To the Pure in Heart

"God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food…" goes the blessing of a young child at the dinner table. God is good – good to us and good for us. A priest named Asaph wrote in Psalm 73 that "God is good…to those who are pure in heart" (Psa 73:1, NKJV). Since God is good all the time, how can He be good only to those who are pure in heart?

Bob and Bill worked together at a large company. They often worked on projects together because of their complementary skills. Bob loved the LORD Jesus Christ with all his heart and, as a result of his faith, loved others with all his heart. Bill, on the other hand, was a homosexual. He hated religion because it was used as an excuse to put him down. Yet Bill was treated like a king by Bob. Bob was never less than good to Bill though he had gently and compassionately explained his belief in the word of God on this subject. Each day, Bob extended the love of Christ to Bill. Each day, Bill grew to despise Bob more and more. Why?

One who is perverted in his thinking cannot enjoy the goodness of another. It is a constant reminder of his own sinfulness; thus, it must be rejected. One who is truly good defies the ability of the perverted one to claim his own goodness. This is why the Bible tells us "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good" (Titus 1:15-16, NIV). Let us remember that apart from the work of Jesus Christ to grant us a pardon from sin, cleanse us and grant us all of His righteousness in its place, you and I might feel that same way about God.

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-28

Main Thought: God is good to those who are pure in heart because they can appreciate how God works and draw strength from their relationship of trust in the LORD Jesus Christ.

A pure heart is not found by envying the wicked. (Psa. 73:1-12)
A pure heart is not found by discarding the pursuit of righteousness. (Psa. 73:13-16)
A pure heart is found in view of eternity:

For the wicked get away with nothing. (Psa. 73:17-20)
For the righteous are held steadfast by Almighty God. (Psa. 73:21-24)
For the circumstances never overcome God’s strength. (Psa. 73:25-26)
For the LORD is good to all who trust in Him. (Psa. 73:27-28)

A psalm of Asaph. (1) Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. (2) But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (3) For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (4) They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. (5) They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. (6) Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. (7) From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. (8) They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. (9) Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. (10) Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. (11) They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" (12) This is what the wicked are like-- always carefree, they increase in wealth. (Psalm 73:1-12, NIV)

1. A pure heart is not found by envying the wicked. (Psa. 73:1-12).

The wicked SEEM to do OK:

v3—they prosper

v4—have a long life and die an easy death

v5—never have any trouble

v5—don’t seem to get sick

As a result of this kind of life, the wicked BECOME:

v6—prideful, violent

v7—greed consumes them

v8—they speak wickedly

v9—they become skeptics and cynics, blasphemers

The wicked or ungodly even make God in their own image, thinking He is as carefree as they are (vv11-12).

These are the perceptions of Asaph looking at the lives of people who disregard God. These are the perceptions in this life. He falls into the same trap as you and I thinking they always have an easy time and always increase in riches and abundance (v12).

First of all, there should be a warning flag when you start to use the "always/never" words about things going on in your life. Things will not always be the way they are today – good or bad. And those things that will never happen – that’s what the designer of the Titanic said also. Don’t fall into this trap because God is greater than all creation and can change any situation when He chooses to do so.

Second, thinking such untrue thoughts will certainly lead you right into depression, which is where we find Asaph. He comments that "my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped" (Psa. 73:2, NKJV). In other words, he was losing his grip because it troubled him that the ungodly seemed to be getting away with so much wickedness.

Don’t lose your grip over this. Remember, "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever" (Prov 10:25, NIV). God’s word says, "Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free" (Prov 11:21, NIV).

2. A pure heart is not found by discarding the pursuit of righteousness. (Psa. 73:13-16).

Asaph continues this stroll into depression over what others have, others who do not love God as Asaph loves God.

Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
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 73:13-16, NIV)

Just try to tell me you have never felt this way! Here is what Asaph is saying: LORD, I have purified my heart and my life for nothing. I have pursued Your righteousness and Your truth but all I get are troubles every day. If I preach this to God’s people, I would be a hypocrite because I told them it was Your will to purify themselves from ungodliness. So I just can’t put it all together – the futility of it all is to great a burden (Psalm 73:13-16, paraphrase by Randy Lariscy).

We know objectively by the word of God that the pursuit of righteousness by the believer is not futile. But it sure seems that way sometimes. The times it seems that way are the times we look at life with blinders.

You know, the kind of blinders they use on horses to keep them focused on nothing but the path in front of them. The blinders block the view of anything else that might startle or confuse the horse. Blinders can be a good thing when you need to focus. But the believer who focuses on life with spiritual blinders that shut out God’s power and His redemptive love at work in your life has gotten his/her life out of focus! You have lost sight of God’s eternal plan for your life. You have lost sight of God’s eternal plan for the ungodly who are troubling you like they did Asaph.

3. A pure heart is found in view of eternity (Psa. 73:17-28).

It is interesting how just the thought of Christ’s return makes you quickly sort through your life to see if you are really ready for Him. It has a purifying effect on your life as the Apostle John writes in this verse.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (I John 3:2-3, NIV)

As Asaph stepped into the Temple, he moved into the light of eternity to get a grip on his problem. His heart was not pure -- he envied the wicked and was considering the path of righteousness to be futile. At this point, he was not enjoying the goodness of God. Nor was he praising God. As a priest, this is a big problem!

A. For the wicked get away with nothing. (Psa. 73:17-20)

Till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. (Psa. 73:17,NIV)

Asaph took off his spiritual blinders as he entered God’s house. He got a glimpse of God’s eternal perspective on the situation. Specifically, God reminded him of the final destiny, or destination, of the ungodly. A popular bumper sticker sums it up rather nicely, "Eternity – smoking or non-smoking?" The destination of the ungodly, the one who refuses the grace of God shown to us in our LORD Jesus Christ, is hell. Though the ungodly man or woman may seem comfortable today, he or she faces an eternity of torment: suddenly destroyed, consumed by terrors, despised by Almighty God (Psa. 73:18-19).

Medical researchers are now boasting that they will be able to increase the normal life expectancy of human beings to 150 years! Yet the death ratio, last time I checked, is still one-for-one. Everyone will eventually die. So you have to consider 70 years, even 150 years, versus an eternity of smoking or non-smoking?

Asaph purified his heart with the assurance that the wicked get away with nothing. He no longer envied the wicked who were rich, healthy, and apparently happy today; he knew that because they rejected the LORD, they faced an eternity of punishment. He also knew that because he believed in the LORD and looked forward to His Christ, He would be with the LORD in eternity. Be sure that you too can look forward to that day in which it is appointed unto every person to die once and then face the judgment (Heb. 9:27). Put your faith in the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin today and you will be with Him in Heaven forever.

B. For the righteous are held steadfast by Almighty God. (Psa. 73:21-24)

Asaph realized how it must have hurt God for him to think such foolish thoughts about the ungodly. He was grieved and bitter inside (v21), feeling senseless and very much like a dumb animal that doesn’t even know right from wrong (v22). It is foolish to envy the wicked; it is foolish not to trust God’s involvment and intervention in every person’s life.

Even as he grieves over his sin of envy and hopelessness, he finds that God is good to him. His repentance is rewarded in four specific ways – the same way that God’s goodness comes to all who are pure in heart:

By His presence – He never left Asaph even in his foolishness (v23a) and He will never leave you.

By His power – He sustained Asaph before this and will continue to uphold him afterwards as well (v23b), just as He will do in your life.

By His wisdom – God provided insight and counsel to show Asaph the right perspective (v24a) as He will do for you.

By His promise – Asaph had the assurance of his heavenly home (v24b) as do all who trust in the LORD Jesus Christ.

God does not condemn the believer for these "moments" of doubt and hopelessness. Thank God we have the word of the LORD Jesus, "Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24, NIV). Rather, these "moments" can be turned into a wonderful time of faith-building as you take off the spiritual blinders and look at things from God’s eternal perspective.

C. For the circumstances never overcome God’s strength. (Psa. 73:25-26)

Asaph is drawn into a time of great praise and affirmation of God’s righteousness and power. He commits himself fully to the LORD. He cries out: "My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psa. 73:26, NKJV). No circumstances will overcome God’s strength.

Though my health may depart, my strength leave me, and my eyes see no joy, I will count on God as my strength and my everlasting hope.

Life may be unfair, leaving me disappointed and angry. But forget all that, I have the LORD Jesus Christ, the God of all creation, to claim as my very own.

God is the strength of my heart that keeps me going today. He is the portion of my inheritance (Psa. 16:5) tomorrow to whom I can eagerly await.

D. For the LORD is good to all who trust in Him. (Psa. 73:27-28)

Asaph drew near to God, drawing strength and hope from Him. The closer he got to the heart of God, the more he found the reason and opportunity to praise His awesome work. "I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds" (Psa. 73:28, NIV).

In my life: God has held me up and kept me strong through major disappointments, cared for me constantly during on-going trials with my family, and granted me a place in His kingdom, even a place to serve.

In the lives of other believers: God is working to change lives, produce stable marriages, and loving families in this group. I have seen that happen.

In the lives of the ungodly: He provides the gospel with the hope that if they will turn from their sin and turn to the LORD Jesus Christ, they too can be saved. Merciful is our God. But He is just also…

Reflect on YOUR life:

In Christ, we are a kingdom of priests like Asaph. While we will never be perfect in these bodies of flesh, our lives are to be a pursuit of purity -- a race to put aside those things that are not pure, a time to gird ourselves with the full armor of God and the tools of faith, hope, and love.

What things hinder you from loving God and enjoying His goodness to you? Purify your life that you may fully enjoy the good relationship God wants you to have with Him.

What keeps you from serving in His kingdom? If these things are in your control, put them aside that you may serve the LORD with boldness.

What fears or worries keep you from living by faith? Cast all those cares upon the LORD Jesus for He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7).

What do you have in your home that you would be ashamed for the LORD to see upon His return? Well, He already sees it – so throw it away.

Purify your life, clean it up, so that you can enjoy the righteousness of God. God is indeed good to those who are pure in heart.