Joel M Bradshaw

2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.–Psalm 73

Countless times when I journey with people, they utter some version of this complaint. “Why does God allow the wicked people to have it easier and make life harder for the ones who actually love Him?”

Admit it, you’ve said something along those lines. You watch or read the news and grumble. Your thoughts begin to be angry and as the narrative is reinforced within you, a bitter root gets nourished.

Asaph spends most of the psalm grumbling against the world, but he stopped short of questioning the goodness of God. His foot nearly slipped. He almost stumbled. What stopped him? What prevented him from going to where the Prodigal Son’s other brother went? Verses 16 and 17…

16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

The wicked may seem to flourish now, but their destiny still ends with facing God. And coming into God’s sanctuary reminded Asaph about a wonderful reality facing a faithful one like him. 23-26…

23Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

This is where the father challenged the Prodigal’s bitter brother in the end. When you are with God, the grumbles have an end point. God is your strength and your portion. That word means inheritance. He is everything. So what if the wicked seem to have it easier for awhile? 23-26 are some of the most beautiful verses in the Bible.

So when you are grumbling and are tempted to judge God from your bitter perspective, land the plane like Asaph did. Holy moly, verses 27-28…

27For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.

In the midst of your grumbling, go to God. See his goodness and make his perspective your own. God will indeed justly deal with evil. On the cross, God already dealt with yours. Rejoice that God has forgiven you. Let your grumbles turn to prayers of thanksgiving to God and intercession for the ones you hate most. Don’t fall into the trap of the Prodigal’s brother. Make Psalm 73 your psalm.–JMB