5. Divine Worship
Divine Worship
(PSALMS 73—75)
Before you begin …
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.
• Read Psalms 73—75. This lesson references content in Be Worshipful. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.
Getting Started
From the Commentary
Asaph, Heman, and Ethan (Jeduthun) were Levites who served as musicians and worship leaders at the sanctuary during David’s reign.… Apparently they established “guilds” for their sons and other musicians so they might carry on the worship traditions. Twelve psalms are attributed to Asaph (50; 73—83). Psalm 73 deals with the age-old problem of why the righteous suffer while the ungodly seem to prosper (37; 49; Job 21; Jer. 12; Hab. 1:13ff.). Asaph could not lead the people in divine worship if he had questions about the ways of the Lord, but he found in that worship the answer to his problems.
—Be Worshipful, page 235
1. How does the tone of Psalm 73 differ from those written by David? What circumstances might have prompted Asaph to write, “I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked”? How is this sentiment still valid today? Why do Christ-followers wrestle with this theme?
More to Consider: The Hebrew word translated “but” in verses 2 and 28, and “yet” (nevertheless) in verse 23, indicates a sharp contrast. How does this particular phrasing suggest a difference between “doubt” and “unbelief”?
2. Choose one verse or phrase from Psalms 73—75 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here.
Going Deeper
From the Commentary
From Asaph’s viewpoint, the ungodly had it made. They were healthy (Ps. 73:4–5) and had no struggles in either life or death (Job 21:13, 23). They were proud of their wealth and stations in life, and they wore that pride like jewelry. They used violence to get their wealth and wore that violence like rich garments.
—Be Worshipful, page 236
3. Circle the descriptions Asaph uses to portray the ungodly in Psalm 73. What makes this psalm more than simply “complaining” about others’ success? What does it say about the relationship between wealth and God’s chosen people? How is this lesson applicable today?
From the Commentary
Based on the evidence he could see around him, Asaph came to the wrong conclusion that he has wasted his time and energy maintaining clean hands and a pure heart (Ps. 73:1, 13; and see 24:4; 26:6). If he had ever read the book of Job, then he had missed its message, for we don’t serve God because of what we get out of it but because He is worthy of our worship and service regardless of what He allows to come to our lives.
—Be Worshipful, pages 236–37
4. Why do you think Asaph missed the point in his understanding of what it meant to serve God (Ps. 73:13–14)? How do people miss that point today? Why is it such an easy mistake to make? What is the proper response to God when a person sees the success of others while that person is in the midst of trials?
From Today’s World
Some Christians today are very successful and have everything they could ever want and need, materially and otherwise. Or at least that’s how it appears. Their material success still stands in sharp contrast to a large majority of believers who live from check to check or don’t have enough money to stay afloat at all. While some of these rich Christians are very generous with their wealth, others might be rightly attacked for living a flamboyant lifestyle that flaunts their wealth.
5. What is it about wealth that divides believers so quickly and dramatically? Why do some Christians hold tight to the idea that wealth comes to those who truly believe? How is this similar to the struggle the psalmist has in Psalm 73? Why is it easy to fall into the trap that says obedience to God should result in greater wealth or worldly success?
From the Commentary
When the worship service ended and Asaph had gotten his feet firmly grounded on the faith, he left the sanctuary and told everybody what he had learned. He had drawn near to God, he had trusted God, and now he was ready to declare God’s works. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37 NKJV).
—Be Worshipful, page 238
6. What lessons can we glean from Psalm 73 to help us better respond to those who have apparent success and wealth in contrast to those who are suffering? What concluding truth does Psalm 73:26–28 offer to the discussion about what’s truly important? How is this lived out in daily life?
From the Commentary
Psalm 73 deals with a personal crisis of faith, but Psalm 74 moves to the national scene and focuses on the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 587–86 BC. The author is obviously not the Asaph of David’s day but a namesake among his descendants. Psalm 79 is a companion psalm, and you will find parallel passages in the book of Lamentations and Jeremiah. Even though the prophets had warned that judgment was coming (2 Chron. 36:15–21), the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple were catastrophic events that shook the people’s faith.
—Be Worshipful, page 238
7. How does the psalmist’s tone shift from despair to confidence in Psalm 74? What are modern parallels to the despair the psalmist felt after the destruction of the temple? What does this psalm teach us about God’s willingness to embrace our pain? About the ultimate answer to that pain?
From the Commentary
Verse 12 is the central verse of Psalm 74 and the turning point in Asaph’s experience. He lifted his eyes by faith from the burning ruins to the holy throne of God in the heavens and received a new perspective on the situation. (The Asaph who wrote Psalm 73 had a similar experience; see 73:17.)
—Be Worshipful, page 240
8. What does Psalm 74:12 tell us about Asaph’s understanding of God’s role in the midst of his despair? How does he count upon past experiences with God to support his trust in God’s presence and Lordship? Why does the psalmist come to the conclusion that the Lord remembers His people (vv. 18–23)? What role does tradition—God’s noted role in historical events—play in our understanding of God and His ways today?
More to Consider: Though the Babylonians destroyed the temple, they did not destroy the God of the temple, Jehovah. What does this truth teach us today about where God resides? What practical implications does it have for today’s churches?
From the Commentary
True worship centers on the Lord and not on us, our personal problems, or “felt needs.” We praise God for who He is—His glorious attributes—and for His wonderful works (see Ps. 44:1–8; 77:12; 107:8, 15). God’s name is a synonym for God’s person and presence (Deut. 4:7; Isa. 30:27). He is indeed “a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1), and when God’s people call on the Lord, they know He will hear them.
—Be Worshipful, page 241–42
9. What does the psalmist mean by the phrase “your Name is near” in Psalm 75:1? How does the psalmist define God’s character in this psalm? What is significant about the way the psalmist “quotes” God in this psalm? How does this help to turn the focus to who God is, rather than the problems we take to God?
From the Commentary
If we expect the Lord to receive our words of praise, we must pay attention to His Word of truth as it is read, sung, and preached. The message delivered in Psalm 75:2–5 was twofold: a word of encouragement for believers (vv. 2–3) and a word of warning to the godless (vv. 4–5).
—Be Worshipful, page 242
10. Why does the psalmist address two different audiences in this psalm? This seems to be a common thread. Is this also true of today’s church? What are some ways the church reaches out to both believers and the ungodly? Read Psalm 75:9. What does the psalmist’s personalization of the message teach us about what our worship ought to entail?
Looking Inward
Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve explored thus far in this study of Psalms 73—75. Review your notes and answers and think about how each of these things matters in your life today.
Tips for Small Groups: To get the most out of this section, form pairs or trios and have group members take turns answering these questions. Be honest and as open as you can in this discussion, but most of all, be encouraging and supportive of others. Be sensitive to those who are going through particularly difficult times and don’t press for people to speak if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
11. Have you ever been frustrated by the way bad people are prosperous while good people struggle? Explain. What does this frustration say about your view of God’s blessing? What greater truth can help you deal with the reality that sometimes good things happen to apparently undeserving people?
12. Is it important to you to maintain clean hands and a pure heart? Why or why not? What is a proper motivation for doing this? What is a wrong-minded motive? How does the message in Psalm 73 help you find proper perspective on blessing and the reasons to maintain a pure heart?
13. When have you felt like the psalmist in Psalm 74? What circumstances have led to feelings of despair? How have you found your way through those times? What does it take to lift your eyes to God’s throne when you’re struggling with difficult times? What are practical things you can do to move from despair to confidence in God?
Going Forward
14. Think of one or two things that you have learned that you’d like to work on in the coming week. Remember that this is all about quality, not quantity. It’s better to work on one specific area of life and do it well than to work on many and do poorly (or to be so overwhelmed that you simply don’t try).
Do you need to learn to trust God when you feel you’re being treated unfairly? Do you need to grow confidence in God’s nearness for difficult times? Be specific. Go back through Psalms 73—75 and put a star next to the phrase or verse that is most encouraging to you. Consider memorizing this verse.
Real-Life Application Ideas: Take inventory of the many blessings you have in your life. Don’t focus primarily on material things but rather on the things that matter to God: faith, family, joy, hope, etc. Memorize this list and refer to it often as a reminder of God’s goodness and as a prompt to worship God.
Seeking Help
15. Write a prayer below (or simply pray one in silence), inviting God to work on your mind and heart in those areas you’ve previously noted. Be honest about your desires and fears.
Notes for Small Groups:
• Look for ways to put into practice the things you wrote in the Going Forward section. Talk with other group members about your ideas and commit to being accountable to one another.
• During the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal truth to you from what you’ve read and studied.
• Before you start the next lesson, read Psalms 85—88. For more in-depth lesson preparation, read the related commentary in Be Worshipful.