Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
How Jesus Subversively Inverts Psalm 73

How Jesus Subversively Inverts Psalm 73

Last updated on: November 20, 2019 at 8:57 pm by Keith Giles

How Jesus Subversively Inverts Psalm 73 2019-11-20T20:57:03+00:00 Keith Giles

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The other day I was reflecting on how the Psalmists complain to God about the prosperity of the wicked.

I understood how it must have felt for the Israelites to see their enemies – who were pagans – flourishing and growing strong and wealthy, while they – the “People of God” – were suffering, poor, weak and downcast.

Anyone would question this outcome under the same circumstances. Anyone would wonder what good it was to follow their faith if those of another faith were experiencing better results.

Of course, faith isn’t necessarily about results, but it’s human nature to feel this way, and respond this way.

When the Israelites were in bondage to other nations – pagan nations who mocked their God and profaned their faith in Him – they felt a very strong sense of injustice. They chafed at being on the bottom while those godless pagans were on top.

They had no power, while the pagans had power over them. They had no wealth, while those evil people had riches and comfort. They were humbled, yet their enemies were proud.

You can read for yourself how this made them feel:

“For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
    they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
    with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.

11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”

12 This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.” [Psalm 73:14]

Bottom line: The Jewish people were on the bottom. Their enemies were on the top. They wanted God to reverse the order.

They were desperate for the day when they would be on the top and their enemies would be crushed beneath their feet.

But then I realized something that blew my mind: When Jesus shows up, he does reverse the order, but not in the way they expected.

Jesus says, “Being on the bottom is where the entrance to the Kingdom is found. People on the bottom are blessed of God.”

Not only this, Jesus essentially tells them, “We will not crush our enemies, we will embrace them, and love them, and serve them, and forgive them.”

The reversal takes place, but not politically. Instead, Jesus reverses the order in their mind. He flips their perspective.

See, Jesus’s mission was not to overthrow the Roman oppressors and exalt the Jewish Empire. His mission was to heal the World. He did not come to bring justice for some and punishment for others. He came to show us that everyone is our neighbor and our brother. He told us that all are equally loved of God and that because this is true, we should be like God and bless (and love) everyone, too. Yes, even the godless pagans who oppress us.

The Sermon on the Mount is one huge inversion of Psalm 73. It says, “The oppressed are blessed. The oppressors are too. God’s favor really does rest on both the righteous and the unjust. God’s love is universal and falls like the rain on everyone, no matter what. If they love God, they are blessed. If they reject Him, they are still blessed and loved. So, if this is how God behaves, then those who want to be like God, and those who want to truly be the ‘children of God’, should do what God does – love everyone and share blessings with everyone.”

If we do that, then we will live in the Kingdom of God. This is how we change the world. Not by violence and war. Not by winning so that others can lose. But by finding a way to help everyone see the Kingdom and enter into this wide open way of loving as God loves.

Can we do this? Yes, but only if we remain so close to Jesus that we begin to think like Him; and we begin to breathe Him in and realize that He is closer than our own heartbeat and alive within our own body. Without Him, we can really do nothing. But if we abide in Him, then He lives and breathes in us, and once that happens, the world will begin to change, and that change will start with us.

Selah.

Keith’s new book, “Jesus Undefeated: Condemning the False Doctrine of Eternal Torment” is available now on Amazon.

Keith Giles was formerly a licensed and ordained minister who walked away from organized church 11 years ago, to start a home fellowship that gave away 100% of the offering to the poor in the community. Today, He and his wife have returned to El Paso, TX after 25 years, as part of their next adventure. They hope to start a new house church very soon.

Want Keith to come speak at your church or in your home town? Send an invitation HERE

Can’t get enough? Get great bonus content: Patreon page.

Are you an aspiring author? Keith is leading an Author’s Academy starting Nov. 4. Learn how to become a full-time author and crack the code for building your platform and marketing your books online. Details HERE.

Podcast: Heretic Happy Hour Podcast is on iTunes and Podbean.

Following Jesus

Gospel of the Kingdom

Previous Post

November 15, 2019

A Fearless Gospel

Next Post

November 21, 2019 For Jesus So Loved His Jewish Brothers and Sisters

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Biblicism Christian Politics Cosmic Christ Deconstruction Discipleship Dispensationalism Divine Unity Ekklesia End Time Stuff Eschatology Evergreen Following Jesus Gender General Christian Topics Gnostics God's Love Gospel of Judas Gospel of Mary Gospel of Philip Gospel of the Kingdom Gospel of Thomas Gospel of Truth Hell Historical Jesus Inner Circle Investigative Reporting Islam LGBTQ Issues Marriage Mental/Emotional Health Mystery Non-Duality Philosophy Podcast Poetry Politics Poverty Preemptive Love Prophecy Psychology Quantum Theology Racism Reconstruction Satire Sex Technology Theology Uncategorized Universalism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

At my dedication prayer, fire came down from heaven and God's glory filled the house.

Select your answer to see how you score.

The prophet's home The temple The Palace The tabernacle

Books by This Author Books by Keith Giles

See All Titles »