I find that memorizing Scripture slows me down to the degree that I notice connections that I would otherwise have missed. I LOVE finding connections and noticing new things in meditation through memorizing.
Ultimately, I love drawing nearer to God through His Word and finding my faith strengthened in even such a small word as “SURELY.”
This happened this morning as I was working on memorizing Psalm 73.
For 10 days I have been slowly acquiring mastery of verses 1-17. This morning, I was ready to move on to verse 18:
“Surely you place them on slippery ground....”
Having quoted verse 1 for 10 days now:
“Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart”
and verse 13 for 6 days now:
“Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure...”
my mind lit up a connection when I began verse 18:
“Surely you place them on slippery ground...”
I paused and began to wonder, what does Asaph (the author) mean to say by repeating this word, “Surely”? He seems to be preaching to himself.
“Surely”= “Used to emphasize the speaker’s firm belief that what they are saying is true and often their surprise that there is any doubt of this; with assurance or confidence, without question” (online dictionary).
First he tells himself what he knows to be true: “Surely, God is good...to those who are pure in heart”, but after struggling with envy over the prosperity of the arrogant he questions God’s goodness with another “surely”=”Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure” (v. 13).
How true of humans and of myself! We do this, don’t we!? One minute we feel sure of God’s goodness, and the next minute we are almost sure of our doubt.
Today I have learned in the “Surely” of Psalm 73, that God can set our “surelys” straight.
How does he do this? How does God change:
--my “surely” of what I know in my head to be true
--from the doubt of my “surely” in what I question to be true
--to the “surely” of faith that will sustain me?
These words have been underlined in my heart:
“...WHEN I SAW....”
The Psalmist, Asaph, was singing the “Surely” of God’s goodness, when he almost slipped and lost his faith foothold. Why?
ENVY. COMPARISON. LOOKING.
“For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (v. 3).
Through verse 12, Asaph itemizes his perception of the perfect life of those who are far from God but seem to be prospering. After comparing his life with theirs his song changes from “Surely God is Good to Israel...” to
“Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure” (v. 13).
No! Asaph! Don’t think that! Don’t doubt God’s goodness! Don’t keep your eyes on envy!
No! Self! Don’t grow weary and lose heart! Don’t give up on trusting God’s goodness! You have not kept your heart pure in vain!
Lord! Set my surely straight!
God’s answer: LOOK. SEE.
We have to get eternal lenses. See past this present age. Look to something beyond the so-called success of those who seem to have it better then ourselves.
“When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
TILL I ENTERED THE SANCTUARY OF GOD;
then I understood their final destiny.”
Ps. 73.16-17
When Asaph got his eyes on GLORY, his faith was strengthened; his surely was set straight in the sanctuary of God.
“You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory...
My flesh and my heart may fail,
BUT GOD is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73.24 & 26
The “surely” of God’s goodness turns to the “surely of doubt when we SEE and fix our eyes on envy and temporal treasures.
But our “surely” is set straight when we SEE Jesus and fix our eyes on the eternal unseen reality of what is to come.
“Surely you place them on slippery ground....
Those who are far from you will perish”
Ps. 73.18 & 27
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4.18
When Asaph sees glimpses of God’s glory, he sees the end. He remembers what really matters: BEING NEAR TO GOD. Seeing the end strengthens his faith in the present and sustains him once again in God’s goodness:
“But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge” (v. 28).
Lord, I confess that I struggle at times with comparison to others and with doubt in your goodness. Thank you that when I feel my foot slipping, you hold me by my right hand (v. 23) and you will not let my foot slip (Ps. 121.3). Please strengthen my heart when it fails, and show me through faith that “earth has nothing I desire besides you” (v. 25). I pray for those who are far from you and mock you saying “Does the Most High have knowledge?” (v. 11 & 27). Please open their eyes to see your goodness and the glory to come, and let many more make you their refuge and portion forever, before it is too late! As for me, it is good to be near to you, and thank you that I am always with you (v. 23 & 28). You are my strength, my portion, and earth has nothing I desire besides you, Lord! (v. 26 & 25). Amen!
“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23.6
