The Wisdom Journey

Asking Seven Forbidden Questions

• Stephen Davey

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A worship leader ready to resign, a heart full of envy, and a sanctuary that changes everything—Psalm 73 reads like a journal entry we were never supposed to see. We walk with Asaph as he watches the ungodly thrive in wealth, ease, health, and status, and he dares to ask the questions many of us hide: Why do those who ignore God seem to get the best of life? Does faithfulness really pay off when my road is rough and theirs looks smooth?

We set the scene for Book III of the Psalter and reintroduce Asaph, the Levite musician appointed by David, whose honesty cuts through clichés. He catalogs the tensions: prosperity without piety, blasphemy rewarded with applause, and the sting of daily conviction that makes godliness feel costly. Then comes the hinge. Rather than slip away, Asaph steps into the sanctuary of God. That move doesn’t magically fix circumstances, but it reframes them. Worship expands his horizon beyond snapshots to the whole story, reminding us that apparent success can sit on shaky ground and that discipline is a mercy, not a penalty.

Across the conversation, we explore how envy narrows vision, how public candor requires pastoral wisdom, and how sacred space—Scripture, gathered worship, quiet prayer—reorders what we value. The takeaway is both sturdy and hopeful: honesty belongs with God, perspective lives in his presence, and the path steadies when we trade comparison for communion. If you’ve felt the ache of unfairness or the pull to give up, you’ll find language for your struggle and a next step toward clarity.

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The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

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SPEAKER_00:

Well, today we arrive at Psalm 73. This Psalm begins the third of the five books of Psalms. Scholars believe that while David, the king, compiled books one and two, it was the Levite Ezra who compiled the last three and put the final arrangement on all five books. Now let me switch gears by asking a question. What if the man who was in charge of the music program for the nation of Israel said, you know, I'm going to quit my job and I'm going to leave the ministry, and it's all because of all those wicked people around me who have it so much better than I do. Well, if you can believe it, one Old Testament music leader almost did just that. His name is Asaph, and he confesses here in Psalm 73 to nearly quitting his ministry for that reason, and several more. Asaph was a Levite, he's one of the three chief musicians appointed by David to lead the choral services of the sanctuary. He was a composer, arranger, singer, he was a director. And I say all that to tell you that Asaph's the last guy you would ever think would quit, simply because unbelievers seem to have it better than he did. But that's what he admits to. In fact, he even writes a song about it here that we call Psalm 73. Now Asaph starts out correctly here with this statement in verse one. Truly, God is good to Israel and to those who are pure in heart. Well, that's true. Now keep in mind that being pure in heart isn't a reference to perfection, but to connection. The pure in heart are the people connected to God by faith in his mercy and his grace. Now with this opening statement, ASAP makes a rather startling confession here in verse two. But as for me, my feet almost stumbled. My steps had nearly slipped. Now this great composer and arranger of Israel has just admitted that he almost slipped off the path. Let me tell you, I think everybody's awake now in Israel. Asap now begins to pour out his his inner battle with doubt and questions and confusion. Evidently he's had a long private battle with God. It now becomes public as he writes this song. He proceeds to make a number of statements that clearly point to some of these underlying questions that have been bothering him. These are what I want to call for our study today forbidden questions. They're questions believers, well, you don't think you're supposed to ask them, at least out loud. You might think them, but you'd never write a song about them. And the first question is this Why do unbelievers have more money than I do? Asaph says that here in verse three. I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. See, Asaph's looking around at these people. They have no time for God. Here he is dedicated to God, so why is it that he has a hard time paying his bills? And you know, that unbeliever over there seems to have plenty of money left over. Well, with that, Asaph moves on to another troubling question. Here it is, why do unbelievers seem to have less pressure in life than I do? He complains to God here in verse four. They have no pangs until death. Now the word for pangs here can refer to fetters or chains or even internal struggles that weigh you down. He's saying here that unbelievers just seem to glide into eternity without any struggle at all. The road they're traveling seems to be paved. It's smooth. ASAF says, My road seems to have one pothole after another. Here's another confusing issue Asaph records. Why do unbelievers enjoy better health than I do? He writes here in verse 4. Their bodies are fat and sleek. Now to us that might not sound all that healthy. You get fat when you eat too much chocolate cake, and some people would say that isn't good for you. I'm not sure I agree. Well, the Hebrew expression here means healthy and strong. In other words, Asaph is going to the doctor every other month, and his unbelieving neighbor hadn't taken a sick day in ten years. Why is that ungodly person healthier than I am? Well, Asaph asks another forbidden question here that you're not going to put on the church prayer list, but you're sure wondering this. Why do ungodly people seem to have trouble free lives? In verse 5 here, Asaph writes, They are not in trouble as others are. They're not stricken like the rest of mankind. In other words, they have trouble free lives. Lord, why is that? ASAF wonders out loud. It isn't fair. Well then Asaph quickly moves on to another question. Here it is. Why aren't wicked people exposed for who they really are? He writes here in verse 6. Pride is their necklace. Well, you might remember when Pharaoh promoted Joseph, he gave Joseph a golden necklace. Belshazzar did the same thing for Daniel, gave him a golden necklace. You see, these necklaces in ancient days were tokens of dignity and status. So Asaph is wondering why wicked people get all the status. They get promoted to places of leadership when they ought to be exposed. I mean it looks like they're getting away with their wicked lives. Well, here's another question that bothers Asaph. Why are unbelievers allowed to blaspheme God without being silenced? Here in verse 9, Asaph describes their blasphemy as he writes, they set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. In other words, they're strutting around like peacocks. It's as if their tongues are in full and colorful display against God. Instead of being silenced, well, they they seem to be getting standing ovations. Verse 10 says, Therefore, unbelievers turn back to them and find no fault in them. I mean, get this. Their defiance against God is making them popular. Their sin is making them famous. People find no fault in them. In fact, the world can't get enough of them. Asaph is struggling with this. I don't know about you, but I do too. Instead of being silenced by God, Asaph writes here in verse twelve, they are always at ease. They increase in riches. Now with that, Asaph moves to the heart of his frustration. And it isn't just about all those unbelievers out there who seem to be getting away with everything. Asaph writes here in verse 13, All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. His statement basically is saying this my commitment to God has not paid off. Now again, you're not going to ask this question in Sunday school, but here it is in print. Living a godly life all these years doesn't seem to be worth it to ASAP. He writes here in verse 14, all the day long I've been stricken and rebuked every morning. It's as if he says every day I get out of bed, it isn't long before God convicts me of something. I mean, look at all those wicked people around me, Asaph says. God never rebukes them, it seems. Well now Asaf admits he's carried all this inside. And he writes here in verse 15, If I had said, I will speak thus, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. In other words, I'm I'm Israel's music director. If I if I bare my soul and share my frustrations, I could negatively influence the next generation. And there's a lot of truth to that, beloved. Those of us who are older in the faith need to be careful with what we say and how we might influence younger believers in the faith. But aren't you glad that God had ASAF put these forbidden questions out here on paper? God knows we've all wondered similar things, whether you're young in the faith or you're an older believer. It's actually it's actually easy for our feet to slip to get all caught up in this kind of confusion and frustration. Perhaps right now, you can't see very many advantages to living a committed life for the Lord. Maybe you're looking around at unbelievers, and just like ASF, uh, you're wondering why your life has to be so difficult. You're having a hard time counting your blessings. Well, I want to tell you, Asaf isn't finished writing his testimony out in song. This first half has been fairly negative. It's been brutally honest, and frankly, it's been uh rather emotionally raw. But something's gonna happen that will change Asaph's perspective, and it can change ours as well. And I'll give you a clue. Asaph begins this psalm by admitting his steps have nearly slipped, but rather than slip away, he's going to slip inside the sanctuary of God, and he's gonna receive some answers from the Lord. And that'll be for next time here on our wisdom journey. Until then, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.