{"id":3624,"date":"2020-07-21T16:17:20","date_gmt":"2020-07-21T23:17:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/?p=3624"},"modified":"2020-07-21T16:17:37","modified_gmt":"2020-07-21T23:17:37","slug":"hobart-herd-devotional-psalms-73","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/?p=3624","title":{"rendered":"Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 73"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hobart Herd Devotional \u2013 Psalms 73<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   This is the start of the 3rd<\/sup> Book\nof Psalms (73-89) with 11 of these Psalms written by Asaph.  Asaph became the Levite song and worship\nleader when the Ark was brought into Jerusalem to stay.  He was chosen from among the Levite families\nfor his skill and appointed by King David. \nAsaph\u2019s family continued to lead the nation until their return from\ncaptivity and the start of worship under Ezra and Nehemiah.  He was known not only for his musical\nability, but also for the wisdom and inspiration of the songs that he\nwrote.  He and his family were the\nPastors of Worship Ministry for the Israelites for generations.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   In this Psalm He reveals the struggle of\ntrue worshippers of God when they remain faithful to God and see the others who\nrevel in their own pride having a fun time. \nIn verse 1, he states the truth of God\u2019s goodness to the Israelites who\nwere \u201cpure in heart\u201d before God.  Even\nthough he knew the goodness of God, he admitted his weakness and feelings about\nthe rebellious people.  Psalms 73:2-3, 2   But as\nfor me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.  3   For\nI envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(NIV)  I have to admit that there are times in my\nlife when even though I know that God is Good all the time, I envy the arrogant\nand rich as they live their lives for their own selfish goals and seem to get\naway with it.  There have been times when\nmy feet have slipped and my heart becomes frustrated and whiny.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   In verses 4-12 we find that outline of all\nthe acts of selfishness, violence, and boasting of those who basically thumb\ntheir noses at God at live for the pleasures they find in life regardless of\nwho they hurt in the process.  They think\nthat they can live this way and God will never know.(vs.11)  Psalms 73:16-17, 16   When I tried to understand all this, it was\noppressive to me 17   till I entered the\nsanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.(NIV)  It isn\u2019t until I am in the presence of the\nLord in worship and communion that I understand that everything isn\u2019t as it\nseems and their end and final destiny is something to avoid at all costs.  The momentary pleasure of living the ways of\nthis world are not worth the long term costs. \n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   As Asaph ponders the joys of God\u2019s presence\nin His life, he gives us these timeless words of truth.  Psalms 73:23-26, 23      Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me\nby my right hand.  24  Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and\nafterward receive me to glory. 25     Whom\nhave I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside\nthee. 26       My flesh and my heart\nfaileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.(KJV)  As God holds my hand and guides me in\nunderstanding His truth and ways, I recognize that He is my portion, strength,\nand refuge forever.  \u201cNothing compares to\nthe promise I have in You!\u201d(words from the worship chorus, Shout to the\nLord)  My final answer to this dilemma\nis: Psalms 73:28<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as for me, it is\ngood to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of\nall your deeds.(NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Father, many times my heart has almost\nslipped away from my hope and promise in You. \nThank You for holding my hand as I bask in the joy of Your presence and\nrestoring my hope and my heart in Your strength and promise.   Forgive me for the envy and jealousy I have\nfor those who seem to get away with living in selfish arrogant prosperity while\nI struggle.  May my heart and life\ncontinue to tell of Your goodness and greatness.  In Jesus Name, Amen!  Pastor Rob<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hobart Herd Devotional \u2013 Psalms 73    This is the start of the 3rd Book of Psalms (73-89) with 11 of these Psalms written by Asaph.  Asaph became the Levite song and worship leader when the Ark was brought into …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[142],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3624"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3624"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3625,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3624\/revisions\/3625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}