Today’s reading is Psalm 73.
When Asaph speaks of the pure in heart in vs. 1 and then complains he kept his heart clean and washed his hands in innocence in vain in vs. 13, we get a picture of the temptation he faces. Today, as we read these doubts about God, we tend to think the other option is atheism. However, that was not likely the temptation Asaph faced.
In Psalm 24:4, keeping clean hands and a pure heart went along with not lifting up the soul to what is false. This is the struggle. Asaph was concerned that the YHWH, the God of Israel, was not a good God. Perhaps one of the other so-called gods of the nations around Israel was better. The wicked who went after other gods seemed to prosper. The lure of idolatry is the temptation. Instead of lifting his soul up to YHWH, he was considering lifting his soul to something or someone else.
Of course, this psalm points back to the very first psalm. Maybe the counsel of the wicked, the way of the sinners, the seat of the scoffer were the places to be. The altar of the Lord didn’t seem to be doing Asaph any good.
And this is the real temptation for us even today. We tend to think in terms of Theism and Atheism, No-God and God. However, even those who do not believe in any god serve a god. We all place something at the top of the chain. Something drives us, governs us, leads us. Even if it is our own passions and pleasures. There is something out there we sacrifice everything else for. That is our god. Realize that. And choose the right God, the proper God, the real God.
He is good to those who are pure in heart and wash their hands in innocence. So, follow James’s advice and wash your hands and purify your heart. Draw near to the real, true, living God, and He will draw near to you.
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 73.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 73 admonish you?
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