Three Looks and Their Results

From: Young Christian: Volume 17

• 1 min. read • grade level: 10

A Look Within—DEPRESSED

In Psalm 77:4-9,⁴Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. ⁵I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. ⁶I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. ⁷Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favorable no more? ⁸Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? ⁹Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. (Psalm 77:4‑9) the soul looks within, and reasons on what it finds there: all is darkness and depression; it always is if we commune with our own hearts, and the conclusion is: “Hath God forgotten to be gracious?”

A Look Around—DISTRACTED

In Psalm 73:1-22,¹<<A Psalm of Asaph.>> Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. ²But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. ³For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ⁴For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. ⁵They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. ⁶Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. ⁷Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. ⁸They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. ⁹They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. ¹⁰Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. ¹¹And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? ¹²Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. ¹³Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. ¹⁴For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. ¹⁵If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. ¹⁶When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; ¹⁷Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. ¹⁸Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. ¹⁹How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. ²⁰As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. ²¹Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. ²²So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. (Psalm 73:1‑22) the soul looks around, and becomes envious of the foolish and the prosperity of the wicked, and then becomes distracted; until it finds itself in the sanctuary, then to discover not only the end of the wicked, but also its own folly, ignorance and unworthiness.

A Look Up—DELIGHTED

In Psalm 63, the soul gets into the sanctuary and looks up: “I have seen Thee in the sanctuary,” and is filled with joy and delight. It could not be otherwise; to behold His power and glory is to be taken out of self, and everything in this scene, and the result is praise and worship.

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