms 73:14 For I have been stricken all day long And chastened every morning.

Psalms 73:15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

Psalms 73:16 When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight

Psalms 73:17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

Psalms 73:18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.

Psalms 73:19 How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!

Psalms 73:20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.

Psalms 73:21 When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within,

Psalms 73:22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

Psalms 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.

Psalms 73:24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.

Psalms 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalms 73:27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

Psalms 73:28 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.” (Psalm 73:0–28 NAS95)