Psalm 73

Dear Jennie:

- vs. 1-3: Asaph is the author and it sounds like he can acknowledged with his head that God is good to the pure in heart but what's tripping him up is the evidence he sees with his eyes that actually the wicked prosper.

- vs. 4-16: The wicked:
     - wear pride as a necklace
    - the garment of violence covers them
    - the imaginations of their heart run riot
     - they mock oppression
     - they set their mouths against heaven
    - they don't think God knows or sees

Yet Asaph perceives that they prosper, they have no pain, they increase in wealth, they are fat. Meanwhile Asaph is keeping himself pure, and it's hard, he is continually disciplined ... so is it all in vain?

- vs. 17: The turning point: Asaph realizes the truth when he came into the sanctuary of God. What in our lives do we need to go to the sanctuary of God and find truth?

- The wicked will:
    - be set in slippery places
    - be cast down to destruction
    - be destroyed in a moment
    - be utterly swept away by sudden terrors
    - be despised by God
    - perish
   
- vs. 21-24: I like the imagery here: Asaph embittered by the apparent prospering of the wicked but that was senseless and ignorant. Yet God took hold of his hand and guided him gently to the truth. Like a good Father.

- vs. 25: Do you think when Asaph says: who have I in heaven but you? That he means God is the most important to him, not that there literally isn't anyone else in heaven?

- vs. 28: Asaph's last line is to tell of all God's works

- I struggle a little bit here with "wicked". I mean don't we all want to be good? Is there anyone that is truly wicked? Ok maybe Hitler and child molesters and people who sell other human beings as slaves but aren't even they not beyond the reach of grace?

Love!
Stephanie