Psalms 73-78

73:1-9 - Asaph questions God as to why evil people seem to have all the power and catch all the breaks.

73:10 - The literal translation says, "They drink down the whole cup" instead of "The people turn back to them." I like the literal translation because it gives you imagery to go along with what is happening. People are seeing that evil seems to be stronger in the world, so they start to drink the the kool-aid...they start to buy in with the worldview that says to serve yourself at any cost. Aspah is on the cusp of following suit...

73:16 - Yet he goes to the sanctuary of the Lord and once there he is able to see the through the lies of the world. Once in the presence of God his vision is cleared and he knows that the way of evil leads only to destruction. Sometimes when we are struggling with is or struggling with doubt we need to remove ourselves from whatever situation we are in and seek the presence of the Lord. In His midst, human systems reveal their true nature - corrupt.

74:12 - Throughout the psalm, the psalmist has been questioning God and wondering where He is. But he still understands that God has been ruling creation from the beginning...God knows what He is doing. God is also patient with the world and wants people to come to salvation, so sometimes judgment is pushed back to offer second chances.

75:4-5 - The more we boast in our own strength...the more we lift ourselves up and try to glorify ourselves...the farther we have to fall when we experience the humility of entering into the presence of God's perfection.

76:7-9 - This ties in nicely with the verses on boasting from above. Who can stand before God? (The answer is no one) All will be humbled...and I want to make sure that I have humbled myself and lived a life of humility, before I reach the end and it is forced upon me by God's presence.

77:11-12 - The psalmist fears what is going on int he world around him and he questions God as to why it seems like He is not acting quickly enough. But then Asaph decides to remember back to the God he is addressing...he remembers the power of God...he remembers His deeds, and Aspah is able to find peace. Great peace of advice for those of us who are struggling with questions and doubts...spend some time remembering what God has done in your life and the lives of others and you will find the peace you seek.

78:5-7 - Since we have been gifted with the truth of God - His word, His legacy, the way of Jesus, etc...it is our sacred task to pass that on to the generations to come.

78:32 - This is a heartbreaking account of the history of Israel. God saves them - they turn away. God punishes them with hope of bringing them back to Him - they turn away. In spite of everything God has done to bring the people to Him, they are still plagued with rebellion and unbelief. Sounds a little like my life from time to time. How do we combat unbelief in the face of all that God has done for us?