The author of Psalm 73 was Asaph, a leader of one of the temple choirs. He collected several Psalm chapters (73-83), but may not have written all of them. In this psalm, Asaph explains that until he entered God's sanctuary, he could not understand justice in allowing the wicked to thrive while the righteous endured hardship. But when he saw that one day justice would be done, he acknowledged God's wisdom.
In verses 1-20, two strong themes wind their way through these verses: (1) the wicked prosper, leaving faithful people wondering why they bother to be good; and (2) the wealth of the wicked looks so inviting that faithful people may wish they could trade places. But these 2 themes come to unexpected ends, for the wealth of the wicked suddenly loses its power at death and the rewards for the good suddenly take on eternal value. What seemed like wealth is now waste, and what seemed worthless now lasts forever. Don't wish you could trade places with evil people to get their wealth. One day they will wish they could trade places with you and have your eternal wealth.
Psalm 73:1-20
1-Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2-But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3-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 the burdens common to man; 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; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8-They scoff, and speak with malice; in their 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 can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?'
12-This is what the wicked are like - always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13-Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14-All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
15-If I had said, 'I will speak thus,' I would have betrayed your children.
16-When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17-Till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18-Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19-How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away be terrors!
20-As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
Though our courage and strength may fail, we know that one day we will be raised to life to serve him forever. He is our security, and we must cling to him.
Psalm 73:23,24 - "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24-You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
Psalm 73 / New International Version
ReplyDelete1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 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 the burdens common to man;
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;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their 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 have knowledge?”
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued,
I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.