‘Nevertheless’

‘Nevertheless’

Nevertheless I am continually with thee….

Psalm 73:23a

Asaph had struggled deeply with the apparent inequities of God’s dispensations of providence.  He was, ‘envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.’  Ultimately, Asaph came to see things from God’s perspective, which is the essence of true spiritual wisdom.  Having come to the understanding that he has, Asaph is convicted about his attitude and his spirit.  He confesses his sin most particularly in verse 22, ‘So foolish was I, and ignorant:  I was as a beast before thee.’ What follows his confession is our text for today.  He says, ‘Nevertheless I am continually with You.’  This is important to us.  Like Asaph, we see apparent inequities in the dispensations of God’s providence.  We may become angry and distraught over these apparent inequities.  When we come to a good understanding of the rightness of God’s doings, we also come to conviction and confession.  The remarkable thing is that God does not cast us off for our bad attitude and behavior.  Our testimony is, ‘Nevertheless I am continually with You.’  Even when we have taken issue with God and His dealings of providence, Christ is still ours.  We are continually with Him.  We fail Him, yet He never fails us.  We change, yet He is ‘the same, yesterday, today, and forever.’  If you need to make confession today for your spirit or attitude, do so, with the assurance that Christ is still yours.

Our Kind and Gracious God,
we rejoice that even though we fail You often,
You never fail us.
We confess our sin unto You,
and pray that by Your Holy Spirit,
You will evermore draw our hearts out after Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning