Asaph was the chief, and Zechariah was second to him; Although little is known about his life beyond his role in the Levite ministry, he is credited with authoring several psalms\u201412 in total\u2014including Psalm 50 and those corresponding to Psalms 73-83 in the Hebrew canon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Node Psalm 73<\/mark><\/strong>, 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. The reasons for this are explained in verses 3 to 16<\/mark><\/strong>, 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<\/mark><\/strong>), 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<\/mark><\/strong>). 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 17-28<\/mark><\/strong>At 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. As mentioned, humanity has been taught by God since the fall into sin to await the justice that comes from the Creator. 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 53:5<\/mark><\/strong>And even amidst all this insult and humiliation, he prayed for those who were crucifying him (see Luke 23:34<\/mark><\/strong>And, 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 1\u02e2\u1d57 Peter 2:21-24<\/mark><\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 11:13<\/mark><\/strong>But 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<\/mark><\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.<\/p>\n(2\u207f\u1d48 Peter 3:13 \u2013 ACF)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In the Bonds of Calvary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n(1\u02e2\u1d57 Chronicles 16:5-7 \u2013 ACF)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nA MAN IN DISTRESS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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<\/mark><\/strong>), but he admits that he almost lost faith in that kindness, as can be seen in the following verses.
However, already in verse 2<\/mark><\/strong> 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.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His anguish over such things was so great that, as he mentions in... verses 15 and 16<\/mark><\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/mark><\/strong>).
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWAITING FOR JUSTICE<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Jesus himself, in the Sermon on the Mount, said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled (see Matthew 5:6<\/mark><\/strong>The 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.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
