Dissatisfaction or Satisfaction

O. T. #1271  "Dissatisfaction or Satisfaction"
August 27, 2018
Psalm 73
My flesh and heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. 
 Psalm 73:26

LET IT GLOW

Asaph was a leader in King David's Levitical choirs. He collected Psalms 73-83, but may not have written all of them. He starts out saying he did not understand why the wicked prospered, as their pride mocked God and believers. However, Asaph understood it when he walked into the sanctuary, Tabernacle. He was tempted to walk away from God, instead, he walked toward God.
What was Asaph's conclusion?

• He understood the destiny of the wicked. (verse 17)
• He saw his sin of self-pity and bitter. (verse 21)
• His foolishness was obvious. (verse 22)
• God continued to hold Asaph's right hand. (verse 23)
• God guided him with His counsel, leading him to a glorious destiny. (verse 24)
• There is no one other than God on whom he can rely. (verse 25)
• Asaph's health may have failed and his spirit grow weak, but God remains the strength of his heart. (verse 26)
• He realized it was good for him to draw near to God. (verse 27a)
• Asaph made  the Sovereign LORD his shelter. (verse 27b NLT)
• He is going to tell everyone about the wonderful things God does. (verse 27c)
• God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. (verse 1)

What could have happened to Asaph had he not gone to the Temple? He may have turned away from God and followed the way of the wicked worldly ones take over his faith. Look what he would have missed out on. God forgives, renews, and changes our perspective. He gives us second, third, and umpteen chances again to serve Him, in spite of our failures. So let us keep on going to the worship services. Our soul and heart and mind need it.

God's love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me, as the song goes.

LET IT GROW

Unfortunately, many believers wander away from God and go the way of the world. They become dissatisfied with their marriage, family, job, or situation, and leave the faith. They turn to the world for their satisfaction and not God. Asaph had that problem, too.

I like to see the good that comes in the scripture before the bad. So Asaph started out how it seemed to him that the wicked prosper and go unrewarded. Verses 2- in New Living Translation explains his attitude. They:

• seem to live a painless life;
• have bodies that are healthy and strong;
• don't have troubles like other people;
• aren't plagued with problems like everyone else;
• wear pride like a jeweled necklace;
• clothe themselves with cruelty;
• have everything their hearts could ever wish for;
• scoff and speak only evil;
• seek to crush others while in their pride;
• boast against the very heavens;
• have words that confusion and dismay with their words;
• ask, "What does God know? Does the Most High even know what is happening?"

Isn't that the truth! Oh, my word, did Asaph have an envy problem or what? Aren't we glad that his trust in God was renewed? He realized that in God, we have everything that makes for a lasting contentment. When we don't have it all together, God is patient with us. Our contentment comes from God. (The wicked one will not enjoy their eternal life if they do not repent while on earth.)

God loves us despite our sinful dissatisfaction with His providences, and when we turn to Him, our hearts will change, even if our circumstances don't, because He is faithful to His people.  (Lydia Brownback's Singing a New Song)

Work on being content in whatsoever state, situation, in which I am, like Paul.

LET IT GO
                     ... so my happiness and contentment is in You Jesus, not things.
                                ... and focus on serving God and not my flesh.
                                ... of the world and grow in faith in Jesus.