New: 3 March 2025
Shifting our
Focus on God
Psalm 73
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
Psalm 73:25 NASB
Keeping a Pure Heart
When confronted with the corruption and injustice in the world, facing the reality that sometimes evil people succeed and prosper by fraud and falsehood, we may ask ourselves, is it worth it to keep a pure heart? Does it pay off to 'play by the rules' and do the right thing in the right way? Are we just fooling ourselves? If God doesn't limit evil, even good people become corrupt (Psalm 125:3; E16). It is tough to feel like we lost after doing what is right. How are we to handle such realities?
Psalm 73 is a psalm that tries to understand the injustice in the world and seeks to find ways to handle life. He observed (Psalm 73:2-12), concluded (v 13), pondered (v 16) and concluded again (vv 18-20). The psalmist also realised things about himself (vv 21-24) and how great and precious God is (vv 25-28). He started with a positive proclamation (v 1), yet after observing life as it is, started doubting whether this was right at all (v 13). Such is life: we have our good ideals, yet they will be tested. We can then either abandon the ideals and adjust to the corruption round us or stay faithful to the ways of the Lord—the choice is ours; the consequences too.
The positive confession at the beginning of the psalm is that God is good to those who are pure in heart (v 1). It is the ideal. 'Blessed are the pure in heart,' Jesus said, 'for they shall see God,' He promised (Matthew 5:8). Without holiness no one will see God (Hebrews 12:14). God's blessings come to those who are upright in heart (Psalm 18:25-26; 24:3-6). Yet the psalmist started struggling with this ideal as he observed the corruption and evil in the world. His foot almost slipped, he came close to stumbling as he was envious of the arrogant and wicked in their prosperity (vv 2-7). They speak proud things, even against God (vv 8-9) and think He doesn't hear and take notice (vv 10-11). The wicked are at ease, things seem great for them and their wealth is increasing (v 12). This reality seems to contradict the psalmist's ideal. What was he to make of all this?
The psalmist—prematurely, as we shall see—concluded that he kept his heart pure in vain (v 13). It wasn't worth it, he thought. Was he right? He had been stricken all day long and chastened every morning (v 14). Yet he wouldn't want to betray his people by giving up on the ideal that God is good to those who are pure in heart; he restrained his tongue (v 15). It is powerful not to speak contrary to your ideal when you can hardly contain it. We so quickly give up on our ideals when reality seems to contract them. Yet then the psalmist did something that shifted his focus on God.
When I pondered to understand this,
it was troublesome in my sight
until I came into the sanctuary of God...
Psalm 73:16-17 NASB
Pondering to Understand Properly
Pondering to understand properly and conclude accurately is vital in life. Just as we need to lift our eyes to God (Psalm 121; E16), we need to shift our focus on God. The psalmist 'pondered to understand' (Psalm 73:16). This is crucial to gain a proper perspective. The pondering to understand was at first troublesome in the psalmist's sight (v 16b), until he came into the sanctuary of God (v 17a). There is always an 'until,' when we shift our focus and start to understand properly. Considering things in God's presence and understanding things from a divine perspective makes all the difference. Suddenly, the psalmist realised things are not always as they first seemed: he perceived the end of the wicked (v 17b). Although they seemed well and at ease, they were suddenly gone. Destruction set in and they were swept away, vanished like a dream (vv 18-20). That's how fast things can change.
The psalmist started to understand that his first way of looking at things was faulty; he was bitter, senseless and ignorant in his premature conclusions (vv 21-22). His perspective shifted with a focus on God. He started understanding life with God's counsel (vv 23-24). Seeing things from the divine perspective is a game-changer. Our focus shifts and we can understand and conclude properly. The psalmist saw the injustice in the world and thought keeping God's way is not worth it, yet he realised he had been wrong. Who did he have but God? His greatest desire in life on earth was to have Him, the strength of his heart and his eternal portion (vv 25-26). The nearness of God was the good thing he had (v 28a). Nothing is more precious than that. The wicked will get what they deserved (v 27), yet the psalmist would take refuge in God and proclaim His works (v 28). We must stick to our biblical ideals. It is useless to get bitter and envious of wicked people and their fading success and prosperity. What good is to win the whole world yet lose your soul? The psalmist had the greatest treasure in God. He would not trade it for anything else. Neither should we.