“Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.”
Psalm 73:17
We are not told how long Asaph struggled. When you are going through a dark time it can seem like it forever. But God promises that He never allows us to go into a test without making a way of escape. God now leads Asaph to his way out of the darkness. But God does much more than that. By allowing Asaph to go through this trial, God teaches him an important lesson. Even more than that God then guides Asaph to record the truth he learned that so every generation of believer who would follow him could know this truth also.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God Remember Asaph has his eyes on himself and on the wealthy wicked. Like the complaint of the age we live in, Asaph sees this seeming inconsistency and determines life is not fair. How can God, who is just, allow the wicked to prosper and the righteous and faithful to have so little. Any way you look at it, this is just not fair!
In the preceding verse Asaph said he tried to understand what he saw but could not. He calls the situation oppressive, He labored over understanding the dichotomy that he could not understand – it just brought him pain. But then something changed. Asaph found that he could not reason his way to an acceptable solution. No matter how he assessed the situation “man’s way are not God’s ways”. No amount of human reasoning satisfied him.
Suddenly the situation changed. Asaph brough his problem, his concern, his dilemma and viewed it under the light of God’s truth. The Hebrew word for sanctuary refers to a sacred or holy place, often used to describe the tabernacle, the temple in Jerusalem, or any designated holy site where God’s presence dwells. It signifies a place set apart for worship, sacrifice, and communion with God (like Elijah’s cave). Asaph went to worship the Lord. Don’t miss this truth. It is not new information that comforts Asaph. It is a change in his focus. When he worships God Asaph is reminded that God is in control and Asaph is His follower, His servant. When he worships God he is reminded of the two great commandments – that he is to love God with all his heart and his brother as himself. Going to the sanctuary where God dwells takes Asaph’s eyes off of himself and the rich he was in danger of envying and places them on the two things God wanted him to focus on – Almighty God and others.
Then I understood their end Hearing God’s word in the Temple and worshipping God caused Asaph to see things differently. The Hebrew word for understanding means to discern. It involves comprehending the truth and grasping tits significance. The word understood is used when God tells us to “Consider our ways”. God’s word guided Asaph to consider who God is.
What can we learn? Asaph tells us what God showed him – keep his eyes on the Lord. This focus changed Moses’ life. Hebrews 11:26 tells us Moses “esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward”. This is an important lesson for us. Satan wants our focus on the things of this world that
will pass away. God guides us to look at eternity. What the earth offers is temporary but the glory (or horror) of eternity will be forever. If Satan tempts you and you start to lose perspective, do two things. First worship God. Rejoice in His character and His promises to His children. Second, fill your heart with the word of God. How long should you do this? Until you see him face to face.