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What makes the difference between pessimism and optimism? If you think about it, the actual facts are the same, so it's not the facts. Rather the difference is where you, the observer, are focusing. Is it the negative facts, or the positive facts? We find this phenomenon in the 73rd Psalm, a psalm of Asaph. Historically speaking, it is likely that Asaph lived through a period of cultural degradation, and this shows in this, his first psalm in the Hebrew Psalter.
After Solomon's dedication of the Temple, Asaph saw Israel's "golden age" turn into something quite apart from what he expected. After a promising beginning, Solomon turned his back on God and pursued power, wealth, luxury and human wisdom, [Ecclesiastes 1:17-18] as well as worship of other gods [1 Kings 11:5-10]. To finance these pursuits the people were oppressed with slavery [1 Kings 9:15-21] and taxes [1 Kings 5:13; 12:4]. Asaph saw Solomon become a wicked man who entrusted the administration of his Kingdom to other wicked men. There is good reason to believe that during Solomon's reign, Asaph's brother Zechariah [Matthew 23:34-35] was assassinated in the Temple by Solomon's agents. Neither Asaph nor Zechariah would keep silent about Solomon's wickedness. Zechariah paid the ultimate price. (Richard Thompson, May 2005)
In Psalm 73 Asaph begins with an affirmation of God's goodness to his people, Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But he then quickly turns to his despair, and he explains the reason for his despair.
For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psalm 73:3 ESV)
For the next 11 verses Asaph is caught up with the prosperity of the wicked and its effect on the culture of his day. He concludes with the depth of his despair, describing it this way:
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, (Psalm 73:15-16 ESV).
But thankfully, that isn't where Asaph ended. He ended, very optimistically, with these words:
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. (Psalm 73:23-28 ESV)
Asaph remembered that he had a secure relationship with God and that was everything. He recognized that having access to God's presence was the source of his strength and was for his good.
So what made the difference? What brought about a change of perspective so that Asaph didn't end in despair but rather with great confidence? He explained it this way.
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. (Psalm 73:16-17 ESV)
Because of his duties as a priest in the temple, Asaph was reminded of the justice of God through the temple ceremonies and sacrifices. The ceremonies and sacrifices of the temple, which were first given for the mobile tabernacle, vividly illustrated and demonstrated the justice of God (see the book of Leviticus). The justice of God means that he acts in congruence with his character, a character which he himself has revealed. In the book of Exodus God had rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, having redeemed them to himself. Bringing them into the desert, he established a relationship with them, through covenant, at the foot of Mount Sinai. The expectations of that covenant are summarized in what we commonly know as the 10 Commandments. Sadly, Israel quickly violated those expectations in their sin of fabricating and worshipping around a golden calf (see Exodus 32). In the aftermath of that great tragedy Moses asked to see God and for a promise of his presence with him. God's response is found in Exodus 34:6-7
"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, seven keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6-7 ESV)
God's character is that he is indeed merciful and gracious, exercising faithful love with forgiveness, but doing so with full justice. He "by no means clears the guilty." Ultimate justice is what Asaph remembered in the temple, and it is what changed his perspective. This is what turned his pessimism to optimism. While the wicked do sometimes prosper in this world, they will not in the final judgment. God's ultimate justice will make all things right. It was his ultimate justice, fulfilled in Jesus, that makes him "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:26 ESV) It is through faith in Jesus, whose death was the atoning sacrifice for our sins (Romans 3:21-25) that we, like Asaph can confidently declare "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" and "for me it is good to be near God."
If, like the wicked, you have everything but don't have God, you have nothing. But if you have nothing but you have God, you have everything!
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Pastor Doug Packard of First Baptist Church, Lock Haven.