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Psalms 73

World English Bible

WEB

1A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped. 3For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm. 5They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men. 6Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment. 7Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit. 8They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression. 9They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth. 10Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance. 11They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” 12Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches. 13Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence, 14For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning. 15If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me— 17until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end. 18Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction. 19How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors. 20As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies. 21For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart. 22I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you. 23Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand. 24You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you. 26My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you. 28But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Psalms 73 is a profound reflection on the struggle of faith in the face of apparent injustice. The psalmist, Asaph, begins by affirming the goodness of God towards the pure in heart, yet he quickly confesses his own turmoil as he observes the prosperity of the wicked. He describes how the arrogant and the evildoers seem to thrive without consequence, living lives free from the struggles that afflict the righteous. This observation leads him to a crisis of faith, as he questions the value of his own devotion to God amidst such inequity. The psalmist feels that his efforts to remain pure have been in vain, and he is deeply troubled by the seeming success of those who reject God. (#Asaph Psalms73 #Injustice)

However, the turning point comes when Asaph enters the sanctuary of God. In the presence of the Lord, he gains a new perspective on the fate of the wicked. He realizes that their end is destruction, and they will ultimately face judgment. This revelation restores his understanding of God's justice and sovereignty. Asaph acknowledges that he was foolish and ignorant for envying the wicked, and he expresses his renewed trust in God, recognizing that He is always with him. The psalm concludes with a declaration of Asaph's commitment to proclaim God's works, emphasizing that true fulfillment and strength are found in a relationship with the Lord. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that while we may face doubts and struggles, God’s ultimate justice prevails, and He remains our refuge and strength. (#GodsJustice #Faith #Sanctuary)

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Referenced by

  1. Job 15:20v3Job 15:20 describes the constant suffering of the wicked, contrasting with Psalm 73:3-5, where the psalmist initially envies the prosperity of the wicked, highlighting the tension between perceived prosperity and ultimate justice.
  2. Job 18:11v19Job 18:11 describes terrors that frighten the wicked on every side, similar to Psalm 73:19, where the wicked are suddenly destroyed and swept away by terrors.
  3. Job 20:7v18Job 20:7 describes the wicked perishing like their own dung, a vivid image of their downfall, similar to Psalm 73:18-20 where the wicked are set in slippery places and brought to desolation.
  4. Job 21:7v3Job 21:7 questions why the wicked live and prosper, a theme echoed in Psalm 73:3-12 where the psalmist observes the prosperity of the wicked and struggles with understanding God's justice.
  5. Job 24:24v18Job 24:24 notes that the wicked are exalted for a little while but then are gone, similar to Psalm 73:18-20, which describes the downfall of the wicked as sudden and complete.
  6. Ecclesiastes 8:14v3Ecclesiastes 8:14 discusses the apparent injustice where the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper, a theme also explored in Psalm 73:3-14, where the psalmist struggles with the prosperity of the wicked.
  7. Lamentations 3:24v26Lamentations 3:24 declares that the Lord is the portion of the speaker, echoing the sentiment in Psalm 73:26 where God is described as the strength and portion forever, highlighting reliance on God as the ultimate source of hope and strength.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

  • Job 21Prosperity of the WickedDivine PerspectiveTheodicy
  • Ecclesiastes 8Prosperity of the WickedTheodicyArt and Faith
  • Job 24Prosperity of the WickedTheodicyEternal Perspective
  • Jeremiah 12TheodicyDivine RetributionShalom
  • Habakkuk 1StruggleTheodicyDoubt
  • Psalms 16Right HandPerspectiveContentment
  • Psalms 92GoodnessReflection in the BibleGod's Justice
  • Isaiah 41Right HandDivine SupportDivine Strength
  • Psalms 37ContentmentEternal PerspectivePsalmist
  • Psalms 34God's GoodnessGoodnessArt and Faith
  • Psalms 10TheodicyGod's JusticePsalmist
  • Philippians 3Supremacy of ChristEternal HopeArt and Faith

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