Meditation
03/26/2025
Psalm 73
Not long after I was saved, I received the news that one day I would become blind. I had worked so hard and so long to get into dental college, so this news was depressing in the extreme for me. Today, I am ashamed to admit that I had my doubts about God’s plan, though in time, God was able to minister to my soul through His Word so that now I see the tremendous blessing that God, using this early trial, had purposed for me. In Psalms 73, I believe that Asaph records his own struggles with a great disappointment in his life, and one that nearly caused him to stumble. In verses 1-3 he relates: “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…. Asaph rightly began by acknowledging that God is good to His children. And yet, it must have seemed to him that the wicked and ungodly of the world appeared to get by with their pernicious schemes, becoming rich and powerful while the innocent seem to suffer. In verses 4-12, Asaph goes on to describe the characteristics of the ungodly, noting that their wicked ways appeared to go on unchecked. Looking at the world through the eyes of the flesh, even the child of God can be stumbled by the activities of the wicked. In Psalms 73:13,14 I believe we see evidence of Asaph being overly discouraged by the apparent impunity with which the wicked seem to operate. He even begins to question the value of his own efforts towards godliness: “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.”
My dear friends, you may depend upon it-the enemy of our souls will do all he can to discourage true believers by parading before our eyes the seeming glories of the world. In Ephesians 6:10-18 we are told how we can best defend against such spiritual attacks. Verse 16 tells us that we must use the shield of faith to quench those fiery darts of the wicked. And, what might those fiery darts be? Our adversary, the devil, will seek to rob believers of their joy by whispering lies, causing us to doubt God’s love and care for His own given the trials of this scene. My Christian friends, do we ever entertain doubts about the Goodness of God during times of trial? We live in a fallen world, and trials and tribulations will come as a part of our earthly experience. In John 16:33, the Lord Jesus said: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” God may allow difficulties in the lives of His own, but we have the assurance of God’s Word that these are ultimately for our good. James 1:2-4 says: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Like Asaph of old, we learn the truth about God’s constant love and care for us by trusting the infallible Word of God instead of what we may think we see with our eyes: “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end,” (Psalms 73:16,17). Only when Asaph came to stand before God in the sanctuary did he see clearly the truth. And so it is for Christians today. We are invited to come boldly before the Throne of Grace for truth and comfort, and the grace to help us in time of need (Hebrews 4:16. So, why delay coming to the Lord in prayer? In James 1:5, we read: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Asaph received wisdom and was able to see the matter of concern clearly only when he came before the Lord in the sanctuary, when he came before the Lord in prayer. It was the Word of God that revealed to Asaph that his conclusions about the apparent prospering of the ungodly were all wrong. In Psalms 73:21, 22 I believe that we see the conviction and confession of Asaph: “Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee.”
My dear Christian friends, let us always come quickly before the Throne of Grace in times of trouble, and let us take up early on the armor of God that we may be able to view our individual situations through the eyes of faith. Have we allowed the devil to rob us of our joy in Christ Jesus by showing us the apparent successes of the ungodly? God’s Word is living and powerful, and I believe it is only by reading, receiving, and believing His Word, which is the solid rock foundation of faith, that we can see the world clearly for what it is, and that our peace and joy of being in Christ is made full.
Blessings to all,
Steven J. Faulkner
03/19/25
Psalm 63
I believe that Psalm 63 might give us a glimpse into the heart of King David at a time when he had to flee for his very life to escape his own son. Absalom had stolen the hearts of many in Israel, and he was at that time advancing rapidly with an army of former loyal subjects to take the throne by force. Imagine the sorrow in the king’s heart as he had to pack and tramp with all his household and those who yet served him, and flee from his palace to dry, desolate places just to preserve life. Imagine the bitterness of knowing that his own son and many of his former friends had turned against him and now sought to violently depose him. Yet, as we read this psalm, we do not hear an outcry of bitterness or despair. We read instead the cry of a soul which sought the comfort and presence of God. In verses 1 and 2 we read: “O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.”
A “dry and thirsty land” is a pretty apt description of the world we live in today, wouldn’t you agree? It is often very difficult in this life, with dangers and trials all around. It seems there is very little here to encourage the hearts of Christians, so that we sometimes cry out from the very depths of our being for refreshment and relief. For David, that refreshment and relief was to be found in God. His soul thirsted for God, and his flesh longed for Him. We do not hear David crying out for an easier path, or for the creature comforts he was certainly lacking at that moment. His heart’s desire was to see the power and glory of the Lord. David had walked with God and had come to trust Him, so even with his life on the line, he praised the Lord for His lovingkindness. In verse 3, we read: “Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.” David could praise the Lord for His lovingkindness even though it might seem at that moment that all his world was turned upside down.
And how about you and me, my dear friends? Do we sometimes find ourselves with a heavy heart as we consider the various issues and disappointments of life? Oh, but we have such excellent encouragement in God’s Word! Ephesians 1:3reminds us: “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ….” Any day, and even in the face of our worst personal trials, we can know with assurance that God has His loving, caring eye upon us, and He is our continual source of blessing now and for all eternity. So, my dear ones, the question of Psalm 43:5 is answered, and the solution for a spirit which is cast down should catapult our souls to the very heights of joy: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Blessings to all,
Steven J. Faulkner