“The View from the
Sanctuary of God”:
Psalm 73
Perspective Changes
Everything
“Why do bad things
happen to God’s people,
and good things
happen to those who hate God?”
Why Do Bad Things
Happen to God’s People?
“For I envied the arrogant when I saw the
prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:3).
“Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in
innocence” (Psalm 73:13).
The Big Idea
The Only Place Where Life Makes Sense
Is at the Foot of the Cross
Trusting God
Theologically
“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who
are pure in heart” (Psalm 73:1).
Doubting God
Personally
“But as for me, my feet had
almost slipped; I had nearly lost
my foothold. For I envied the
arrogant when I saw the
prosperity of the wicked”
(Psalm 73:2-3).
Eyeballs Only: The
Lifestyle of the Rich and
Famous
“They have no struggles; their
bodies are healthy and
strong. They are free from the
burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by
human ills” (Psalm 73:4-5).
Eyeballs Only: The
Lifestyle of the Rich and
Famous
Eyeballs Only: Life
Going Smoothly for the
God-Haters
“Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe
themselves with violence. From their callous
hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their
minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with
malice; in their arrogance they threaten
oppression” (Psalm 73:6-8).
Eyeballs Only: Life
Going Smoothly for the
God-Haters
“Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their
tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore
their people turn to them and drink up waters in
abundance. They say, ‘How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?’”
(Psalm 73:9-11)
Eyeballs Only: Life
Going Smoothly for the
God-Haters
Eyeballs Only: Bad
Things Happening to
God’s People
Eyeballs Only: Bad
Things Happening to
God’s People
“This is what the wicked are like—always
carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely
in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain
have I washed my hands in innocence”
(Psalm 73:12-16).
Eyeballs Only: Bad
Things Happening to
God’s People
“All day long I have been plagued, I have been
punished every morning. If I had said, “I will
speak thus,” I would have betrayed your
children. When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me”
(Psalm 73:12-16).
Seeing Life with CrossShaped Eyes
“Till I entered the
sanctuary of God; then
I understood their final
destiny” (Psalm 73:17).
Courtyard: Ten Basins and Large Laver
Courtyard: Brazen Altar of Sacrifice
The Holy Place/Outer Sanctuary:
Ten Golden Candlesticks
The Holy Place/Outer Sanctuary:
The Table of Showbread
The Holy Place/Outer Sanctuary:
The Golden Altar of Incense
The Veil Between the Holy Place and the
Holy of Holies
The Holy of Holies
The Holy of Holies:
Ark of Testimony/Ark of the Covenant
The Holy of Holies: Ark of Testimony—Two
Tablets of Stone, Pot of Manna, Aaron’s
Rod That Budded
The Day of Atonement
The High Priest
Jesus: Our Great High Priest
“Such a high priest meets our needs—one who is
holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,
exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high
priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day
after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins
of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for
all when he offered himself” (Hebrews 7:26-27).
The Only Place Where Life Makes Sense
Is at the Foot of the Cross
A Cross-Shaped View of
God-Haters
“Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are
they destroyed, completely swept away by
terrors! As a dream when one awakes; when
you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as
fantasies” (Psalm 73:18-20).
A Cross-Shaped View
of Myself
“When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered, I
was senseless and ignorant; I
was a brute beast before
you” (Psalm 73:21-22).
A Cross-Shaped View
of God
“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my
right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and
afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have
I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I
desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may
fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my
portion forever” (Psalm 73:23-26).
Trusting God Theologically
and Personally
“Those who are far from you will perish; you
destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for
me, it is good to be near God. I have made the
Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your
deeds” (Psalm 73:27-28).
Am I Living to Make
God’s Name Famous?
“The View from the
Sanctuary of God”:
Psalm 73