Asaph’s Trial: Banking on God’s Faithfulness

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me. Psa 73:16  

The Rich and Poor Divide: When Believing Joyfully is Severely Tested

Injustices come in different shades. But the end is always the same, bitterness. Asaph was besieged by the one which is probably the oldest, the commonest, and the most painful: economic injustice, or the idolization of corruption by the “wicked rich.”

In such times covetousness becomes an everyday reality. We desire, but we lack, so says Scripture, we ask, but we ask amiss, because we ask to feed our lust. And nothing but the grace of God can save a believer from such bitterness, and nothing but the grace of God saved Asaph’s faith from a complete shipwreck.

Asaph was a choir master in the house of God. This service had been inaugurated by David during his reign as king over Israel. Asaph went ahead to compose some of the psalms which bear his name in the Bible up to this day.

First, he begins with the obvious admission that God is good. It is a good place to begin, even though the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. May his beginning be also our beginning, when we are sorely tried, as he was.

A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. Psa 73:1-2 

What follows is bold. A shy man would have leapt in stoicism. But not a godly man like Asaph. His isn’t an outburst but a prayer. It is the cry of a son to his father.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 

            They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Psa 73:3-9 

 In Search of a Perspective

Some rich people are not just content to be rich, but they must flaunt it, and they must not only flaunt it, but they must also lecture everybody who isn’t like them as being lazy and jealous. Their words sting, as always, they are calculated to sting.

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Psa 73:10-12

The prophet has called them rightly by their (and ours too before we got saved) depravity.

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 

Their feet are swift to shed blood: 

Destruction and misery are in their ways: 

And the way of peace have they not known: 

There is no fear of God before their eyes. Rom 3:13-18

The godly everywhere and in every generation have felt the pangs which Asaph felt, and Jesus himself was many times the object of ridicule because of his teachings which railed against man in all his shades of wickedness. The ungodly have always loved darkness, because their deeds are evil, and therefore they have always repined against any penetration of light.

Asaph was where all of us sometimes find ourselves in, especially at a time like this, where evil is called good, and good evil; and where being corrupt is valorized as being smart.

The Pain of Unbelief

It is a place many believers have been to. That place where everything feels strong but faith. Had we believed right? Is God true? Had our believing been in vain? Had God lied?

Probably I am speaking to someone who feels like what Asaph felt. Perhaps your faith is in danger of slipping. Maybe the hardship has reached a breaking point. You believe God. You serve God. You love God. But you are walking. You are struggling. Your shoes are torn. The sun is beating hard on your scalp. While they glide joyfully by in beastly cars, and fly overhead in a maze of aquiline choppers.

And so you are discontented. You are angry. You doubt God. You doubt your faith. You are like Asaph. “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me” (Psa 73:16). If that is your place right now, may I advise that you do what Asaph did. His option was the best. He didn’t go to the street. He didn’t take arms. He didn’t insult anyone. He simply trusted God.

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Psa 73:16-20 

The Ministry of Remembrance

Going back to the word of God always brings clarity. It brings perspective. It brings remembrances of those things we were in danger of forgetting: the promises of God, and the faithfulness of God. Go back to the testimony of history. God has always acted on behalf of his saints. In their extremity they found it to be God’s appointed time.

Asaph recognized his sin, and he rightly felt sorry for it. His bitterness had nearly blinded him to the sovereignty and power of God. It is right he felt sorry for his sin. For in his bitterness he had nearly plunged himself into covetousness.

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Psa 73:21-22 

But quickly Asaph, like the prodigal, came to himself. The light of God showered on him like a comet.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psa 73:23-26 

There is a glory which the unredeemed know nothing about. But you do. You are redeemed. You are sanctified. You are justified. What can separate you from the love of God? And the apostle has said “nor things present, nor things to come” shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Asaph dived in the word of God, and in there he found his comfort, as we always do.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus. Rom 15:4-5  

“Great is thy faithfulness”. Let us fix our eyes on the prize. Let us fix our eyes on the perspective. The word of God will give us that, as it did to Asaph. Jesus has promised us that he will be with us even up to the end, and that he will never leave us nor forsake us. May God grant you joy in believing that.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 

But 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. Psa 73:27-28  

The word of God is a tower, says Solomon, the righteous run to it and they are safe. Again, God is our refuge and strength, and he is a a very present help in times of trouble. So, we count it all joy, knowing that our labour in the Lord is not vain. And as the psalmist has pointed out: He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. 

Wait upon Lord, I say, and again I say, wait.