2. Why do people win the lottery?  Sinful activity of gambling  Damages families & society  Hear of $100 million winners  Secretly say, “I wish it was me.”

3. Our view of the world can be distorted & cause us to doubt  See good fortune of the ungodly  Jealous of what they have  Faith shaken  Need God’s counsel

5. Declares the goodness of God, 1  Foundation of the Psalm  God is good, Mt. 19:17 ­ No fault in Him ­ Not to blame for inequities ­ Does not neglect His people ­ Does not lack power

6. Declares the goodness of God, 1  Good to the pure in heart, Heb. 13:5, 6 ­ Regardless of appearances ­ Regardless of troubles & sorrows ­ He is on their side

7. Had almost fallen, 2 & 3  Faith waivered, Mt. 14:28-30 ­ Almost a skeptic ­ Can lose our faith & fall ­ Will deal with struggles, 1 Pt. 5:8

8. Had almost fallen, 2 & 3  Envied the wicked, cf. Mt. 6:19-21 ­ Looked at here & now, cf. Col. 3:1, 2 ­ Ignored future ­ Saw outward pleasure ­ Blind to inward pain ­ Earthly prosperity above God’s favor ­ Physical above moral

9. Wicked seemingly have few problems, 4 & 5  Death little trouble ­ Suicide ­ Idolized & glamorized after death

10. Wicked seemingly have few problems, 4 & 5  Death little trouble  Life is easier & carefree ­ Afford home; 2 or 3 ­ Good career ­ Enjoy vacations; exotic & expensive

11. Wicked seemingly have few problems, 4 & 5  Death little trouble  Life is easier & carefree  Have nothing in the hereafter… …Let them have it all now  If earthly goods are of great value, God would give them in large measure to His children

12. Wicked filled with pride & violence, 6  It elevates them  It brings them good  It pleases them

13. Wicked have abundant things, 7  Eyes bulge out  Voracious appetite  Opulent lifestyle

14. Wicked are confident in their iniquity, 8 & 9  Scoff at the truth  Relish oppression  Speech unrestrained

15. Saints pour out their sorrows, 10  Cup full of suffering  Lay them out before God, 1 Pt. 5:7

16. Saints wonder if God even knows about the inequities of this world, 11 & 12  How can He know…& allow it to continue?  Does He really know everything?  Look at the wicked!

17. Righteous seem to be punished, 13 & 14  Trying to be righteous is an apparent waste, Gal. 6:9  Constant trouble in life

18. Kept struggles to himself, 15  Would undermine others if spoken  Some foolishly express their doubts

19. Painful to wrestle with these issues, 16  Trying to understand  Torn up on the inside

20. Answered when he turned to God, 17  God has the answers  Quite meditation in “God’s house”  Make sense of the world

21. Our view of the world can be distorted & cause us to doubt  See good fortune of the ungodly  Jealous of what they have  Faith shaken  Need God’s counsel