2. Christians on the Edge of Despair! Psalm 73:2

Text: “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.  They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.”

Psalm 73:2-5.

Good morning, perplexed and weary Christian!  You have not taken a back seat on the Spiritual Battlefield in our Holy war with sin, Satan, and self.  You have been contending for the faith of Christ at the very frontline of the raging Battle, and have proven yourself - by God’s good strength, protection, and grace alone – to be a soldier in the army of the Living and Loving Lord Jesus.  Well done, Christian warrior!  Yet, at times you also, like the author, have felt that inevitable weariness of those that have fought and endured a long Spiritual war.

If you can relate to this scenario this morning, dear Reader, then you know what it is like to feel perplexed and weary in your continual warfare.  This lesson is for your encouragement, beloved brother/sister in Christ Jesus.  Take heart anew!  The Battle is not ours but Christs, and He is always the truly Victorious One.  Hallelujah!  King Jesus reigns Supreme!  Amen.

Hear the Master’s Voice in His Word: “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things that thou hast heard of me (Paul the apostle) among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth (makes war, and continues to make Spiritual war) entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him Who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”     (2 Timothy 2:1-4)

Verse 2. “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  Here begins the narrative of a great soul-battle, a Spiritual marathon, a hard and well-fought field in which the half-defeated become, in the end, wholly victorious.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 313)

What was the obvious reason for the Psalmist's temporary despair, and what becomes the same reason for your temporary despair/weariness, and mine?  It is obvious when we take time to look, dear brethren – we take the eyes of our faith off the risen Christ Jesus, and begin to pay too much attention to what the worldlings lot all around us currently seems!  Peter did something similar while permitted to walk on the waters with Christ in Galilee.

“…And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous (strong), he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”  (Matthew 14:29-31)

We sinners, who by God’s Sovereign grace are redeemed by the precious Blood of Christ from our sin, are never called to a life in which ‘all things will be rosy in the garden’.  No!  We are called to endure hardness, as good soldiers of the risen Christ.  Professing Christians today, all of us, need a good dose of REALITY!

The Lord Jesus suffered infinite sufferings upon that cruel Roman Cross on the day of His Crucifixion – all Hell was let loose upon that dear Lamb of God; all God the Father’s Holy wrath against all the sin of ‘His people’ was pressed upon God the Son as our Substitute, to appease the wrath of an Almighty Lord God of Holiness and hatred of all sin! 

This was done to show Christ’s redeemed, that the way of the Cross would not be an easy path to walk, it is by taking up our own personal crosses and enduring, that we prove to ourselves and to a world of unbelievers that we are indeed the genuine redeemed children of the promise of God – true Israel!  Praise God for His grace!  All hail the Lamb, Jesus Christ!

“And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou (Joseph) shalt call His Name JESUS: for He shall save His people (not all people!) from their sins.”  (Matthew 1:21)

Verse 2. “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  Let such as fear God and begin to look aside on the things of this world, know it will be hard even for them to hold out in faith and in the fear of God in time of trial. Remember the example of David; he was a man that had spent much time in travelling towards Heaven; yet, looking but a little aside upon the glittering show of this world, had very near lost his way, his feet were almost gone, his steps had well-nigh slipped.”  (Edward Elton, 1620)

Mature Christians, of many years walking with the Lord, can also recall such perilous times of personal conflicts – he/she who has never been severely wounded, had never really been in the Spiritual war. Fact!

Verse 2. “But as for me, my feet were almost gone. Errors of heart and head soon affect the conduct.  There is an intimate connection between his heart and the feet.  Asaph could barely stand, his uprightness was going, his knees were bowing like a falling wall.  When men doubt the righteousness of God, their own integrity begins to waver.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 313)

If we have sought to genuinely serve the risen Christ Jesus, we too will know the times of weariness in well-doing, the constant strains of upholding a sound Christian witness in a world of increasing depravity, anti-Christianity, and evil.  If we are honest with ourselves, we shall swiftly accept the fact that during such extremely testing times, we have been sorely tempted to just give up and put our Spiritual armour in the wardrobe for a while. 

However, that is when the good Lord God Whom we love and seek to serve in Christ, undertakes for us, supplies His extra grace, mercy and matchless love; and secures our faith in Himself.  Praise and all glory to His Holy Name!

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Thought: Verse 2. “My feet were almost gone. There is to be noted that the prophet said he was almost gone, and not altogether.  Here is the Presence, providence, strength, safeguard, and keeping of man by Almighty God, marvellously set forth.  That although we are tempted and brought even to the very point to perpetrate and do all mischief, yet He stays us and keeps us, that the temptation shall not overcome us.” (John Hooper 1495-1555)