Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ



     I and my family have just returned from a wonderful weekend

of camping on The Mississippi River. During my quiet time I came

upon a wonderful psalm that I used as a basis for our Sunday

morning worship. I would like to share with you.

     Let's begin our devotional with prayer and be sure to thank

God for His justice and his forgiveness.



     Now open your Bibles to Psalm 73 and read it through twice.



     One of the elements that makes this Psalm so powerful is the

identity of it's author. Asaph son of Berachiah, who was he? His

name is mentioned in the Book of 1 Chronicles. In 1 Chronicles

16:1, we learn that he was appointed by King David to be the Head

of the Music Ministry before the Ark of God in Jerusalem. In 1

Chronicles 25:1 & 2, we lean that he is a Prophet of God.



Verse 1,

     Asaph begins this song with an enlightened statement of

faith, but as we shall see as we read on, he had almost lost

sight of this truth.



V 2-12

     This is nothing less than a public confession. What a

wonderful example of a Godly man who has been graced with a royal

and Holy ministry and who has fallen into the trap of

covetousness. He has beheld the prosperity of the wicked and has

come to despair over his "fruitless" struggles to live a Holy

live. It appears to him that God is blessing the wicked while he

has nothing to show for his efforts toward righteousness.

     Asaph humbles himself before God and Israel by recording his

sin in song.



V 13-15    

     These are the honest words of a bitter and angry man. Who

says that the Bible is out dated and that it doesn't speak to

modern man?

     These words jumped off the page and opened my eyes to my own

sin. Have you never uttered these same words in your heart? 

     The response of a Godly man to these thoughts is confession,

and worship.



V 16-17

     Asaph took his depression and his bitterness with him into

the temple of God and laid them upon the alter. God accepted his

sacrifice and gave him enlightenment.



V 18-26

     Asaph is shown that he has been seeing only the carnal side

of the picture and has neglected the spiritual side. A true view

of life realizes that God is on the throne and that he will judge

the world. The truly rich are those with a rich relationship

with God and those who despise God, in spite of their apparent

worldly riches, are truly poor and wretched.





V 27-28

     Asaph concludes his song as he began it, with an enlightened

statement of faith. 

     Are you struggling with covetousness, are you miserable

because you want the things that others have? Bring your sin to

Christ in confession, prayer, and worship and let his spirit open

your eyes to the true riches that are found in Him.

     Make a list of those riches and try starting your day by

offering God thanks for each item on the list. Then see that God

will lift up your heart.



                                             God Bless



                                        Greg Spencer