“Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened.” —Helen Keller
We begin Book III of the Psalter with a psalm by Asaph, the first of a set of eleven associated with him. Asaph was one of three Chief Musicians appointed over the singers and musicians at the temple. We spoke of him in our study of Psalm 50, also a psalm of Asaph. One of the hallmarks of spiritual maturity is the willingness to be honest with others. This is certainly on display in Psalm 73. He describes his difficulty: “As for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (vv 1-3). Imagine one of Israel’s spiritual leaders being bothered by something like this! Actually it isn’t hard to imagine. God had linked material blessing to obedience to His word, and poverty to those who disobeyed (see Deut 28:1-68). We can see that the promises here included material blessing. For example, “all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God…the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand” (Ps 73:2, 11-12). You recall Job wrestled with the same issue. But what is the answer presented here? You can see Psalm 73 is divided evenly in two. Verses 1-14 describe Asaph’s Dilemma, and verses 15-28 present his Deliverance. Thankfully, he doesn’t keep you waiting! He gives his conclusion in verse 1. “Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.” Whatever the winding road we take, we’re guaranteed we’ll arrive safely at Home.