When We Don’t Understand

By Dean Collins

If we are honest with each other, I suspect that we would agree that we have a lot in common with Job and Asaph. The similarities have nothing to do with being wealthy like Job or a worship leader like Asaph. Our commonality is in the questions we have about God and how we wish God acted more like we want him to in certain situations.

While you probably don’t go around telling everyone on social media that you are having an existential crisis, you might privately admit that some days you have fundamental questions about life’s meaning and how God does, and sometimes doesn’t, seem to be involved in some of your and our world’s deeper issues.  

Psalm 73 is a Psalm where Asaph wrestles with why people bent on wickedness seem to get away with their actions and even prosper by them. And why people who are trying to demonstrate the kindness and mercy of God have to suffer in so many ways and sometimes for long periods of time. Here is how Asaph voiced his struggle:

“For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind… Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.”

While the wicked seem to enjoy themselves at the expense of others, Asaph just wore himself out trying to understand: “Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task.” And then Asaph left us a hint of how to make sense of all of this. Asaph said nothing made sense “until I went into the sanctuary of God.” It was alone with God that Asaph began to catch a glimpse of understanding that God is just and gracious. It was alone with God that Asaph saw his own failures and how God alone was his answer in times of confusion, regardless of what God was doing with others.

While Psalm 73 gives us just a glimpse of Asaph’s questions, the book of Job gives us pages and pages of Job’s questions about the same concerns the psalmist had. Why does God do things his own way instead of doing things the way we would prefer? For one, because between us and God there is only one who is God and knows all the things and has all the plans. We are insufficient to the task in every way! 

 After a few chapters of God reminding Job that Job is not God and doesn’t have all the information, Job has clarity:

““I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.””

Father, may we learn from Asaph and Job how to be honest with you concerning all our questions. We admit there are things we just don’t understand. Thank you for reminding us in these passages that you know all things and are working them together to bring good things for us and for all of creation. We love you and renew our trust in you, even when we don’t understand and even when we go through suffering. Do your perfect will in us today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 73:1-26; Job 42:2-6 ESV

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