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Psalms 73

1

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15

If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

1
18

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

21

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

1
22

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

23

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

1
25

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

26

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

28

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 thy works.

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Psalms 73

Psalm 73 is a meditation on theodicy addressing the problem of the wicked's prosperity and establishing intimate communion as solution, exemplifying the theological concerns of Book 3. The psalmist employs vivid imagery and direct address to God, establishing the intimate dialogue between worshiper and the divine that characterizes the psalmic tradition. The theological assertions center on God's character as both judge and redeemer, creating a comprehensive vision of divine justice and mercy integrated with human experience. The psalm reflects on both personal circumstance and communal identity, suggesting that individual faith finds validation through shared experience with the covenant community. The liturgical context indicates this psalm's function in worship where personal piety integrates with communal celebration of God's acts and attributes. The concluding movement typically affirms confidence in God's faithfulness, exemplifying the psalmic pattern of transformation through prayer and remembrance of divine acts throughout history.

Psalms 73:19

The statement that destruction comes suddenly and complete terror overwhelms them articulates the swiftness and totality of divine judgment. The imagery of sudden destruction indicates that the judgment will be unexpected. This verse emphasizes that the wicked's apparent security will be abruptly shattered.

Psalms 73:20

The metaphor that the wicked are like a dream upon waking articulates that their prosperity is insubstantial and will be revealed as illusory. The reference to despising their phantom upon waking indicates that what seemed significant will be revealed as empty. This verse articulates that the wicked's prosperity will be recognized as transient and meaningless.

Psalms 73:21

The confession that when the psalmist's heart was grieved and the spirit embittered articulates the emotional and spiritual toll of wrestling with the problem of evil. The reference to being grieved and embittered indicates profound psychological disturbance. This verse indicates that the crisis of faith was not merely intellectual but deeply emotional.

Psalms 73:22

The statement that the psalmist was senseless and ignorant like a brute articulates that in the state of doubt, the psalmist lacked understanding of God's purposes. The reference to being like an animal indicates loss of the capacity for spiritual comprehension. This verse indicates that the crisis had temporarily destroyed the psalmist's ability to perceive truth.

Psalms 73:23

The affirmation that despite the crisis, God held the psalmist by the right hand articulates that divine care continued even in the midst of doubt and confusion. The reference to holding by the right hand indicates intimate guidance and support. This verse articulates that God's faithfulness persisted despite the psalmist's crisis.

Psalms 73:24

The continuation that God will guide with counsel and afterward receive the psalmist to glory articulates that divine guidance extends beyond this life into the eternal realm. The reference to glory indicates the ultimate blessing awaiting the faithful. This verse articulates eschatological hope: the righteous's ultimate vindication lies beyond this life.

Psalms 73:25

The affirmation that the psalmist desires nothing on earth besides God articulates the ultimate reorientation: the value of relationship with God supersedes all earthly goods. The reference to nothing being desired besides God indicates single-minded focus. This verse articulates the resolution of the crisis: the recognition that communion with God is the ultimate good.

Psalms 73:26

The statement that flesh and heart fail but God is the strength of the heart and portion forever articulates that human resources prove insufficient but God remains reliable. The reference to God as strength and portion indicates complete dependence on the divine. This verse closes the crisis narrative with the recognition that God is the ultimate good.

Psalms 73:27

The affirmation that those far from God perish and those unfaithful to God are destroyed articulates the ultimate fate of those who reject covenant relationship. The reference to unfaithfulness articulates that the wicked's condition results from deliberate choice to depart from God. This verse closes the psalm with the reaffirmation of the fundamental principle: alienation from God results in destruction.

Psalms 73:28

The psalmist's affirmation that drawing near to God constitutes the highest good and establishes Him as the refuge for the soul resolves the crisis of faith articulated earlier in the psalm, where observing the prosperity of the wicked had nearly shattered his confidence in divine justice. This verse crystallizes the fundamental theological conviction that proximity to God and reliance upon divine grace transcend all other goods, including wealth, power, health, or the visible vindication that the wicked seem to enjoy. The commitment to recount God's works establishes testimony as a spiritual practice through which believers strengthen their own faith and invite others into trust, making narrative and praise integral to sustaining covenantal relationship. By concluding with the resolution to tell of God's deeds, the psalmist transforms personal theological struggle into the occasion for pastoral ministry, offering others the witness of his hard-won conviction that fidelity to God remains the only reasonable response despite the manifest prosperity of the wicked.

Psalms 73:3

The statement that the psalmist was envious of the arrogant and saw the prosperity of the wicked articulates the specific source of the crisis: the apparent flourishing of those opposed to God. The envy indicates that the psalmist was tempted to question the value of righteousness. This verse identifies the particular crisis of faith: the wicked seem to prosper.

Psalms 73:4

The description of the wicked's ease and freedom from burden articulates the apparent comfort and security of those opposed to God. The reference to plague not touching them indicates that the wicked seem exempt from the afflictions that strike the righteous. This verse deepens the apparent injustice: not only do the wicked prosper, but they seem to escape the normal human experience of suffering.

Psalms 73:5

The reference to pride adorning the wicked and violence covering them like a garment articulates that wickedness seems to be no obstacle to their elevation. The covering of violence suggests that cruelty is not a barrier to success but is somehow integrated into their being. This verse emphasizes that the wicked are not merely prospering despite their wickedness but seem to be adorned by their arrogance and violence.

Psalms 73:6

The reference to thoughts exceeding the wicked's knowledge of God articulates that their success exceeds what could be expected given their alienation from God. The reference to malice flowing from hearts indicates the depths of their depravity. This verse suggests that the wicked are sustained by thoughts and intentions that are fundamentally opposed to God's will.

Psalms 73:7

The statement that their eyes bulge with fat indicates the gross materiality of their existence and their preoccupation with physical indulgence. The reference to hearts overflowing with folly articulates the internal emptiness despite external prosperity. This verse emphasizes the spiritual poverty underlying their material abundance.

Psalms 73:8

The description of the wicked as scornful and malicious in speech articulates that their prosperity enables the perpetuation of cruelty. The reference to oppression and loftiness from on high indicates that their success elevates them into positions where they can inflict greater harm. This verse articulates that the wicked's prosperity translates into power to harm others.

Psalms 73:9

The statement that the wicked set their mouths against heaven articulates the ultimate blasphemy: that their success leads them to direct their speech against God. The reference to tongues striding through the earth indicates that their deceptive and malicious speech extends throughout society. This verse indicates that the wicked's prosperity leads to the ultimate presumption: opposition to God itself.

Psalms 73:10

The reference to people turning to follow after the wicked articulates that the wicked's success leads others to imitate them. The reference to water flowing in abundance indicates that the masses are drawn to the path of the wicked. This verse indicates that the wicked's example is infectious; their success leads others to abandon the path of righteousness.

Psalms 73:11

The question posed by the wicked—how can God know and is there knowledge in the Most High—articulates the ultimate rebellion: the denial that God sees or cares about human affairs. The rhetorical question indicates the arrogance of those who assume God's indifference or incapacity. This verse indicates that the wicked's prosperity leads them to question whether God even exists or has power.

Psalms 73:12

The affirmation that the wicked are always at ease and increase in wealth articulates the apparent endless prosperity of the wicked. The reference to increasing wealth indicates that their fortune grows. This verse reiterates the core problem: the wicked's prosperity seems unbounded.

Psalms 73:13

The confession that the psalmist has kept the heart pure and washed hands in innocence articulates that the psalmist has maintained righteousness. The reference to the heart being pure and hands being washed in innocence indicates attempts at moral integrity. This verse establishes that the psalmist has tried to live righteously.

Psalms 73:14

The statement that the psalmist has been stricken all day articulates the sufferings that accompany righteousness. The reference to morning chastisement indicates that affliction is constant. This verse emphasizes the contrast: the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper.

Psalms 73:15

The conditional statement that if the psalmist had spoken thus, the psalmist would have betrayed God's generation articulates that maintaining faith prevents the spread of despair. The reference to God's generation indicates the community of the faithful. This verse indicates that the psalmist's silence about doubts protects the faith of the community.

Psalms 73:16

The reference to thinking about these things and finding it too difficult articulates that the problem of evil is not easily resolved through rational reflection. The burden of thought indicates that wrestling with injustice is exhausting. This verse indicates that intellectual effort to solve the theodicy problem is insufficient.

Psalms 73:17

The statement that going into God's sanctuary brought understanding articulates that only through encounter with God's presence is clarity achieved. The entry into the sanctuary indicates that cultic experience mediates divine revelation. This verse indicates that the solution comes not through intellectual effort but through proximity to God.

Psalms 73:18

The assertion that God places the wicked on slippery ground and casts them down to ruin articulates that God is indeed aware of the wicked and has determined their destruction. The reference to slippery ground indicates precariousness; the wicked's apparent security is actually unstable. This verse articulates the resolution: God will judge the wicked.

Psalms 73:1

This opening affirmation that God is good to Israel and the pure in heart establishes the psalm's fundamental claim despite the subsequent wrestling with apparent contradiction. The reference to the pure in heart indicates that goodness is accessible to those of genuine faith. This verse establishes the theological claim that undergirds the entire psalm: God's fundamental character is benevolent.

Psalms 73:2

The confession that the psalmist's feet nearly slipped articulates the vulnerability of faith when confronted by apparent injustice. The metaphor of slipping suggests almost losing footing on the path of righteousness. This verse indicates that the theological affirmation of God's goodness has been challenged by actual experience.