Welcome to Big Valley Grace Community Church. My name is Joel. If you’re here and you’re new, I’d love to meet you — I’ll be standing right here after the gathering. I’d love to put a name and a face together and welcome you personally. We’re really glad you’re here and we hope today is a great encouragement to you.

We’re going to be in the Psalms today — right in the middle of your Bible. If you have a Bible, you can open to the middle and you’ll find them. We’re going to be in Psalm 73. If you need a Bible, come to the prayer room after the gathering. We have English Bibles, large print Bibles, Spanish Bibles — one of those will fit your needs. Come in. If you need prayer, come to the prayer room as well.

A few things before we get into our text. As Pastor John shared, the building will be open after the gathering. I had the chance to walk through it between the two gatherings today and it’s been all cleaned up from the construction — it really looks beautiful. Just walking through the building will be an encouragement to you. And I think it’s pretty special that the Lord has allowed there to be a testimony and a witness of a huge building like that being built debt-free. That communicates something to our community about how the Lord has provided for the needs of ministry space here at our church. It’s a great testimony and witness to the Lord’s provision. So take advantage and walk through.

Next week is Father’s Day — so you just got a week’s heads up. We’re going to come, worship the Lord, and celebrate God the Father. He’s the best father. Come and worship on Father’s Day with the church family.

When you leave today, we’ve prepared Psalms journals for you. We’ve been challenging our church family to read all 150 Psalms in the months of June and July. We’ve provided a journal to go along with it, and I’ll share more about that as we get into the message. You can grab one on your way out.

Prior to working here at the church — and I’ve been here 23 years — I worked at a mechanical engineering firm designing fire safety systems. I was a young adult, newly married, with one child. And I went through a season where I really struggled with being content.

I saw what people who were further along in their careers had, and it looked different than what I had. I saw the cars people were driving, and they looked different than the car I drove. I saw the houses people were living in, and they looked different than where I lived. And I really struggled.

As I was going through that — as a young adult, young husband, young dad — I started writing Bible verses on sticky notes every time I was struggling at work. I’d take the sticky note with the verse and attach it to the monitor of my desktop computer at my desk. Apparently I was struggling greatly, because pretty soon there were sticky notes all the way around the entire monitor — full of passages about contentment, righteousness, envy, and jealousy. Whatever God’s word had to say about what I was experiencing. When I’d look up from my work and see one of those sticky notes, it’d be a great encouragement — the truth of God’s word speaking into the situation I was struggling with.

All of us can struggle with envy, looking at what other people have and wishing we had it for ourselves. That’s something we can all relate to.

A question I want to pose as we get into this text: does spending time with God daily really make a difference? As young adult me is struggling and being envious of others — does looking at God’s word on those sticky notes actually matter? Will God’s word actually speak to my situation and make a real difference in my life?

You may be here today struggling with envy, or with some other struggle, and you’re wondering: is God’s word actually going to speak to my life? Does spending time with God actually make a difference?

In this passage, God uses a man named Asaf to reveal two perspectives in life. Those two perspectives lead to two very different outcomes. But one of them is a life that shows the solution — being content in God. So if you’re here and you’re struggling, you’re in the right place. I believe God is going to use his word to speak directly to you. Let me read Psalm 73 and then we’ll walk through it together.

Psalm 73, a Psalm of Asaf: “Truly, God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them and find no fault in them. And they say, ‘How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?’ Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task — until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 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.”

Let’s pray. Father, I ask that you would be our greatest influencer. Whatever place of struggle we carry in our hearts and minds, God, would we understand that you want to speak to us in the place of our struggle — that you would influence us with your truth and that our perspective would be shaped by you. Help us. May your word be powerful in this place. May the Holy Spirit be at work. May we humble ourselves and submit to you. In Jesus’ name. And all God’s family said amen.

Let’s walk through this psalm from top to bottom.

It says it’s a psalm of Asaf. Asaf was one of the men King David appointed near the house of God to sing. That was his job — to sing with a group of others as people brought their worship sacrifices and offerings to God. So he’s hearing the history of how God has been faithful to Israel all through the nation’s story. He’s hearing the commands of God, how God desires obedience. He’s a worship leader who knows God’s history and the righteous law of God.

He opens with: “Truly, God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” And then he’s going to share two perspectives. The first is pretty negative — he struggles as he shares it. Then there’s a second, far more positive perspective, and you’ll see how he moves from a place of struggle to a place of sanity with the Lord.

Perspective number one: observing the wicked.

Here is a worship leader near the house of God, people are bringing sacrifices, and yet he’s observing the wicked. He’s worshiping God and struggling at the same time. Maybe you can relate to that. Maybe you’re here worshiping God and yet you’re struggling. If so, you’re going to be able to relate to what Asaf shares.

A question that can help us bridge the gap between Asaf’s time and ours: who influenced me this week? Did media influence me negatively? Did social media? Entertainment? Politics? Sports? Is there some way I’ve received a negative influence on my life this week? If you can answer yes to that, you can relate to what Asaf is experiencing.

Verse 2: “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.” He’s saying: I know what’s right. I’m here to sing as the worship of God happens. I know what’s right — but I’m vulnerable. There are traps all around me and I’m vulnerable to fall into one. And I almost did.

Observing the wicked leads us to envy. In verse 3: “For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” He’s saying: I’m watching the wicked and growing envious because it looks like they have what they want. I want worldly treasures for myself, and I see that the proud and ungodly are enjoying them.

When I was working at the engineering firm, I really wanted something I’d never had — a brand new motorcycle. My coworker and I would talk about motorcycles. I’d dream about how great my life would be if I had one. I never got one. But I wanted it. It may not be a motorcycle for you — it might be a car, a house, clothing, someone’s job. Looking at what others have and wishing you had it.

He’s also envious that the wicked die peacefully. Verse 4: “For they have no pangs until death.” Why are the ungodly not suffering? He’s envious that the wicked are physically healthy. Verses 4–5: “Their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.” In this culture, if you had money, you ate — as much as you wanted. He’s looking at the ungodly eating and drinking whatever they desire. How come I’m the one who looks like I’m starving?

He’s envious that the wicked flourish with pride. Verse 6: “Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.” They wrapped pride around their neck. Violence is their clothing. Their hearts overflow with follies — they’re getting drunk and having a great time. How come the ungodly are always partying? They scoff, speak with malice, threaten everyone they talk to. They set their mouths against the heavens, talking against God, walking around like they can say anything to anyone.

And verse 10–11: “His people turn back to them and find no fault in them. And they say, ‘How can God know? Is there any knowledge in the Most High?’” They even question whether God is real or whether God knows what’s going on. The ungodly are fierce, foolish, forceful, and foul. Why am I the one being punished? Here I am trying to honor the Lord — how come my life is so hard and it looks like they’ve got it good?

He’s envious that the wicked avoid pain. Verse 12: “Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease.” Why are the ungodly free from suffering and hardship? I’m serving as a worship leader in the house of the Lord. Can I get a break? How come they’re the ones getting the break when they’re not even doing the right thing?

He’s envious that the wicked enjoy prosperity. “They increase in riches.” They have money and keep getting more. How come my pockets are empty? Where’s my reward?

Observing the wicked leads us to envy. And it also leads us to regret.

About 23 years ago when I started working here at the church, it was some tough years at Big Valley Grace. Some pretty hard things happened. As a guy pretty young in vocational ministry, I questioned whether I even wanted to be here. I thought working at a church was going to be great. Why is everyone angry? I thought it would be uplifting, encouraging. How come everyone’s yelling at each other? I got discouraged and started wondering: is this worth it? Is this what I want the rest of my career to look like?

Asaf feels the same regret. Verse 13: “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.” He’s saying: I’ve been a singer in the house of the Lord, keeping my heart and hands clean before God. Was any of it worth it? It feels like it was all for nothing. I thought serving God was going to lead to great relationships. How come I feel isolated? I thought it would lead to some riches. How come my bank account’s empty? I thought serving God led to relationships, riches, and rewards. Nope. He’s struggling. Observing the wicked leads us to regret.

It also leads us to wrestling.

I wrestle with God. Not against God — with him. I have a fighting personality. I was made to fight. And I don’t fight against God, but I do fight with him, because there are things that need to get fought out of me. My wrestling looks like this: I’ve got a Bible, a journal, and a pen. I write out the things I’m thinking about, what’s in my heart and mind, and I do business with God and wrestle it out with him.

Verses 14–16: “For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task.” He’s saying: I don’t have anyone to talk to. I’ve been suffering in silence. People keep coming to the house of the Lord and I’m here singing, and I don’t say anything to anyone. There’s turmoil in my heart and I’m not talking about it with anyone.

And then we see a really important word: until.

Verse 17: “Until I went into the sanctuary of God.” This is the shift. Asaf moves from observing the wicked to observing God. Perspective number two: observing God.

A question to help bridge to our culture: who influenced me this week toward God? Who influenced me to be in relationship with Jesus Christ? Who influenced me to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Who influenced me to open my Bible and read it? Who influenced me to come to church and worship the Lord?

“Until I went into the sanctuary of God.” He’s saying: I was struggling observing the wicked, here I am serving as a singer in the house of the Lord, and I was struggling — until I went into the sanctuary of God. In the Old Testament, the sanctuary was the tent of meeting, then the tabernacle, then the temple. Now, in the New Testament, we are the temple. The Holy Spirit indwells the people of God. We are the temple. But he’s saying he had to come to the place of worship, to the sanctuary of God. And now a shift takes place.

Observing God reminds us of our future.

Before I worked at the engineering firm, I was an apprentice for pipe fitters. I observed journeyman pipe fitters who were decades into their careers. And what I saw on some of them — not all of them, but some — was the impact that drugs had had on their life. On their mind. On their marriage. On their parenting. On their family. On their livelihood. And as a young guy, I was able to look into the future in a sense — I could see what giving your life to drugs led to. And I thought: I do not want that. I do not want that outcome for my life.

Observing God reminds us of our future. In the end of verse 17, now that his perspective has shifted from the wicked to God, Asaf says: “Then I discerned their end.” He sees the outcome of the ungodly. “Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.” It’s like he’s saying: I was all caught up in observing the wicked. I was stuck in sin, regret, wrestling, envy. But then I realized — all of that was like a dream. None of it was real. It was all fake. And I woke up. I woke up to the reality of what’s true when I observed God, when I went into the sanctuary. Now I’m paying attention to the Lord and I’m realizing — those things I was longing after? They’re not real. There’s nothing to them.

Observing God also reminds us of our sin.

When Asaf turns his attention to the Lord, God reveals the sin in his life. Verses 21–22: “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.” He’s saying: when I was struggling and observing the wicked, I got so bitter in my heart. And remember — he’s a worship leader. He’s watching cattle being brought in for sacrifice on their way to being slaughtered. And he’s saying: I was acting the same way. I’m like an animal eating on the way to being slaughtered. But now I’m realizing what their outcome is. And God, I was acting like an animal toward you. I know now how sinful my foolishness and my thoughts and desires and actions were.

My wife and I, in our personal lives and our marriage and family, have used a tool called a step study — it’s part of our Celebrate Recovery ministry, a biblical discipleship tool to deal with sin and the impact and consequence of sin, to bring restoration and reconciliation in our relationship with the Lord and with others. If you are struggling with a repeating sin, a cycle of sin that keeps going and has gotten out of control and you need help — we want to help you. Your first step is showing up Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. for Celebrate Recovery. A team of people will be here ready to greet you and help you take your next step.

Observing God reminds us of his faithfulness.

People have said to my wife for years: you guys should write a book about the story of your family because it’s wild and crazy. And it is. Our family’s nuts. Having nine kids, a family of eleven — it’s some wild adventures, especially walking through Costco. But if we wrote a book, I’ll tell you what it would be about: it would be about how faithful God has been to make sense of something that doesn’t make sense. Because it does not make sense to have nine kids — but God got it done. What the Lord has allowed to happen as we’ve welcomed children into our home is a testimony of how good he is and how great he is and how he can accomplish anything he wants to accomplish.

As Asaf changes his perspective and begins observing God, he’s reminded of God’s faithfulness. Verse 23: “Nevertheless, I am continually with you.” He’s realizing: God has been preserving me. God has been providing for me. God has been protecting me all along. God has never let me go.

God faithfully holds the righteous. “You hold my right hand.” He’s saying: I realize you actually never let me go. I wandered, but you kept me. You hold my right hand.

God faithfully guides the righteous. “You guide me with your counsel.” He’s realizing: I was jealous, envious, regretful, wrestling. But the wisdom of this world is foolish. God, your word is far better. You guide me with your counsel.

God faithfully glorifies the righteous. He already saw the end of the wicked — destruction. Now he’s thinking about his own end. “Afterward you will receive me to glory.” He says: I was jealous about what the wicked were getting to experience, how they were living in sin and increasing in riches. But I realize now they’re headed toward destruction. And God, you’re helping me see where I’m headed — afterward you’re going to receive me to glory. You’re going to bring me to heaven, and I’m going to be with you forever.

God faithfully strengthens the righteous. Now thinking about God and heaven, he asks: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” He’s saying: I thought I wanted to be like the ungodly, like the wicked. But Lord, there isn’t anything on this earth I want more than you. I want to be in relationship with you. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” There’s going to come a moment when my ticker stops ticking. My flesh and my heart may fail. But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Whatever’s going on in this life, it is not the end of my story. My story is going to go further because I’m going to be with the Lord forever.

You might be here and you’re struggling. As you hear Asaf give this very honest psalm — the struggle he experiences and how his perspective changes as he gets his eyes on the Lord — maybe you feel like you’re on the edge. I want you to know we’re really glad you’re here. You’re in the right place. In the same way that getting perspective off the wicked and onto God brought Asaf to see what’s true, the same thing can happen for you. You can get your perspective on God and bring a reality check into your own life about who he is and what he has accomplished.

The question I’d put it in: who will control our perspective? The wicked or God?

It’s why we keep encouraging you to read the book of Psalms in June and July. We’ve got a reading plan you can follow along with. If you don’t have a Bible, we’ll give you a Bible. We have a journal for you. If you need a pen, you can take the one in the seat pocket in front of you. In fact, you probably have ten Big Valley Grace pens at your house already — so for all of you who are storing them, why don’t you bring them back and restock the chairs? That can be your service opportunity.

We need to have a consistent influence of God’s word and his truth in our life. I want to challenge you to open up your Bible and read it.

Verses 27–28: “For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 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.”

I don’t know where you are on your faith journey. Maybe you’re just starting, and more about faith in Jesus doesn’t make sense than does. You’re in the right place and we’re glad you’re here. Maybe you’re somewhere in the messy middle — you believe in Jesus but you’re struggling. We’re glad you’re here. Maybe you’ve been walking with the Lord for a long time and you just need some fresh air, some fresh breath with the Lord. We’re glad you’re here. Wherever you are, we want to help you start, continue, and thrive.

Maybe you need a sticky note. Maybe you need to write something on a sticky note to remind yourself about God and his word. Maybe you need to write: I will spend time with God on this day at this time. Write down your appointment and stick it on your phone — because I know you’re going to grab that. Sticky notes are at all of the exits on your way out. We’ll give you the Bible. We’ll give you the journal. Take a pen. Take a sticky note. But you know what we can’t do? We can’t use it for you. You’ve got to make a decision to open your Bible and read it. You’ve got to make a decision to spend time in prayer with the Lord.

We are a community that is going to continue to point you to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and to his word. You don’t need me — you need Jesus Christ. You don’t need my thoughts and opinions — you need God’s holy word. And we’re going to keep pointing you there.

If you need prayer to start spending time with God — if you know you need to open your Bible, start reading, start praying, start spending time with the Lord, and this is an area you know you need to work on — I want to challenge you to stand right now so I can pray for you.

Father, thank you for everyone who is standing. God, I pray that you would help them. In the same way you stirred in them to stand up and receive prayer, keep stirring in them. Whatever you’re stirring, God, I pray you would bring it to a completed work in their life. Give them incredible confidence in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Give them incredible confidence in Jesus Christ as Lord and as Savior from sin. Draw them to yourself. Help them understand that you are excited to spend time with them. You’re excited for them to show up to the appointment. Help everyone standing know how much you are looking forward to them opening your word and coming to you in prayer. Bless every person who is standing. Would the appointment you have with them be incredible, Lord? Would you be honored and glorified? In Jesus’ name. And all God’s family said amen.

If you need further prayer, our team will be ready to pray with you. The building is open — check it out and be encouraged. Church family, we love you and we’re going to see you again real soon.