Psalm 73: How to Win the Battle Against Temptation

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the

strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

The Christian life is a battle, that is, a battle against temptation. There are days we win, but there are also days that we lose. These days beat us up, leaving us feeling weak, ashamed, and perhaps condemned. How do we turn the tables? How do we overcome sin rather than have sin overcome us? How do we win the battle against temptation?

In Psalm 73, we find Asaph asking the very same question. Although he knows that he ought not to sin (1), he finds himself almost failing because he was "envious of the arrogant" (2-3). In other words, Asaph was jealous of the wicked, because even though they did vile deeds against God, they still prospered (4-15). Although God had promised to destroy those who do evil against His name, all Asaph is seeing is the wicked prospering, and himself, the innocent, perishing. Asaph goes so far as to say that all of his great efforts to keep his heart clean have been "in vain" (13). He has honored the Lord with all of his days, and what has the Lord returned him with? Nothing but pain (14). However, it seemed as if the wicked were doing quite well for themselves. Thus, Asaph thinks to himself, what's the purpose of doing this "God thing" when I'm only receiving punishment and not reward? Where are you, God? You have told me to honor you, and this is what you've returned me with? Surely I would be better off with the wicked!

Yet, rather than giving himself over to sin, Asaph considers the truths of God (16-17). Amidst temptation, he weighs his mortal thoughts with the immortal truths of God.

Asaph soon realizes that although the wicked seem to be prospering now, their end is near (18-20). Although it may seem as if their way is the way to prosperity, their day is coming. The Lord will son "rouse" himself and "despise" them, bringing them to destruction (19-20).

Yet, Asaph knows that this is not his own condition, since he has chosen to follow the Lord. "Nevertheless, I am continually with you. . .you will receive me into glory" (23-24). Here, we find Asaph turning from mortal, present hope to immortal, eternal hope. Although in the present, he thinks it might be better off to run with the wicked, he knows that in the end, this will certainly not work out for his condition. The wicked will perish, but the righteous will be ransomed to eternal life. Thus, he exclaims in great adoration: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (25-26). In other words, he concludes that the Lord's way is best, and desires him only, above and beyond the temptations of this world.

Observing Asaph's struggle with temptation here, there is surely great application for our lives today. When temptation is strong, and we ask ourselves, what's the point of this whole "following God" thing anyway?, God has answers for us. When we are tempted to forsake him in sin because we think that our way of sin is better than his way of righteousness, God has some eternal truths that will help us from making the wrong decision in temptation.

Ultimately, these truths are all wrapped up beautifully in verse 26 of this Psalm (quoted above). We find here that amidst temptation, our flesh and our heart may fail. The "flesh" in this verse speaks of our physical bodies. Ultimately, our physical strength will run out. We will become weak, and eventually die because of our mortality. Along with this, our heart (our own spiritual strength) will go as well. All of our power to fight temptation will not suffice; we must have something greater ourselves to fight temptation.

Thus, we are led to the key to winning the battle against temptation: God is both our strength and our portion. Firstly, God is the "strength of [our] heart[s]." Commentators point out that this verse literally refers to God as the "rock" of our hearts. Amidst the quakiness of temptation, God provides us with a firm foundation of truth to stand upon. When we don't know what to do because we are tempted to believe the lies of the culture, God is the stronghold that we run to to protect us against the lies that flood through our hearts. Notice: we do not run to ourselves amidst temptation, for that is how we fail. Rather, we cling to Christ, who is the rock of our heart, the strength that enables us to overcome temptation.

Secondly, we find that God is our portion forever. This is huge. Let us realize really quickly that sin always promises pleasure. You would never sin if temptation didn't promise you that your life would be better on the other side of that sin. However, God has a different solution. Rather than looking to the "fleeting pleasures of sin" (see Heb. 11:24-25), God provides you with the eternal pleasure of himself. After this life is over, when we are all judged according to our righteousness, God will allot himself to those who have chosen to trust Christ and follow him with their whole lives. What will the wicked get? Nothing, because they have already received their reward on earth (Mat 6:2).

Thus we find that amidst temptation, we always, always, always have two (and only two) options: we can forsake the law of God and enjoy the momentary pleasures of this world, or we can follow the law of God and enjoy him forever. The choice is pride or patience, which will you chose? Either you can receive your reward now, or do what Asaph did and enjoy the Lord forever. The choice is up to you.

In a concluding note, let us observe that although we do choose pride over patience and lose the battle of temptation, thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord, we will never lose the war. "For there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1). Although we may have failed in the past, for those who are in Christ Jesus, there is eternal hope for the future. Yet, this does not lead us into further sin, but on the contrary, to further righteousness (see Rom 6:1-2). Blessed be the God our Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For he has both promised us a way out of temptation and a way of forgiveness even when we do not hold fast to it!

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Cor 1-:13