But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (Ps. 73:2)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 73:1-17
Ice on asphalt is hard. Years ago, while going out of the apartment where we lived, I slipped. Though I knew a storm had left a coating of ice, if I was careful, I would not fall, right? I slipped and fell on my left shoulder. The pain was almost overwhelming, and I still have issues with that shoulder.
Asaph, who wrote Psalm 73, was a Levite appointed by David to lead worship. He led the dedication of Solomon’s temple and was all in when it came to serving and trusting God. But as he saw the wicked prosper, he allowed bitterness to blind him to the clear blessings of God’s people. He nearly lost his spiritual footing. After a pity party, he went to the sanctuary and came to his senses in verse 17. He remembered that serving God has temporal benefits and eternal ones as well. It is about perspective.
When things do not go our way, sometimes we blame God. In our resentment, we accuse him of turning a blind eye to the wicked and the cold shoulder to us. We lose our perspective. That is when we need to find our place of sanctuary. It is only by shutting out those things that are causing us to slip that we regain our traction. Allowing God to adjust our perspective gives us a solid footing again.
Find a place of sanctuary and thank God for his blessings.
Roland E. Cavanaugh is a Wesleyan pastor serving in North Carolina and administrator of an assistant living facility. He and his wife have ministered for thirty-five years.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
