Psalm 73

Scripture can be understood in three great movements giving us a complete understanding of God’s relationship with humankind. I call the first movement Order because it is an understanding of the cause and effect relationship. When God entered into a covenant relationship with humans, there was a system of reward and punishment. If a person kept the law, if a person did good, then blessings, good things would flow into their life. If a person broke the law, did bad, then they would be punished.

As the relationship between humans and God began to mature, humans encountered the forces of evil. The Book of Job is an excellent example of a man who was in a right relationship with God, yet many bad things flowed into his life. This reality brings forth the second movement, which I call Faith. In times of trial, especially when the suffering is not the result of our misdeeds, we can have faith “that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).

However, there are times when it seems as though evil has the upper hand. In the face of all the human suffering in the world, many people do not see how God can, or should, be praised. When it appears that the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. Those who clearly violate God’s law seem to prosper, while the followers of God suffer, and many people ask, “what’s the point in believing in God?” This reality brings forth the third movement, which I call Trust. The psalmist pondered the times of order and the times of faith, but, it was trust that enabled him to resolve the conflict he was experiencing.

The very heart of our Judeo-Christian heritage is the belief in the final judgment of God. It may appear that some people are skating through life, prospering on the backs of others, without being held accountable, but there is more to come. There will be a time when all people, through all of history, will be held accountable to God for their lives. The psalmist learned that his focus should be on his life, and he could trust God to vindicate the righteous.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

    and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Psalm 73:28

Sē’lah

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Reading for July 14, 2012          Psalm 74