Psalm 73 hints on the ongoing UG parliamentary exhibition

In Uganda, as in many other places, we find ourselves nodding knowingly at the flux of events, sometimes even succumbing to envy as we observe the seemingly effortless prosperity of the corrupt officials. The allure is strong when individuals join public service and suddenly find themselves in possession of luxuries, becoming the benefactors of local admiration. There's a phrase making rounds, "it is our time to eat," epitomizing this phenomenon. However, this struggle between righteousness and corruption is not unique to our era; it reverberates throughout history, echoing the perennial battle between good and evil.

Within the timeless wisdom of the Psalms, attributed to Asaph, a Levite esteemed for his musical worship under King David, we discover profound insights that directly speak to our contemporary predicaments. Psalm 73, in particular, serves as a poignant narrative of Asaph's journey from the grip of envy to the clarity of enlightenment. He candidly acknowledges the intervention of God in rescuing him from the corrosive clutches of covetousness, a struggle that resonates with many who grapple with similar temptations in our own lives (" But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." - Psalm 73:2-3).

Asaph's vivid depiction of the seemingly impervious wicked strikes a chord with our local realities, especially evident in recent parliamentary exhibition. The arrogance and apparent immunity of the corrupt, their ostentatious display of wealth and power, evoke a sense of frustration and disillusionment in those who witness their unchecked actions ("For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression." - Psalm 73:3-8). Some even go so far as to mock the very notion of divine justice, questioning whether God is cognizant of their deeds ("And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” - Psalm 73:11).

Yet, amidst the darkness of doubt and despair, Asaph finds solace in the justice of God. It is there that he gains clarity regarding the ultimate fate of the wicked, realizing that they are destined for downfall and destruction. This realization serves as a beacon of hope, reaffirming the belief that justice, though seemingly delayed, will ultimately prevail ("But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms." - Psalm 73:16-20).

God's justice always prevails, both in this life and in the afterlife for those who do not turn to His saving grace through His Son, Jesus Christ. Like Asaph, it is my prayer that we do not merely envy the current state of affairs but turn to the one true God for cleansing and healing lest we become like the rest for that is the default and easier state to fall to. Asaph beautifully points us back to the unshakable anchor. It is in Him that we discover eternal security, and only by continually seeking Him can we safeguard our souls from the grip of corruption.

"Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward, you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me, it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works." (Psalm 73:23-28)

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