The Sanctuary

There are times I find myself bitter, envious, angry in life. 

Honestly, I know it is wrong – but still – I find myself there.  Sometimes – often times – it is because I am suffering the consequences of my own stupidity.   I knew what I was doing was wrong – but still – rather than repent and turn away – I stayed.   And sin always – always – destroys.  And when suffering the consequences of my sin – the destruction – it is easy to become bitter and angry and myself.

Other times it is easy to be jealous of other people.   Nicer homes, cars, lives – it looks like they have all the things I want – but just can’t have.   And so, jealousy and resentment raise their ugly heads in my life.

The Psalmist said as much.

Psalm 73:3-10 (NLT)  For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.  They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.  They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.  They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.  These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!  They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.  They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.  And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.

First Thought:  These emotions – these thoughts lead to life of instability.

Psalm 73:2 (NLT)  But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

Feet slipping and losing footing are pictures of instability.  Compare that with Psalm 40:2  He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

Not only that – these emotions lead to a flawed perspective of reality.   Everyone else is being blessed and I have it horribly!   I’m even being punished by God!

When we are in the midst of bitterness, envy and jealousy we simply can’t see or think straight.  We are totally self-deceived.  What doesn’t reinforce our skewed perception of reality is simply tossed aside or ignored.   You don’t think that other people – even those that seemingly live charmed lives – don’t have their own struggles and have to fight their own demons?

Not only that, the Psalmist not only underestimates the struggle of other, he overestimates his own spirituality! 

Psalm 73:13-14 (NLT)  Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?  I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

A pure heart? Innocent?   How self-righteous!  His heart was filled with jealousy!  He was ungrateful for what God had given him!  He was unstable in his life!  He was torn up inside!  How many people are spiritually self-deceived in their own lives because of anger and bitterness?

Psalm 73:21 (NLT)  Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.

BIG THOUGHT – Ultimately, the Psalmist was blaming God for not living up to what he thought God should do.   He looked to his “evil” neighbors and they were being blessed with material things while he was – in his own humble estimation – living for God but not being blessed by God.

Have you ever been in a place where you thought God wasn’t living up to His part of the bargain?  Now I know you and I would never say this – but it goes something like this:

Ok God – I’ll follow you.  I’ll go to church, give, serve and try to clean up my life.  I will do my best to live a good Christian life.   And in return here is what I expect you to do.  Give me a good job.  Answer my prayers.  Make my children behave.  Make sure I have plenty of money.  And most of all – make sure I never suffer much.   And God - when that happens I’ll be sure to give you all the glory!  AMEN!

Again … most of us would never say that … but isn’t that how we feel many times?   We have our wish list – our expectations of what God should or shouldn’t do.  And when He doesn’t live up to our expectations – when we see others living the life we want – then we blame God and become angry, bitter and disillusioned. 

Second Thought:  It all changed … but how?

What changed the Psalmists thinking?   What changed his perspective?  What moved him from bitterness to joy, from disillusionment to peace, from instability to stability?

Psalm 73:17 (NLT)  Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

The Psalmist went into the sanctuary of God and everything changed.

The Sanctuary - Where you come in contact with God.  

The Sanctuary - Where we see God for who He is and see yourself for what you really are.  

The Sanctuary - Where you truly Worship God.

The Sanctuary - Where you begin to see “life” how God sees “life.”

So how do we hear from God?   Through God’s Word – the Bible.   Through God’s Spirit in our lives.   Through Godly counsel that point our attention back to God and His Word.   Through Songs that teach and remind us of who God is.

It all changed when the Psalmist took his focus off of everyone else – took his focus off of himself – and turned his focus on God.  It was only then that his outlook changed.

Notice – there is no record of his situation changing.  But his attitude changed – his outlook changed – how he viewed himself and others changed – and most importantly – how he viewed God changed.

Third Thought – Where is his confidence now?

Psalm 73:23-26 (NLT)  Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.  Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.  My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

His confidence is now in God.  Why?  

He realized he belonged to God.  God holds him by his right hand.   Security.

He realized God would guide him to an amazing future.  Direction.

Knowing that changed everything.  No matter what God would be the strength of his heart and God would hold him forever.

The Psalmist – and you and I – are totally responsible for our attitudes.  We are totally responsible for how we perceive “life” around us.  We can respond with bitterness, anger, jealousy, all of which will eventually destroy us.  Or we can respond to “life” by keeping our eyes focused on God.   Trusting Him even when it doesn’t seem like He is active, working in our lives or our circumstance.

Lord – rather than becoming bitter and resentful because of what you are doing in other places – help me to keep my focus off of others and onto you.  Help me – remind me that I belong to You.  You are aware of everything in my life and you are at work to bring beauty out of ashes.

Lord – rather than engaging in a pity party because of the suffering in my life.   Suffering from my own choices, the choices of others, or the chaotic suffering of life – help me to get my focus off of poor pitiful me and to focus on your care, your love, your transforming work in my life.

Lord – while I can’t always choose what makes up my life – what will come my way – I can always choose what I spend my time and energy focused on.   Help me to spend time in the Sanctuary every day focusing on You.