Knowing Jesus and loving him matters more than anything else in our lives. When there is no hope in the things of this world and everything is destined to perish, we should have our desire set upon Him alone. We pray with St. Augustine, “Lord, bring to me a sweetness surpassing all the seductive delights that I once pursued. Enable me to love you with all my strength that I may clasp your hand with all my heart. . . . You, Lord, are my king and my God.” Our study follows the outline below:

1. True Repentance Produces New Desires (v.25-26)
2. True Repentance Produces New Resolution (v.27-28)

The glorious words of verses 25-26 sustain us in the midst of our struggles of jealousy and envy. In the end, God will be enough for us. He is the only one who can bring ultimate satisfaction to our hearts. If he’s enough into eternity, then he’s enough right now. There is nothing on earth worth desiring, worth giving ourselves to, but God alone. We need not envy the well-being of the wicked, we have the living God and they don’t.

Verse 27 reminds us that those who are far from God will perish. With that truth in hand, their seeming prosperity is shown to be nothing more than fool’s gold. It will be worthless in eternity and, in the end, also the cause of their destruction.

Even when our heart stops beating and our flesh comes to an end, God continues to be the strength of our heart and our portion for all eternity.  He’s the only treasure that will never fail and will never end. Not even death itself can keep us from his kindness, mercy, and the treasure of his presence.  Asaph concludes by saying that he will fulfill two key responsibilities of every believer. First, he will stay near to God. Our second responsibility is to tell others about God. 

Digging Deeper

Discussion Questions

• Take a moment and look around you. Which of the things around you will still be around in 100 years or 1000 years?
• Read Jeremiah 12:1-2 – What is the answer to the question “why do the wicked prosper?”
• Is there hope although “my flesh and my heart may fail” (v.26)? https://www.gotquestions.org/my-flesh-and-heart-may-fail.
• What are some specific ways you can renew your perspective?
• It is good that we draw near to God. Do you hold to Him with such zeal?
• Have you fallen into trap of becoming passive in your faith? (Press forward to the upward call in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is not the things in this world that we get lost in that will be our portion forever, but the Lord.)
• Prayerfully consider where your desires are set. Do you long and strive for unity with the Lord? Or are you caught up by the things in this world? (Turn yourself to God and let Him be your satisfaction!)