There is more than one way to translate the name "Asafe," but it always contains a reference to "gathering," "gathering," and "reuniting," and is usually understood to mean "the one who gathers.".
The name "Asaph" refers to several people mentioned in the Bible during the time of the kingdom of Israel, and here it specifically highlights the Levite in charge of leading the singing before the Ark of the Covenant when King David brought it to Jerusalem.
Asaph was the chief, and Zechariah was second to him;
(1ˢᵗ Chronicles 16:5-7 – ACF)
Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jeiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with lutes and harps; and Asaph made himself heard with cymbals;
Benaiah and Jaaziel, the priests, also continually sounded trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God.
Then on that same day David first composed this psalm, which Asaph and his brothers led in praise to the Lord.
Although little is known about his life beyond his role in the Levite ministry, he is credited with authoring several psalms—12 in total—including Psalm 50 and those corresponding to Psalms 73-83 in the Hebrew canon.
A MAN IN DISTRESS
Node Psalm 73, This man, sincerely devoted to God, expresses the bitterness of his conflict upon seeing the apparent victories of the wicked, which seemed endless, their attainment of success and satisfaction of desires, while the righteous were constantly seen in heavy trials and anguish.
It is noticeable that, throughout the ages, those who fear God are patiently taught by the Heavenly Father not to focus on small parts of events, but to see history as a whole: just as Asaph was taught in his time, today every Christian needs to understand what lies behind everything that God allows to happen.
Asaph acknowledges God's goodness toward Israel (verse 1), but he admits that he almost lost faith in that kindness, as can be seen in the following verses.
However, already in verse 2 He admits that this was due to a misinterpretation, a lack of understanding on his part, not on God's part: "But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.".
The reasons for this are explained in verses 3 to 16, where he recounts both the envy he felt for the wicked and arrogant, whose purposes were always achieved, whose possessions were far greater than they needed, and who still had the people at their feet (3-12), as well as the apparent disillusionment of having preserved his integrity and faithfulness to God, since he was continually afflicted and punished, while at the same time he saw the riches of the wicked increase(12-14).
His anguish over such things was so great that, as he mentions in... verses 15 and 16, He didn't even mention to others all that was weighing on his heart, so as not to be seen as a traitor, someone who, with the responsibility of temple service, did not demonstrate the faith he sang and praised in his daily tasks.
This takes a radical turn in the final part of this Psalm, when he states that he entered the Sanctuary of God and understood the end of the wicked and ungodly (verses 17-28At that time, teaching about the things of God was generally carried out in the temple, and this indicates that during the teaching given there, Asaph realized that this situation, however unjust and painful it might be for him or for any righteous person, for any God-fearing person, was something temporary, and that the end that awaited those who did not repent was terrible, which could be summarized in the final and definitive rejection of such people by the Creator.
Finally, he acknowledges that it was better to remain faithful and dedicated to God than to follow the path that the wicked followed, that even considering doing so, as he did, was an irrational act, something done by someone who was brutish, that is, not thinking clearly (verses 21 and 22).
The fact that this Psalm is written in the past tense, including the final part where Asaph acknowledges the error of his heart, indicates that he took care to only recount his experience after it was complete, when he had obtained the answers he so anxiously sought.
WAITING FOR JUSTICE
As mentioned, humanity has been taught by God since the fall into sin to await the justice that comes from the Creator.
Jesus himself, in the Sermon on the Mount, said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled (see Matthew 5:6The justice that comes from God does not follow human standards, for no one is naturally holy before Him; rather, one is made holy through faith that clings to the merits of Jesus. Thus, it is not the Christian's place to "take justice into their own hands.".
The most wronged person in all of history was Jesus himself, who took on a guilt and punishment that were not his, but belonged to all of us (according to...). Isaiah 53:5And even amidst all this insult and humiliation, he prayed for those who were crucifying him (see Luke 23:34And, as Peter says, he did not retaliate against those who insulted him, but left the judgment of all that in the hands of the Father (according to 1ˢᵗ Peter 2:21-24).
Asaph lived long before the fulfillment of Jesus' work, being one of those who, as the Epistle to the Hebrews says, died in faith, having seen the promises from afar (check Hebrews 11:13But he was comforted by faith concerning the injustices he saw, believing that the Judge of all the earth will not fail to do justice, just as Abraham had said (see Genesis 18:25).
Today, every Christian is called to believe that God's justice against all ungodliness will also be done: with so much corruption in politics; the ever more insatiable greed for money and power taking over the world; the coldness with which people treat each other becoming increasingly evident, with the lack of sensitivity and empathy for the pain of others growing ever greater, there is really not much to expect from the world in terms of justice, especially for Christians.
From God's perspective, however, justice is certain.
It may take time, but it will be done, and she will dwell forever in the New Heavens and the New Earth that the saved will inherit.
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
(2ⁿᵈ Peter 3:13 – ACF)
In the Bonds of Calvary
I admit that since a month ago, when I took a Insurance scam, I've been spending some time with Asaph, but without any genuine enthusiasm to continue living... but a true servant of the Lord God can only go to Him when called, and that's the lesson that has been occupying me!
Knowing that even the highest instances of what should be courts of justice have been turned into dens of corruption It may sadden some, but it's just another one. indication That the end times are rapidly unfolding, and before the Lord returns like a thief in the night, the prophesied reign of the Antichrist must be consolidated not only in Brazil, but throughout the world!
In the 2023 phase of "The Worst Gospel," I decided to use new formats in the hope of helping to increase the reach of content related to the Scriptures—stories, videos, shorter texts, guest authors…—and this publication, which I took the liberty of revising and illustrating, is part of that project.
Thank you for reading this far.
I still need all the help I can get: comments, shares, and reactions help spread this content, which was entirely produced with the intention of contributing to the edification of the Body of Christ in the world.
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