Scripture:
Psalm 73:23-28 ESV
[23] Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. [24] You guide me with your counsel, and afterward, you will receive me to glory. [25] Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. [26] My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. [27] For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. [28] But for me, it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
Observation:
Asaph was one of the Levitical Priests. So honestly, it should be no surprise to see his name as the author of quite a few of the psalms. His position was to lead worship in the temple. So, to see him write things like I am always with you, and you hold my right hand is to be expected. His heart’s desire was to be led by GOD. To spend all his time with the one who created him. Not only did he know his position, but he also knew where he would be after his flesh had been put to rest. The LORD was everything to him. He trusted that when everything was said and done, he would be right next to GOD. For Asaph, the LORD was his strength… a place to run in all times. He wanted to stay continually in HIS presence. In the temple was a good place to do so.
Application:
Who is the LORD to you. Is HE all you have? Is HE your refuge? Does HE hold your hand? I remember when my kids were young after they had just learned how to walk. When we were shopping or walking from one place to another. They would look up at me and want to hold my hand so that they would have that constant guidance. Those days were awesome in my mind. When they got a little older and got the principles of walking down. They felt like they didn’t need my hand so much. It came to a point that they would walk by themselves until they felt like they needed guidance, crossing the street, for example. When they were unsure. They would look up and reach their little hand up and take mine. Resting in the assurance that I would not let anything happen that was not good. I miss those days. The LORD is the kind of father that wants you to want to hold HIS hand. But HE also knows that HE must teach you HIS word so you know how to walk in a manner that is pleasing to HIM. This brings me to a question… what is worship… is it 15 minutes of music before someone talks about the bible for an hour? Or is it a lifestyle of learning how to look up and grab the hand of the LORD for guidance when we are unsure? I would honestly have to say it is probably more on the lifestyle side. As opposed to the music side. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love music a… it’s one of the tools GOD used to get ahold of my life, and I listen to nothing but music that brings HIM glory. However, if my life does not line up with his desire, then it’s just music. I still need the LORD to hold my hand. Honestly, HE is all I have, and I worship HIM with not only a song but the way I live. My kids are grown now. And they like to make decisions on their own. I can only hope that when they get to a busy street, they will ask for my hand. The LORD is my refuge. My place to go when I am unsure… that is an act of worship. I hope this makes sense to everyone because all I really know is that GOD is all I have. HE is my everything. Without a doubt, I can trust HIM. I can’t honestly say that about anything else. I can’t trust my emotions because the heart is deceitful and will lead us astray, and people are human. So they are flawed. That leaves us with GOD. Our refuge.
Prayer:
Father, I pray that you take this SOAP and make sense of it. I know that every day before I start my studies, I bring them to you asking for guidance. So I believe that each SOAP is spirit-led. Sometimes, I think back over what I just wrote and think… well, maybe someone needed to hear that, and other times, I feel like man… that was powerful. This is one of those mornings where I am left wondering. But I know you are GOD, and you are good. You will use the time effort and energy spent to accomplish your purpose. I trust you with my all. In Jesus’s name I pray amen