Psalms 73 & 37

Description

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Review

In the first three lessons, we studied psalms highlighting God's will, word, and nature.
The fourth lesson explored a healthy double-focus (directed both inward and outward).
As we sat in our last lesson, Darkness, the world is a place of self-interest. It can get to us, especially if we aren’t focused. We can find ourselves at the brink of ruin even in the midst of the assembly (Proverbs 5:14).

Drifting

Hebrews 2:1. When we aren't paying attention to the Word -- when we lose focus -- we drift.
Why is it important not to drift? We can end up in some scary places. Rejecting counsel, we may be attracted to money, sex, popularity, fashion -- everything the world has to offer.
And we become good at rationalizing our sin.

Psalm 73

The psalmist begins to drift when he looks at the lives of those who aren't putting the Lord first. (They aren't necessarily anti-religion; they just don't get why God would care about their behavior.)
He begins to feel that his faith is futile.
He has drifted to a dangerous place, and is saved from this perilous trajectory once he enters the sanctuary of God -- perhaps a visit to the Temple?
Only from the vantage point of holiness, from a spiritual perspective, does he grasp their final destiny. Sooner or later the bubble will burst.
He realizes that, without such a perspective, he remains on the level of the animals.
Fortunately, he has regained his perspective -- an eternal one.
At the end of the psalm, having regained his balance, he feels confidence to stand up for God, "to tell of his deeds."

Psalm 37

Drifting may originate in envy, false comparisons, and fretting (vv.1, 7, 8; see also Proverbs 24:19).
Fretting is unproductive.
Don't worry about the next fellow; work on your own life.
John 21:21-22: "... 'Lord, what about him?'... 'You must follow me.""
Delight yourself in the Lord -- focus! (vv.3-6)
Jesus (Matthew 5) cites this Psalm. (In the podcast I claim that Peter cites it, too; but that's wrong -- oops! I was thinking of Psalm 34, another very encouraging psalm which in my heart shares space with Psalm 37.)

What do we learn from these psalms?

God doesn't discount our feelings.
He knows when we are drifting.
The psalmist works through his issues.
In many of the psalms – up to 40% are sad psalms – the psalmist finds resolution by the end of the prayer.
The psalms are extremely diverse, and address many of our emotional and spiritual needs.

Benefit from the entire range of psalms

Psalm 37 helps us not to fret. Psalm 63 is good for those who (like David) are "in the wilderness."
We need to learn to use the psalms to minister to ourselves.
Find your psalm(s)! (I especially appreciate 48, 49, 50....)
Trust in God. If God seems far away, guess who moved?

Thought questions

When was the last time I was drifting? Was it a time when I’d lost my moorings?
Which psalms, and other parts of Scripture, keep me tied in to the Lord, and prevent me from drifting?
Do I have an eternal perspective on this world? Do I see the people of this world in perspective, as mere men?
Can I locate any more points of contact between Psalms 37 and 73?
How much might I benefit from working through my feelings/issues in prayer?

Prayer points