Psalm 73

A Bible Devotion from Psalm 73

Until I Went into the Sanctuary of God

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. 13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

16 When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.

25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:12-17 and 25-26, NKJV

Psalm 73 is on of my favorite Psalms because this Psalm reflects the way we, as Christians, are prone to think! Do you find yourself looking around at the non-Christians around you and thinking, "Life seems to be so easy for them; they don't seem to struggle every day like I do, but I struggle every single day because of the grief my sins cause me"? Just like Paul in Romans we say, "The things I would not do, I do; and the things I would do, I do not do." This is probably one of the most difficult things we face as we look around us.

This, however, is plainly a case of having our eyes focused in the wrong direction. Look at what the Psalmist says in verse 17, Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.

Ah! There is our answer! Unless the wicked repent and become true children of God, this is the best they will ever have it! Their eternity is one of eternal destruction and torment in Hell.

But, this is not true of the true believer in Christ. This world is not our home, we are just passing through. Our true home is in Heaven with the Lord where we will live forever! What a home that will be!

When we think of this, we conclude with the writer of Psalm 73, Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Pray today that you will agree with the Psalmist, It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God.

Next: Psalm 74 - Remember Your Congregation Which You Have Purchased

More Devotions on the 73rd Psalm from my blog, Daily Bible Devotions

As For Me, verses 1-3

Purpose of Troubles, verses 4-9

Hidden, verses 10-14

Understood Their End, verses 15-17

Guided by God, verses 18-24

My Portion, verses 25-26

Draw Near to God, verses 27-28