In what ways can we recognize when we are "senseless and ignorant"? Setting the scene: Psalm 73:22 “I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.” Clues from the context • Asaph had been envying the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:3). • His focus was horizontal, not vertical, until he entered the sanctuary and gained God’s perspective (Psalm 73:17). • The confession of verse 22 marks the moment he saw how far his thought-life had drifted from truth. Indicators that we are being “senseless and ignorant” • Envying the world’s success and overlooking its end (Psalm 73:3, 17). • Measuring God’s goodness solely by present circumstances instead of His character (Psalm 73:13). • Letting emotions set the agenda, pushing reason and revelation aside (Proverbs 14:29; James 1:20). • Speaking hastily or harshly, forgetting the impact on others (Proverbs 17:27-28; Ecclesiastes 5:2). • Acting as if God were distant when He is actually near (Psalm 73:23; Isaiah 41:10). • Neglecting regular time in God’s presence, which keeps perspective clear (Psalm 16:11). • Ignoring Scripture’s warnings about fleeting riches and applause (1 Timothy 6:9-10; 1 John 2:17). How other Scriptures expose our blind spots • Proverbs 30:2-3 – “Surely I am the most ignorant of men… I have not learned wisdom” reminds that human insight is limited without divine revelation. • Romans 1:21-22 – “Although they knew God… their thinking became futile” shows the slide from neglecting God to empty reasoning. • Luke 24:25 – Jesus calls slow hearts “foolish” when they miss what Scripture plainly says. • Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart is deceitful, so self-diagnosis must be tested by truth. Practical steps toward spiritual clarity • Return to the sanctuary moment by moment—regular worship, prayer, and Scripture restore eternal vision (Psalm 73:17; Colossians 3:1-2). • Cultivate gratitude; thanking God for His continual presence shifts thinking from lack to abundance (Psalm 73:23-24; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). • Compare every emotion and opinion with the written Word (Acts 17:11). • Seek wise counsel; godly voices help expose blind spots we overlook (Proverbs 11:14). • Confess envy, pride, or doubt immediately; hidden sin clouds perception (1 John 1:9; Hebrews 3:13). Encouraging promises when we admit our dullness • “You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory.” (Psalm 73:23-24) • “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God… and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) Recognizing the moments we are senseless and ignorant is not defeat but invitation: God waits to exchange our blurred vision for His clear, eternal perspective. |
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