Sunday June 25, 2023
Go to Church…It Will Help More Than You Know
Asaph believes in God. From verse 1 of Psalm 73, we see that Asaph, the writer of this Psalm, is a firm believer. He is not writing as someone who is hostile to the Lord or an agnostic. He knows all the history of what God has done for Israel. And He believes it. As we move forward in the Psalm, it is important to know that Asaph is a sincere believer who has some struggles, not an unbeliever who cannot bring himself to accept God’s plan.
Asaph still had moments of doubt and confusion trying to understand what was happening in the world around him. In verse 2 we get a glimpse of the struggles of Asaph. His feet came close to stumbling and his steps almost slipped.
In this psalm, the writer, Asaph, struggles to understand the disconcerting prosperity of the wicked and their apparent easy life. He contrasts the plight of the righteous with the wicked, finding it woefully unfair. According to Asaph, the problem of the lifelong prosperity of the wicked is aggravated by the apparent lack of reward for those who live righteously.
Eventually, sooner or later, the wicked will receive justice for the wrongs they have done. They will not take their riches with them after death. One day each person will face God as the judge and have to give an account for everything he has done. The security that their riches seem to provide is short-lived and no real security at all. While their lives seem to be smooth and easy, destruction comes upon them in a moment. Asaph’s description reminds us of Jesus’ parable about the rich fool, who did not know that he was about to die and all of the things so carefully stored up would avail him nothing. Money is but for a moment. A life built on things of this world is on a slippery slope. Only a life built on the rock of Christ is safe and sound.
But then, Asaph finds solace and truth which he discovers in the sanctuary of God. There really is something special about going to the sanctuary. Throughout the scriptures the sanctuary offered those in need a place where they knew they could encounter the presence of the Lord. It was more than just a building…it was the very dwelling of God.
And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (Ex.25:8 NKJV)
Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! (Ps.150:1 NKJV)
In that special place the Lord could be seen in His awesomeness (Ps.63:2). It is from there that He heard the cries and prayers of His people and sends help from it (Ps.28:2, Ps.20:2). Strength and beauty are found in His sanctuary (Ps.96:6). (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of beauty)
According to Webster’s Dictionary, sanctuary is defined as “a place of refuge or protection; an asylum.” It also notes that a sanctuary offers immunity from punishment. The Bible defines is as “a holy, sacred place.” To those who believe, it is both…a holy place and a refuge.
And just as Asaph ran to the sanctuary needing solace and understanding, we too can run there to seek God. But just where is this place? Is it a building? Though we can find God anywhere and everywhere, there really is something very special and powerful about His presence in the church…not the building, but the people. We don’t go to church, we are the Church!
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matt.18:20 NKJV)
The Holy God now lives within us and dwells in our midst when we gather together. The body of Christ, the Church, can and should be that safe haven of refuge to which hurting people can run. We should be that holy place where they can encounter the presence of God. To where did Asaph run? To the sanctuary. Where do we go? We run to the covering of the fellowship of believers…the holy refuge of the body of Christ.
There was a popular song a few years ago that had the church prayerfully singing, “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary pure and holy, tried and true.” We should make that our prayer again. Go to church…be the Church. Amen.
