Psalm 73 is the first Psalm of the third book of Psalms. The theme of Psalm 73, and Psalm 1 are the same. The way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked. Psalm 73 meditates on the question; How can the wicked prosper?
The author of this Psalm Asaph knows that Psalm 1 is true, and God will bless "the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly" Psalm 1:1. He recounts this fact:
"Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart."
Asaph describes how he get's distracted, and almost "slips" off the path of Psalm 1:
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
Here is what almost made him slip: He was "envious" of the foolish. By foolish Asaph does not mean unintelligent, but men who reject God's way in favor of their own. What could cause a godly man like Asaph to stumble? He saw their prosperity, and asked: How come they do so well?
"For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men."
They appear to face both life, and death so well. Due to this wealth pride surrounds them, and they seem to be able to do whatever they want:
"Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment."
The comfortable positions lead them to feel the world exists to serve them:
"Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily."
Just like the scoffer from Psalm 1, the ungodly look on God's ways with scorn. This arrogance leads to questing of God's goodness by both the righteous and the wicked.
"They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?"
This questioning grows:
"Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence."
The question is: Does walking the path of righteousness pay off? Is it a waste of time? Furthermore sin bothers the upright, but seems not to bother the unrighteous. Why does sin not bother them?
"For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning."
Looking for an answer Asaph expresses the feeling of being trapped. He sees the unrighteous, but if he talks about it he will offend others.
"If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children."
And when He thinks about it, he can not handle it:
"When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me--"
What was he to do?
Principle:
First: Realize envy is a sin.
Second: Take your problems to God:
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God"
Application: You are not going to solve your problems by brooding on them. You are not going to settle your issues until you turn them over to God.
Then I understood their end.
Death is the ultimate equalizer. The fool who will not see God, does not realize how short life is, and how permanate eternity is.
"Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors."
The truth is when you trust in anything but God it can leave you in an instant. The fear of the ungodly is that what they trust in (wealth, power, fame) can leave them in a second. Their world is a fantasy, and it may seem real, but it does not last:
"As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image."
Death is a waking up to the real truth. When we see the truth as it really is, we repent of our love for the fantasy that is this temporary world.
"Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You."
Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.
Asaph knows the sin of envy was against God, and God alone. Asaph needed to cling to the God who loved Him.
The author of this Psalm Asaph knows that Psalm 1 is true, and God will bless "the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly" Psalm 1:1. He recounts this fact:
"Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart."
Asaph describes how he get's distracted, and almost "slips" off the path of Psalm 1:
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
Here is what almost made him slip: He was "envious" of the foolish. By foolish Asaph does not mean unintelligent, but men who reject God's way in favor of their own. What could cause a godly man like Asaph to stumble? He saw their prosperity, and asked: How come they do so well?
"For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men."
They appear to face both life, and death so well. Due to this wealth pride surrounds them, and they seem to be able to do whatever they want:
"Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment."
The comfortable positions lead them to feel the world exists to serve them:
"Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily."
Just like the scoffer from Psalm 1, the ungodly look on God's ways with scorn. This arrogance leads to questing of God's goodness by both the righteous and the wicked.
"They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?"
This questioning grows:
"Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence."
The question is: Does walking the path of righteousness pay off? Is it a waste of time? Furthermore sin bothers the upright, but seems not to bother the unrighteous. Why does sin not bother them?
"For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning."
Looking for an answer Asaph expresses the feeling of being trapped. He sees the unrighteous, but if he talks about it he will offend others.
"If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children."
And when He thinks about it, he can not handle it:
"When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me--"
What was he to do?
Principle:
First: Realize envy is a sin.
Second: Take your problems to God:
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God"
Application: You are not going to solve your problems by brooding on them. You are not going to settle your issues until you turn them over to God.
Then I understood their end.
Death is the ultimate equalizer. The fool who will not see God, does not realize how short life is, and how permanate eternity is.
"Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors."
The truth is when you trust in anything but God it can leave you in an instant. The fear of the ungodly is that what they trust in (wealth, power, fame) can leave them in a second. Their world is a fantasy, and it may seem real, but it does not last:
"As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image."
Death is a waking up to the real truth. When we see the truth as it really is, we repent of our love for the fantasy that is this temporary world.
"Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You."
Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.
Asaph knows the sin of envy was against God, and God alone. Asaph needed to cling to the God who loved Him.
