Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Psalms 73:17 (KJV)

This Psalm was written by a man named Asaph. (1 Chronicles 6:31-39) He was in a position of leadership. He ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation. He was a Levite; surrounded by other Levites. His company were the Kohathites and Gershonites – burden bearers in the ministry. They were not bench warmers; they were key players. They didn’t sit in the shadows and observe; they were on the platform serving God publicly.

Before I Went into the Sanctuary

My feet were unstable. (verse 2, Psalm 140:5)
You will never be able to stand; never be able to walk; never be able to make progress staying out of church.

My focus was unbiblical. (verse 3)
This is a common problem with Christians. As Christians, we can easily forget just how good god has been to us. We can fail to recognize His bountiful blessings. We can minimize the inheritance and the riches we have been given in Christ.

My foes were unbeatable. (verses 4-5)
Notice Asaph’s observation of the wicked:

  • Verse 4a – For there are no bands in their death – they will never get caught; they’ll die of old age.
  • Verse 4b – …their strength is firm. (See Romans 5:6)

For when we were yet without strength:

  • Verse 5a – They are not in trouble as other men…
  • Verse 5b – …neither are they plagued like other men.

My findings were untruthful.  (verse 13-14)

  1. About my cleansing – (verse 13, Matthew 5:8)
  2. About my chastening – (verse 14, Lamentations 3:22-23)

My frustration was unbearable. (verse 16)
Because his feet were unstable, his focus was unbiblical, his foes were unbeatable, his findings were unsubstantial, it all began to overwhelm him. He tried to process it. He tried to know it. He tried to understand it, and it was impossible.

Until I Went into the Sanctuary

I admitted my foolishness. (verse 22)
In verse 2, Asaph was in a slippery place, but in verse 18, he realized it was the wicked that were in a slippery place. In verse 3, Asaph envied the foolish. In verse 22, Asaph admitted that he was foolish. In verse 4, Asaph thought the strength of the wicked was firm. In verse 26, Asaph’s realized his strength was firm.

I acknowledged my failures. (verse 26)
As a Christian, if you rely on your flesh, you will fail. As a Christian, if you follow your heart, you will fail!(Jeremiah 17:9)

I adjusted my focus. (verse 25)
In verse 3, before he went into the sanctuary. In verse 25, “…there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”

After he went into the sanctuary, he saw exactly how temporary they were. (verses 18, 19) In verse 4, he said their strength was firm. In verse 19, he saw that they were brought into desolation in a moment.

I advanced my fellowship. (verse 28a)
In verse 24, he said he was plagued all the day long. In verse 14, he basically accused God of chastening him every morning. In verse 28, he said, “It is good for me to draw near to God…”In verse 27, he realized that the wicked were “far from thee.”

I affirmed my faith. (verses 23, 24, 28b)
He’d realized what a mistake it was to put his confidence in those around him. He was no longer going to let what he thought was happening be his guide; he was going to trust God. He was no longer going to let what happened to the foolish and the wicked be his compass. He was no longer going to let what others said influence him.

I accepted my function. (verse 28c)