Notas. Inglés y Español ⬇️
November 21: Is it worth being good?
Psalms 73:10-28:
Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?” Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me— until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.
Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, so, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. 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 Your works.
The third part begins with this psalm, which is a compilation of the book of psalms. The first 10 psalms are authored by Asaph, one of the main leaders of the worship directors stipulated by David.
Psalm 10 and Psalm 37 are very similar to the theme of this psalm about the dilemma we see in the world, of people who are living lives totally contrary to the Word of God, living lives full of immorality and injustice, mocking and rejecting all that is of God.
This psalm is like a testimony of Asaph, telling us what that process was like from his frustration, doubt, revelation and conclusion.
First he tells us how it is unfair that people who have no fear of God are satisfied with their needs and desires; they are full of abundance despite their works of arrogance and even blasphemers, thinking only of themselves and not of their Creator.
This issue is so complex and delicate that Asaph here reported that many of the people depart from the faith, following the footsteps of these impious people.
Asaph, as a spiritual leader, also exposed his own frustration and confessed his doubts, whether it was really worth keeping his heart from evil and having maintained his integrity by staying on the path of good.
I think we have all been through that dilemma and perhaps we have also become frustrated. It is important to recognize these contradictory feelings, that struggle of the mind, and I think it is necessary to process them and find an answer because if it is not done, our children will go after these impious people and they will guide them in the lie, making them think that the evil does pays, that living messy lives is common and that it is a waste of time to live pious and holy lives.
The ambition to achieve short-term success, doing wrong or immoral things is in vogue and on the rise. Easy money and compromising their convictions to achieve a job position or level of influence has become common, both among young people and adults.
That is why we must open a space for dialogue and ask the Lord for direction so that the God of Asaph, who is also our God, gives us the same revelation. Talk with family members to understand that it is worth standing firm in the faith! despite the pressures we face in schools or workplaces.
Asaph said that...
