Asaph was a very good choir leader, back when David was king of Israel. The men and women in the choir were all standing in perfect order, and when Asaph lifted his hand to give the starting signal, every voice was raised in perfect harmony. It must have been wonderful to hear. God made the human voice on the sixth day of creation, and the notes of the musical scale are the same now as they were then.
God was pleased with their harmony, for He had created it. But at the same time, He looked right down into the singers’ hearts to see if they meant what they were singing. The words were beautiful words of praise, but they were empty words if they did not come from a heart full of praise.
Asaph was an excellent leader, but at the same time he had a problem deep down in his heart. Yes, he knew God is worth trusting, but he wondered, Why do wicked people succeed? There are people who cheat and steal and say bad things. They live as they like, and they continue to be healthy and rich and respected. But what about the rest of us? We try to live Christian lives and be honest and kind even when others don’t know. But we don’t have wonderful jobs and good health and good looks ... all those nice things go to somebody else. It doesn’t seem fair!
Maybe you have the same problem down in your heart. You have tried hard, but success passes you by and piles up for somebody else. It makes you doubt the wisdom of God, and you know it isn’t right to doubt Him. What should you do?
Asaph found the answer, and if you read Psalm 73, you will find out as he did. “I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end” (vs. 17). You see, Asaph went to the right place to find the answer. He went to the sanctuary of God, and if you want the answer, you do the same. Kneel down and tell God your problem, and look in His Book, the Bible, for the answer.
Asaph learned from God that He set those wicked people in slippery places. Maybe you can understand that, if you’ve ever tried to walk in slippery mud on a hillside, with nothing to grab onto. Down you go, and you land in whatever happens to be at the bottom.
Don’t try to go the way of those wicked people that seem so successful. They will be brought to despair. Over and over again you are warned not to follow what they do.
The wicked may go on being successful, but Asaph was looking beyond time into God’s great forever, and his heart was satisfied. He said, “It is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God” (Psalm 73:2828But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. (Psalm 73:28)). And when he lifted up his hand to lead the choir, he did so with a heart that rested in God.
ML-12/26/2010