# Psalm 73 đź“–: When the Wicked Prosper
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[[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 72]] | [[Psalm 74]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
#### A psalm by Asaph.
[[#Verse 01.]]Â Certainly God is good to Israel,
and to those whose motives are pure.
[[#Verse 02.]]Â But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my feet almost slid out from under me.
[[#Verse 03.]]Â For I envied those who are proud,
as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.
[[#Verse 04.]]Â For they suffer no pain;
their bodies are strong and well fed.
[[#Verse 05.]]Â They are immune to the trouble common to men;
they do not suffer as other men do.
[[#Verse 06.]]Â Arrogance is their necklace,
and violence covers them like clothing.
[[#Verse 07.]]Â Their prosperity causes them to do wrong;
their thoughts are sinful.
[[#Verse 08.]] They mock and say evil things;
they proudly threaten violence.
[[#Verse 09.]]Â They speak as if they rule in heaven,
and lay claim to the earth.
[[#Verse 10.]]Â Therefore they have more than enough food to eat,
and even suck up the water of the sea.
[[#Verse 11.]] They say, “How does God know what we do?
Is the Most High aware of what goes on?”
[[#Verse 12.]]Â Take a good look. This is what the wicked are like,
those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer.
[[#Verse 13.]] I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure
and maintained a pure lifestyle.
[[#Verse 14.]]Â I suffer all day long,
and am punished every morning.”
[[#Verse 15.]]Â If I had publicized these thoughts,
I would have betrayed your people.
[[#Verse 16.]]Â When I tried to make sense of this,
it was troubling to me.
[[#Verse 17.]] Then I entered the precincts of God’s temple,
and understood the destiny of the wicked.
[[#Verse 18.]] Surely you put them in slippery places;
you bring them down to ruin.
[[#Verse 19.]] How desolate they become in a mere moment.
Terrifying judgments make their demise complete.
[[#Verse 20.]]Â They are like a dream after one wakes up.
O Lord, when you awake you will despise them.
[[#Verse 21.]] Yes, my spirit was bitter,
and my insides felt sharp pain.
[[#Verse 22.]] I was ignorant and lacked insight;
I was as senseless as an animal before you.
[[#Verse 23.]] But I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
[[#Verse 24.]] You guide me by your wise advice,
and then you will lead me to a position of honor.
[[#Verse 25.]]Â Whom do I have in heaven but you?
On earth there is no one I desire but you.
[[#Verse 26.]]Â My flesh and my heart may grow weak,
but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.
[[#Verse 27.]] Yes, look! Those far from you die;
you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you.
[[#Verse 28.]] But as for me, God’s presence is all I need.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
as I declare all the things you have done.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Psalm 73 begins Book III of the Psalms (Psalms 73 to 89).
2. It is the first of eleven psalms of Asaph in a row (Psalms 73 to 83).
3. The psalm opens with a statement of faith (73:1) before describing Asaph's struggle.
4. Asaph compares the wicked to well-fed people without struggles (73:4-5).
5. The turning point comes in 73:17, when he entered the sanctuary of God.
6. The wicked stand on slippery ground (73:18), echoing Asaph's own slipping feet in 73:2.
7. Asaph calls himself as foolish as a brute beast when he was bitter (73:21-22).
8. "Pure in heart" (73:1) is echoed in Jesus' beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart" (Matthew 5:8).
9. Some scholars see Psalm 73 as a theological center of the book of Psalms, wrestling with the promise of Psalm 1.
10. Asaph says God holds his right hand and will afterward receive him with honor (73:23-24).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who brings us near to God (73:28). Through Jesus we are brought near by His blood (Ephesians 2:13), and in Him God becomes our portion forever (73:26).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Asaph almost stumbled when he envied the prosperity of the wicked (73:2-3). What makes it easy to envy others?
2. Everything changed when Asaph entered God's sanctuary (73:16-17). How does worship change your perspective?
3. Asaph says God is all he desires in heaven and on earth (73:25-26). What would it look like for God to be your portion?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verses 2-3: Asaph almost slipped because he envied the proud when he saw the wicked prosper.
- đź“– verses 16-17: The problem troubled him until he entered God's sanctuary.
- đź“– verses 25-26: Whom do I have in heaven but You? God is my strength and my portion forever.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Psalm 37#Verse 01.|Psalm 37:1-2]] - Do not envy the wicked.
- đź”— [[Ephesians 02#Verse 13.|Ephesians 2:13]] - Brought near by the blood of Christ.
- đź”— [[Matthew 05#Verse 08.|Matthew 5:8]] - Blessed are the pure in heart.
- đź”— [[Philippians 03#Verse 07.|Philippians 3:7-8]] - Knowing Christ is worth more than everything.
- đź”— [[Jeremiah 12#Verse 01.|Jeremiah 12:1]] - Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Psalm 73 - SOAP|God Loves Us Through Our Outbursts]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes