Blessing of Affliction

Last night at Bible study the passage was Psalm 73, a song of Asaph that describes his struggle with how the wicked seemed to prosper and the envy this stirred within him.  He wrestled with God's grace of blessing the wicked who ought to be punished (in Asaph's mind), and that compared to him they did not seem to suffer.  His legalistic mindset bucked against the grace of God that seemed to reward bad behaviour and repay God's faithful followers with affliction.

It was when Asaph sought the LORD in His temple that he received insight from God in Psalm 73:16-19:  "When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me--¹⁷ until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. ¹⁸ Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. ¹⁹ Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors."  As Asaph turned his eyes from the prosperity of the wicked and his own suffering and looked to God, he realised the happiness and security of the wicked was a mirage, an illusion that disappeared in an instant.  The wealth and riches of God's enemies was incapable of helping or delivering them from ruin.  Having wealth, money, power and fame did nothing to help avoid coming judgment by the holy God of Israel.

As Asaph was in the temple, he likely saw people leading animals to be slain as sacrifices and burn offerings to the LORD in obedience to the Law of Moses.  These animals resembled his view of the wicked, that they were well-fed, without blemish or fear of death.  They were used to being catered to and enjoyed the best life had to offer.  Their prosperity only fattened them up to be killed.  The owner of an ox, ram or lamb was not cruel to feed and protect their animals without blemish, and God is not cruel to give a man more than he can wish.  God graciously supplies good things to all people, even His enemies, and He will hold all accountable to acknowledge Him as the Creator and giver of all things.  Being well-fed, having a life free of hard labour, conditioned to expect prosperity to always increase, set people up for a shock when God required their souls.  Those who reject Jesus Christ will be brought to certain destruction, and it is only a matter of time.

The news recently has reported missile bombardments raining death and destruction in Israel and Iran, and also there has been a shocking tragedy of a plane crash in India that resulted in deaths of passengers and civilians.  On a daily basis, countless people wake up never realising it would be their last day alive.  Being envious of those who are prosperous leaves us without satisfaction and gratitude we have when we look to God who comforts, provides, protects and saves.  In Christ, we are able to look Death in the face without fear and worry because we died with Christ, and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:1-4).  Christians, having been raised to new life by Jesus, are called to seek those things which are above, where Christ is, setting our affections on Him and on what will endure.  Life on earth is short, time is precious, but Jesus is infinitely more important and valuable.  May our eyes be opened as Asaph's were, to recognise the blessing of current suffering for sin that prompts us to seek a Saviour than to live in the lap of luxury and be lost forever.