Download discussion questions:  Psalm 73

This week’s Calvary Institute discussion on Psalms of Lament was led by Brian, a member of the staff at Calvary Restoration Church.  After the group spent some time looking at Psalm 73, Brian suggested we think about the perspective of the psalm.  Specifically, how and where does the psalmist’s perspective change? 

The Title of the Psalm

We first considered the title of the psalm, “A Psalm of Asaph.”  Asaph was a Levite, a worship leader as well as a teacher of the Law.  Later in our discussion these seemingly minor details helped shed light on the meaning and significance of what Asaph wrote.  As mentioned in a previous discussion, although the psalm titles were not part of the original, inspired text, they were considered important by Jesus and Paul.  Psalm 73 provides an example of how useful the titles can be for our studies.

Orthodoxy and Experience

Our group had several overall observations about the psalm and the psalmist’s attitude.  One person pointed out the immediate contrast between the writer’s orthodox belief (“Surely God is good,” v. 1) and his personal experience (“my feet came close to stumbling,” v. 2).  As the psalm moves into more specific complaints, another member of the group compared the text to a tantrum, full of envy, anger, jealousy, and self-pity.  “Word pictures with emotions all over the place” was another description.

Asaph’s complaint did not stop with the advantages of the wicked.  He turned to comparing those advantages with his own hardships, “I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning” (v. 14).  His complaint was intensified by the inconsistency.  His pure and innocent behavior (v. 13) couldn’t be more unlike the wickedness he sees all around him.  The lowest point of his despair is that following God is pointless, “Surely in vain…” (v. 13a).

A significant impact of the inspired writer’s “tantrum” was the reminder to our group that there is no point in hiding our discouragements and frustrations from an all-knowing God.  Asaph had strong feelings, including negative thoughts that we tend to hide from God (not possible), from others (hypocritical), and even from ourselves (unhealthy).  However, God the Holy Spirit inspired Asaph to express himself honestly, even recording that honesty in Holy Scripture for all future believers to see.

A Change in Perspective

The Holy Spirit’s work in Asaph and this psalm did not end with the psalmist giving vent to his exasperation.  The second half exhibits quite a different perspective.  That brought us back to Brian’s original questions:  What are Asaph’s perspectives in this psalm?  Where (and how) does the perspective change?  Through our discussion, the following outline emerged:

• Orthodoxy (v. 1)
• Personal struggle (v. 2-3)
• Generalized complaints (v. 4-12)
• Comparison with others (v. 13-14)
• Vocational struggle (v. 15-16)
• Godly perspective (v. 17)
• Truth about the wicked (v. 18-20)
• Confession (v. 21-22)
• Truth about relationship with God (v. 23-26)
• Truth about those apart from God (v. 27)
• Our highest good (v. 28)

Generalizations

Our discussion turned to the dangerous habits of generalizations (v. 4-12) and comparisons (v. 13-14).  We tend to make both mistakes when our emotions cloud our judgment.  All we see are the injustices or unfair advantages of others, and the difficulties and hardships we face.  As one person pointed out, based on those distortions, we can spiral continually deeper in the stumbling and slipping Asaph described (v. 2-3).  Generalizations and comparisons are symptoms of a distorted perspective, viewing orthodoxy through the lens of our experience.  The change in the mood of the psalm came when the writer began to see his experiences (even the difficult and unfair ones) through the lens of orthodoxy (“Surely God is good…” v. 1, v. 17).

There was some debate (lively, but always friendly) over exactly where in the psalm Asaph’s perspective changed.  Verse 17 begins with the word “until” which certainly reflects the new perspective gained in “the sanctuary of God,” perhaps in worship or meditation in the temple.  One person commented that the writer was able to see the “big picture” there, away from the generalizations and comparisons.

Personal and Corporate Effect

Perhaps the perspective change began when Asaph recognized the effect his attitude was having (v. 15).  Being a teacher and a worship leader, his downward-spiraling emotions could have disastrous impacts on people under his guidance (“I would have betrayed the generation of Your children”).  Here is where the insights provided by the psalm’s title add to our understanding.  Not only was his attitude affecting his own faith (“my feet came close to stumbling, my steps almost slipped” v. 1).  His relationships with others, particularly as a leader, created a danger to them as well.  One person commented that Asaph realized that his responsibility was to teach the truths and facts of his orthodox faith, not his personal bias based on his own experiences.  Asaph’s recollection of his weighty responsibility is reminiscent of the warning from James 3:1:  “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”  The worship leader and teacher who lamented the unfairness in his life saw the potential destructiveness of his attitude.

The phrase in verse 16, “It was troublesome in my sight” raises the question, “What was troublesome?”  Before this study, I had read the verse to mean that the long list of unfairness (v. 3-14) as troublesome for the writer.  Thanks to our discussion group and Brian’s leadership, those words now apply to Asaph’s perception of his own heart.  His interior struggle, once recognized, was troublesome to him.  The unfairness was still there, and the injustice didn’t end.  More importantly, the one in a leadership role saw the effect his inaccurate perspective was having on himself and on his ministry to others.

Once his attitude changed, once he saw the “big picture” of God’s perspective, he remembered that God Himself was his ultimate good.  He could depend on God’s presence and care (v. 23).  He could rely on His guidance and acceptance (v. 24).  He recognized that knowing God was worth more than anything else he could desire (v. 25).  Even his physical well-being was secondary to the relationship with the Living God.  The nearness and intimate relationship with God was indeed Asaph’s highest good (v. 26a).  That relationship with God was his refuge in the midst of the continuing hardships (v. 26b).  With that corrected perspective, Asaph, the troubled teacher (v. 15-16), could look forward to telling others the truth about the goodness of God and His works (v. 28c).

Our perspective impacts others whether we are in a leadership position like Asaph or simply having coffee with a friend.  Our attitude, shaped by generalizations and comparisons, can drag others into our self-destructive spiral.  A perspective growing out of the fundamental truth that God is good can draw them into “the nearness of God who is my good” (v. 28).

The God Who is My Good

Through his uncertainly, almost stumbling and slipping, Asaph ends where he began:  “Surely God is good…” (v. 1)…”the nearness of God is my good” (v. 28).  As one person commented, Asaph, being a Levite, had no portion, no land of his own (Deuteronomy 18:1).  Yet he could exuberantly write, “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (v. 26b).  He expressed that enthusiasm in the context of “no matter what else might happen” – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is my strength…” v. 26a.

That is the attitude that enabled Asaph’s change in perspective.  Generalizing about others and comparing our hardships with their ease drags us and others into despair.  Seeing God as our highest good and our relationship (“nearness”) with Him as the source of joy enables us to face whatever happens.  The “joy set before Him” enabled Jesus to endure the cross, and He sat down at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 12:2).  When by God’s grace we experience hints and whispers of that joy now, we can be grateful.  Our anticipation of eternally increasing joy enables our endurance now.  Our ultimate joy is our eternally growing nearness to the God who is our good.