Sermon Tone Analysis

! Tough Questions – Real Answers

!! Why Isn’t God Fair?

!! May 6, 2007

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If God is good, shouldn’t we receive more “good” things in our life?

!! 1     Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

!! 2     But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.

!!! Psalms 73:1-2

A few years ago a  young man named Jason Brookins, a GB Packer made a huge mistake.

He misinterpreted the Packers’ request for his playbook.

Jason thought that that was their way of telling him he was cut from the team so he turned in his playbook, jumped in his car and began the long drive to his home in Missouri.

He was so despondent that he turned off his cell phone and no one could reach him.

But his perception was wrong.

The Packers had no intention of releasing him.

His name was on a list asking for him to turn in his playbook so that it could be updated in time for the next practice.

It’s so easy for us to get out of touch with what is real.

When we lose our perspective of reality, we can say and do some pretty crazy things.

Our perception of reality will always affect our response to reality.

I wonder if some of you may have lost your spiritual equilibrium as a result of some faulty perceptions.

One of the ways we can have a faulty perception of reality is by not having all the information…  and that includes the facts about life and what is fair and what isn’t.

One of the major issues for all people, in all cultures, societies, backgrounds and times is the inequities of life.

Life just isn’t fair.

God isn’t fair.

Today I’d like to introduce you to the 73rd Psalm.

It’s important enough that I’d like you to open your Bibles to it and read it with me this morning.

I’ve also would like you to get out a pen and use the the sheet in the bulletin to take down some notes.

The 73rd Psalm was written by a man named Asaph.

We don’t know a lot about him but he was a mature, godly man who served as the worship leader in the temple.

Asaph wrote 12 different Psalms.

He was a man of God yet here in this psalm we see a men who was ready to hand in his playbook and head for home.

He almost walked away from because his perception of reality was mixed up.

This psalm is very personal, and filled with gut-wrenching honesty.

In it Asaph asks the question that many of us have asked at one time or another: If God is supposed to bless believers, why do we struggle with health, finances, and relational turmoil while the unbelievers around us seem to enjoy prosperity?

Or, we could ask it this way, “Why are the wicked successful while the righteous suffer?”

Asaph begins with an introduction, a summary statement, and a theological conclusion all wrapped up in verse 1: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.”

Asaph is stating the universal premise for the believer: God is good.

The word “surely” literally means “yet” and also has the idea of exclusivity: “No matter what happens, God and God alone is good.”

While we can count on this certainty, it’s also the crux of the problem.

Shouldn’t we at least have more blessings than those who don’t even care about God?

The Human Perspective

After stating what he knows is ultimately true, Asaph looks around and from a human perspective wonders what is going on in the first half of the psalm.

He was bothered by what he had been taught in Scripture because what he had experienced in life was radically different.

In verse 2, he admits that he had almost “slipped.”

This verse stands in stark contrast to the certainty of verse 1: “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.”

God, you might be good, but I almost bailed on you.

Asaph felt like he was trying to walk on moss-covered rocks in a lake.

He came very, very close to losing his confidence in God’s goodness because of four things that he saw around him.

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The Prosperity of the Wicked

!! 3     For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

!!! Psalms 73:3

Verse 3 tells us why Asaph almost went spiritually AWOL: “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

The word “arrogant” comes from a root word that means a loud and clear noise.

The idea is that a proud person is one who toots his own horn /real loud/.

It’s also used of the braying of a donkey.

Notice that Asaph is not upset with the arrogant or the wicked, he’s jealous of them.

He wants what they have.

But actually this goes much deeper.

The word “prosperity” doesn’t do justice to the original term: shalom.

This word is pregnant with meaning for the Old Testament believer.

The root of shalom is “completion” or “fulfillment” and was often used to describe peace, wholeness, harmony and physical well-being.

The word is used as a greeting today but it is really a blessing asking God for a good life.

It’s obvious that Asaph just doesn’t get this.

Why would the wicked have everything that was only promised to God’s covenant people?

It doesn’t seem fair.

He’s doing what many of us do when we make judgments based only upon what we see.

His perspective is on the present and he’s forgotten the future.

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The Peace of the Wicked.

!! 4     They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong

!! 5     They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.

!!! Psalms 73:4-5

In verses 4-5 Asaph wonders why life seems so good for those who have nothing to do with God: “They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.

They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.”

They live in the fast lane but don’t seem to crash and burn.

Their life appears painless and easy.

*Charles Spurgeon once said, “Those who deserve the hottest hell often have the warmest nest.”*

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The Pride of the Wicked

!! 6     Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.

!! 7     From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

!! 8     They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

!! 9     Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.

!! 10     Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.

!! 11     They say, “How can God know?

Does the Most High have knowledge?”

!! 12     This is what the wicked are like— always carefree, they increase in wealth.

!!! Psalms 73:6-12

As Asaph looks closer, he sees that the unbeliever has no need of God in verses 6-12.

The very people who are often the most prosperous and live the most peaceful lives are also those who are the most arrogant.

They don’t need any jewelry because their pride glitters like an expensive necklace.

They think very highly of themselves and very little of others.

Verse 7 says that they have no limits.

They have all the time, money, and influence to do whatever they want.

These prideful people make fun of believers in verse 8 and even speak against God in verses 9 and 11.

Their pride has taken them so high that they look down on God and on God’s people.

Verse 10 indicates that this boasting and scoffing has a powerful impact on those who are trying to follow God.

Verse 12 gives a summary of what the wicked are like: “Always carefree, they increase in wealth.”

Let’s admit something this morning.

Many of us secretly look up to those who are famous and financially secure.

That’s why the Deal or No Deal and American Idol are such big hits on TV.

We’re jealous of those who seem to live without boundaries, of those who can do whatever they want.

Some of you teenagers are wondering right now if following Christ is really worth it.

Why should you live for Jesus when your friends seem to be doing all right without Him?