xjwsforChrist

After reading Psalm 73 I thought about how I feel. In truth, there is nothing on earth that I desire. My greatest desire is to be in the presence of my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Do you believe that Asaph wanted a heavenly life?


Psalm 73:24-25
New International Version (NIV)

24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

Who is Asaph?

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To fear me is to love me....

I see nothing in any of Asaph's Psalms that indicate that he wants to go to heaven, but I see a lot indicating that Asaph wants God to administer justice on earth.

As I read through Psalm 73 (and beyond), I note that Asaph is anguished by the prosperity of the wicked. He admits that, ofter observing what a "good" life they have, he became envious. Next he notes how the wicked speak about God, saying that God doesn't know the wicked things being done. Asaph says he knows he can't speak about his God that way. That's the point where he "went into the sanctuary of God" (verse 17). This isn't necessarily a reference to a heavenly place or even to a temple, because in Psalm 74 he equates "Mount Zion" with the people with whom God dwells, not with a literal mountain. In Psalm 78:68 Asaph calls the tribe of Judah "Mount Zion". It's quite possible that Asaph retired to a literal mountain to contemplate, thereby regaining his spiritual balance as he recollected God's works on behalf of His people.

Asaph is the one who acknowledged that there are "gods", multiple. (Psalm 82:2) When he exclaims "Whom do I have in heaven but you?" Asaph is making a choice against "the good life" which is supported by other gods, and for the God who led his people and performed mighty deeds in their behalf. When he says "The earth has nothing I desire besides you" Asaph is making his choice known, against the life he formerly envied, and for the God of Israel. Asaph wants that God's counsel because he has become firm in his decision to take the humiliation and pains of a humble life in the midst of mockers and opposers. Asaph knows that in God's own time (Psalm 75:2), the wicked will be done away with and those holding fast to righteousness will receive their "glory" at God's hand.

If you read through Asaph's Psalms from 73 - 83, you will see that he speaks in the same way through all of them, asking how long the wicked will prosper while denying God, recollecting the various ways God has been with his people, and expressing his belief that in God's own time the situation will be righted.

Asaph was a Kohathite priest, dear Debil Dog (peace to you!). He was a direct descendant of Levi, through that one's son, Gershom (so, he was a Gershonite Levite, versus a Kohath Levite, but the Kohathites were in charge of the music and Asaph was a singer, songwriter and harpist... and Psalmist (he wrote Psalms 50 and 73-83).

Asaph didn't want a heavenly life, dear Jochy (peace to you, dear one!); he wanted what you wanted: to be "with" God (and Christ). He wanted that, however, in the way all of Israel... and the Hebrews before them... looked forward to: as Adham had it - a life that allowed access to both the physical AND spirit realms, by means of a body that was INCORRUPTIBLE and thus could go in and out between the two. That is what Adham was given... and lost. Israel... and the Hebrews before them... looked forward to that hope, by means of a resurrection, if they died before it came to fruition.

The hope of going to heaven (the spirit realm) was not held out until Christ, who offered a GREATER hope to his Body, but only to the extent that such would be co-rulers with him in his kingdom. This co-rulership required that some, those who would constitute his "bride" become "like" him: one spirit (and so one flesh). And so, they must go to heaven (the spirit realm) in order to be joined to him, become ONE "flesh" with him. But it did not require, however, that such ones remain in the spirit realm. Rather, it granted them FREEDOM... so as to "go in AND out" and "find pasturage." And so, John saw the New Jerusalem "coming down OUT of heaven."

And he did not hear "Look! Man is with God!" Rather, he heard:

Revelation 21:3

Which is why those who belong to Christ yearn for BOTH: the spirit AND the physical realms. Which is what they will receive as an inheritance: a spiritual kingdom AND the earth. Heaven ON earth. And so, the best of BOTH worlds. Which is what Adham, whose body was from the world OUTSIDE the garden, but spirit was from INSIDE... had... and lost.

Many have their faith in one... or the other. The promise, however, is for BOTH. LIKE the angels... who can access both, just as Christ accesses both.

I hope this helps, dear Jochy, and again, peace to you!

YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

SA

Thanks AnnB and Shelby for your answers.