When Unfairness Leads Us to the Sanctuary

When life feels unfair, God’s truth remains. Discover how Psalm 73 shifts our focus from worldly struggles to eternal peace in Him.

When Life Feels Unfair

I don’t like unfairness. If you are a member of my family reading that sentence, you are most likely doubled over in laughter and thinking that it must be one of the greatest understatements of all time. Whether it’s fiction or reality, I really struggle with situations where someone is being treated unfairly, at least according to my definition of fairness.

I’m especially incensed when reading or watching a mystery series and you KNOW who committed the crime, but they seem to get away with it. It’s also why I almost always root for the underdog in a sporting event and take pleasure (I’m not proud of this!) in seeing the winningest teams lose. Everyone needs to be humbled now and then, right? 

Relating to Asaph’s Struggle in Psalm 73

Recently, I finished reading through the Psalms, and while there are so many impactful passages in this book of the Bible, there was one that seemed to jump off the page at me. Several of the Psalms were written by a man named Asaph. Who was he? Well, we actually hear more about him in 1st and 2nd Chronicles.

We learn that while there were likely two different Asaphs referenced in Scripture, authorship of at least twelve different Psalms is ascribed to this Asaph who served during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. He was a singer and a musician who was the head of worship in the temple. And, as I read Psalm 73, I found myself relating so much to the angst he was experiencing.

Asaph wrestles with the fact that, while he has been seeking to obey the Lord and His commands, some are living wicked lives and seem to be prospering. He confesses that this has made him envious of these people even though he knows they are not obeying God.

“For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.”
Psalm 73:3-5

When Doing Right Feels Like It Doesn’t Matter

Asaph was trying so hard to do everything right, yet he watched as those around him seemed to flourish even though they didn’t love and honor God. He went so far as to wonder why he bothered trying to keep his heart pure when it only seemed to lead to more trouble for him while those who turned their back on the Lord got everything they wanted and more. 

Asaph had come to the crossroads at which most of us arrive at some point during our faith journey. We wonder why it is that there are people who make all of the wrong choices and even actively live in opposition to God’s Word who seem to do better than those of us who are trying to faithfully obey and serve Him.

We might even find ourselves asking if it is even worth it. Discontent, jealousy, and a lack of understanding can lead us to a place where we begin to question the sovereignty of the Creator of the universe. Our sinful hearts want the path to be easy and the outcomes to be positive, so we begin to question the point of it all. Asaph rightly recognized that others were living in sin while simultaneously allowing sin to consume his own heart to the point of despair.

A Shift in Perspective: Entering the Sanctuary

At this point, he entered the sanctuary of God (vs 17) and understood the truth. Once inside the sanctuary, the temple, Asaph was reminded not only of the loving kindness of God but of His justice as well.  God graciously showed him that, while it may seem like the wicked are prospering here on this earth, they too will face an ultimate judgement.

“Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.”
Psalm 73:27

When Asaph remembered what would become of them, their lifestyle and seeming prosperity no longer held any appeal. And, while Asaph’s sanctuary was the place for sacrifices to be made to the Lord, we have the New Covenant through the sacrifice of His Son and the assurance that, one day, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:10-11

Finding Peace in God’s Presence

As I read the Psalms, I’m reminded that on this side of eternity, we cannot possibly grasp the mysteries of God’s ways because they are not ours to understand. Did going into the sanctuary suddenly change Asaph’s circumstances? Did it change the people around him who were flagrantly denying the Lord? Was everything suddenly fair and just?

No, but it changed something in his heart. It reminded him that he must continually take those feelings to his Father, confess them, and be grateful for His mercy and love. In the sanctuary, he found all of the counsel and wisdom he needed to continue the journey here on earth and the comfort in knowing that, one day, all will be made right in God’s kingdom. 

Reflection:

Do you struggle with unfairness also? Or perhaps you can’t make sense of the things happening in the world and why God allows them to happen. What is it that you need to take into the sanctuary today?

Read through Psalm 73 and pay special attention to verses 23-26

“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.”