73:1ffAsaph was the leader of one of David's levitical choirs. He collected Psalms 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 the 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.
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 73
Psalm 73
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 919, 920, 921
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
73Psalm 73
1Author: Asaph, a leader of one of the Temple choirs (see 1 Chronicles 25:1) T 3A psalm of Asaph.
4Truly God is good to Israel,to those whose hearts are pure.
2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing.My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.3 For I envied the proudwhen I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.4 They seem to live such painless lives;their bodies are so healthy and strong.
5They don't have troubles like other people;they're not plagued with problems like everyone else.
6They wear pride like a jeweled necklaceand clothe themselves with cruelty.
7These fat cats have everythingtheir hearts could ever wish for!
8They scoff and speak only evil;in their pride they seek to crush others.
9They boast against the very heavens,and their words strut throughout the earth.
10And so the people are dismayed and confused,drinking in all their words.
11“What does God know?” they ask.“Does the Most High even know what's happening?”
12Look at these wicked people—enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14I get nothing but trouble all day long;every morning brings me pain.
15Tf [had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. 16So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! 17Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. 18Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. 19In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. 20When you arise, O LORD, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
21Then I realized that my heart was bitter,and I was all torn up inside.
22I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23Yet I still belong to you;you hold my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel,leading me to a glorious destiny.
25Whom have Lin heaven but you?I desire you more than anything on earth.
26My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,but God remains the strength of my heart;he is mine forever.
27Those who desert him will perish,for you destroy those who abandon you.
28But as for me, how good it is to be near God! Ihave made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. Theme: A plea for God to help his people defend his cause and remember his promises. When we feel devastated or forgotten, we can ask God for help, knowing that he hears. Author: Asaph (or one of his descendants, since many believe this to have been written after Jerusalem’s fall in 586 B.C.) T 4 A psalm* of Asaph. 1 O God, why have you rejected us so long?
Life Application Notes 4 notes
73:1-20Two strong themes wind their way through these verses: (1) The wicked prosper, leaving godly 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 two themes come to unexpected ends, for the wealth of the wicked suddenly loses its power at death, and the rewards for the godly 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.
73:20Asaph realized that the rich who put their hope, joy, and confidence in their wealth live in a dream world. A dream exists only in the mind of the dreamer. Don’t let your life’s goals be so unreal that you awaken too late and miss the reality of God’s truth. Happiness and hope can be a reality, but only when they are based on God, not on riches. Because reality is in God, we should get as close to him as we can in order to be realistic about life.
73:28,24Asaph declares his confidence in God's presence and guidance. From birth to death, we are continually in God's grip. But far more, we have the hope of the resurrection. 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.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 920
920 73:2 Ps 94:18 73:3 Ps 37:1, 7 Jer 12:1 73:5 Job 21:9-10 73:6 Ps 109:18 73:7 Job 15:27-28 Ps 17:10 73:8 Pss 1:1, 17:10 Jude 1:16