Envy (6 of 9)
Series: Look Up
Dave Gustavsen
Psalm 73
We're taking the summer to walk through the book of Psalms. The great theologian John Calvin said the Psalms are ''an anatomy of all parts of the soul.'' So over these weeks, we've been seeing how these different Psalms connect with all kinds of human emotions, and put words to those emotions. But they don't stop there; they always invite us to look up from ourselves, and to look at life from a much bigger perspective. You could say that the Psalms validate our emotions, but they don't idolize our emotions. They show us how our emotions can lead us to God.
So...the Psalm we're going to look at today focuses on the emotion of envy. And it actually focuses on a specific kind of envy. So let's read the Psalm, and see if you can relate to this kind of envy. Psalm 73. Hear the Word of the Lord...
1 Surely God is good to Israel,? to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;? I had nearly lost my foothold.?3 For I envied the arrogant? when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;? their bodies are healthy and strong.?5 They are free from common human burdens;? they are not plagued by human ills.?6 Therefore pride is their necklace;? they clothe themselves with violence.?7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;? their evil imaginations have no limits.?8 They scoff, and speak with malice;? with arrogance they threaten oppression.?9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,? and their tongues take possession of the earth.?10 Therefore their people turn to them? and drink up waters in abundance.?11 They say, ''How would God know?? Does the Most High know anything?''
12 This is what the wicked are like-? always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure? and have washed my hands in innocence.?14 All day long I have been afflicted,? and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that ...
Series: Look Up
Dave Gustavsen
Psalm 73
We're taking the summer to walk through the book of Psalms. The great theologian John Calvin said the Psalms are ''an anatomy of all parts of the soul.'' So over these weeks, we've been seeing how these different Psalms connect with all kinds of human emotions, and put words to those emotions. But they don't stop there; they always invite us to look up from ourselves, and to look at life from a much bigger perspective. You could say that the Psalms validate our emotions, but they don't idolize our emotions. They show us how our emotions can lead us to God.
So...the Psalm we're going to look at today focuses on the emotion of envy. And it actually focuses on a specific kind of envy. So let's read the Psalm, and see if you can relate to this kind of envy. Psalm 73. Hear the Word of the Lord...
1 Surely God is good to Israel,? to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;? I had nearly lost my foothold.?3 For I envied the arrogant? when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;? their bodies are healthy and strong.?5 They are free from common human burdens;? they are not plagued by human ills.?6 Therefore pride is their necklace;? they clothe themselves with violence.?7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;? their evil imaginations have no limits.?8 They scoff, and speak with malice;? with arrogance they threaten oppression.?9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,? and their tongues take possession of the earth.?10 Therefore their people turn to them? and drink up waters in abundance.?11 They say, ''How would God know?? Does the Most High know anything?''
12 This is what the wicked are like-? always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure? and have washed my hands in innocence.?14 All day long I have been afflicted,? and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that ...
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