Thoughts for the Day

Truly God is good to the upright,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
my steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For they have no pain;
their bodies are sound and sleek.
They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not plagued like other people....
They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues range over the earth.

Therefore the people turn and praise them,
and find no fault in them.
And they say, ‘How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?’
Such are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.

All in vain I have kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence....
But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I perceived their end.
Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!

When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
I was stupid and ignorant;
I was like a brute beast towards you.
Nevertheless I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterwards you will receive me with honour.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
to tell of all your works.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The Psalter is traditionally divided into five 'books', which begin with psalms 1, 42, 73, 90, and 107. Each book ends with a doxology (a short hymn of praise to God). The last psalm in book 2, No. 72, informs us that "The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended" (though actually a few more were inserted after this at some point), and Psalm 73 bears the name of 'Asaph' who was the founder of one of the Temple choirs.

This great psalm draws a picture of a search, one that we often make throughout our life. We see those who's cars get every larger, their houses every bigger, and who seem to have everything that would improve life on earth. Our world teaches that success is about earning more money, and then we will be happy! The psalmist looks at both of these and is envious of the rich, until he goes into the sanctuary and seeks out God. Then he realises how the short-term goals of the worldly are nothing in comparison to being in the presence of God who holds his hand, and guides his every step. His final cry is "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever."

Today's psalm is all about choice - a choice between what is transient and what is eternal; between the things of this world and the things of heaven. This choice is one we often have to make each day.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You call us away from the things
of this world with their fleeting glories,
but sometimes we get caught in their toils
and forget the eternal Glory of Your presence.
Help us to make the right choice this day,
and to draw nearer to You,
confident that we have made the right choice.
Amen.