I do not know who wrote the seventy-third Psalm, but was a man that had fought a terrific battle within his own life, and won. This little psalm shows us two ways in which his religion affected his life. First it made him miserable, then happy and content. It begins: "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. He recognizes God's goodness to His people, especially to those whose heart was clean, but he did not seem to get the desired effect from his religion. He said, "But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped, for I was envious of the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." V. 2, 3.
I was on the road down-my faith was all but shattered when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Why do they prosper and enjoy themselves, when I am working hard and trying to train my children right, go to church (worship) but I can't seen to get ahead-there is nothing fair about that. What was wrong with that man? I think I know. He was trying to serve two masters, which Jesus said we can not do without resenting one of them. He wanted to be religious, but he loved the world and its pleasures too much. But just before he threw up his hands to quit it all-to give up on religion, he went back into the sanctuary of God, he had been there often before, but this time something happened-this time he listened to God's message, and said, "Then I understood their end, those people of whom I was so envious were doomed to destruction eternally. So foolish was I and ignorant; I was a beast before Thee. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee." See verses 17, 22, 25. He was no longer envious of others. Something awakened this man spiritually-opened his mind and heart to spiritual values, while before he had only known material values, It may have been the soft strains of organ music, the singing of an old hymn of love, praise, or devotion, or something from God's word. But whatever it was I believe most of the world's problems could be solved if everyone could be brought into the sanctuary of God (our church buildings) to worship God humbly and sincerely, and to listen to God's message to us.
We have our troubles, worries and anxieties that living in our kind of world brings, and may wonder at times why a loving heavenly father permits them. Perhaps they are used to deepen our faith and help us to grow spiritually. In 1 Peter 5:7 we are told to, "Cast all your cares on Him, for He careth for you."