1. Direction and Destination Psalm 73:22-26 Ps 73:22-26 22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. 24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

2. Two Important Questions Must Be Considered –What shall I do with my life? –Where will I go after life is past? The Psalmist Had Found the Answers –His Lord would guide him through life –Afterward, he would be received to glory How Can We Have the Psalmist’s Assurance

3. We Must Face Our Faults (v. 22) The psalmist had foolishly focused on the faults of others –He had envied the prosperity of the wicked (1- 12) –He had grieved over his pain and their supposed blessings Ps 73:22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Ps 73:1-12 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! 2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat. 5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. 7 Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot. 8 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. 9 They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return to this place, And waters of abundance are drunk by them. 11 They say, " How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?" 12 Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

4. We Must Face Our Faults (v. 22) The psalmist had foolishly focused on the faults of others Finally, he faced up to his own sins (16- 22) –He went to the sanctuary and looked to God –In looking for God, we see our need of Him Ps 73:16-22 16 When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight 17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form. 21 When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within, 22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

5. We Must Face Our Faults (v. 22) The psalmist had foolishly focused on the faults of others Finally, he faced up to his own sins (16-22) We are all sinners in need of salvation (Rom 3:23) –Prosperity means nothing when we are perishing –Facing our sins produces repentance and faith (1 st John 1:9) Rom 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

6. We Must Face Our Faults (v. 22) The psalmist had foolishly focused on the faults of others Finally, he faced up to his own sins (16- 22) We are all sinners in need of salvation (Rom 3:23) “The Psalmist shows how faith and grace prevailed”

7. We Must Be Grateful for God’s Guidance (23-24) The presence of God is greater than the pleasures of the world –Those who trust Christ are never alone (Matt 28:19-20) –Christ is with us, and our protector (Acts 18:10) Ps 73:23-24 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. 24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory Matt 28:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Acts 18:10 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you

8. We Must Be Grateful for God’s Guidance (23-24) The presence of God is greater than the pleasures of the world We can live constantly in the knowledge of God’s presence –God will never leave, nor will he forsake us (Heb 13:5) Heb 13:5 5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, " I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

9. We Must Be Grateful for God’s Guidance (23-24) The presence of God is greater than the pleasures of the world We can live constantly in the knowledge of God’s presence God’s guidance is given to those who trust Him –“With Your counsel You will guide me” –The guidance of God determines the direction of our lives

10. We Must Grasp the Guarantee of Glory (24-25) “And afterward receive me to glory” –The psalmist was sure heaven was ahead –How great to know the best is yet to come Faith, hope and love (1 st Cor 13:13) With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 1 Cor 13:13 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

11. We Must Grasp the Guarantee of Glory (24-25) “And afterward receive me to glory” “Afterward!” –What a wonderful word! –We can cheerfully put up with the present when we foresee the future and know that it is bright

12. We Can Experience the Lord’s Direction Every Day We Can Be Sure of Heaven Since Jesus Is the Way Don’t Be Mislead and Fail to Repent (Rev 16:10-11) Give Yourself to God Rev 16:10-11 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.