Unless otherwise stated, all citations are taken from the New International Version (NIV).
Asaph was a musician and one of David’s friends (1 Chron. 6:39; 2 Chron. 5:12). This is one of his 17 psalms, and it is classified as a wisdom psalm.[1]
(73:1) Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
God is faithful to the nation of Israel. But what about his faithfulness to individuals? Can his promises to people be counted on?
(73:2) But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
The imagery of having “almost slipped” depicts a person who has lost balance and is ready to experience an imminent faceplant. Elsewhere, David writes, “You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life” (Ps. 56:13). Thus, this is a “metaphor that likely refers to having his faith shaken and his thinking obscured.”[2]
What had caused him to almost lose his walk with God? Was it an army of invading Philistines? Was it attacks from Satan? What about lust? None of the above. It was the sin of envy!
(73:3) For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Why does God bless people who are proud, arrogant, or just downright evil? Asaph explores this common experience in a “refreshingly frank”[3] way. He is asking the question that no one dares to ask: “Why do good things happen to bad people?”[4]
(73:4-6) They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
It’s heart wrenching to see good, godly people dying of disease, while prideful people are perfectly fit. VanGemeren writes, “For them life is now, and now seems to be forever.”[5]
(73:7) From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
“From their callous hearts comes iniquity.” Alter translates “callous hearts” as “fat bulges round their eyes.” He writes, “This is one of several satiric images deployed in Psalms that represents the prospering wicked as physically swollen from the delicacies with which they have been stuffing themselves—here, the eye is imagined peeking out from its envelope of fat. (The Hebrew is somewhat crabbed, but the literal sense is: their eye protrudes from fat.).”[6]
“Their evil imaginations have no limits.” What do you think about when you are imagining the future? These people set their imaginations on stretching the limits of evil. Why should God allow them to be healthy and wealthy?
(73:8-9) They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. 9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
“Their mouths lay claim to heaven.” The NLT states, “They boast against the very heavens.” They are “in effect speaking as though they are God.”[7] Wicked and powerful people feel like they can say whatever they want.
(73:10-11) Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
“Drink up waters.” This likely refers to people facing danger and destruction because of the actions of the wicked (Ps. 18:16; 32:6).[8] Another interpretation is that the waters “represent the good gifts of God that are being destroyed by the greedy and self-interested wicked ones.”[9] The first reading seems more plausible in our estimation.
“Does the Most High know anything?” They are convinced that God does not see the evil activities that they are engaging in. This is equivalent to a common stance of “stance of deism or practical atheism.”[10] VanGemeren writes, “They decree how things are to be done on earth and what God can do in heaven.”[11] They are so familiar with bossing people around on Earth that they assume they can do the same for God in Heaven.
(73:12) This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
The people Asaph has in mind pursue materialism in a cavalier and “carefree” way.
(73:13-14) Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
Asaph wonders why he has committed so much to the Lord. After all, he’s not getting anything out of his relationship with God! If this is how God treats you, then why follow him? Asaph wants a transactional relationship with God. He wants to put his religious duties and good works into the machine, turn the crank, and watch God’s material blessings appear.
But God doesn’t operate like a cosmic vending machine! He chooses to bless whomever he wants. As Jesus said, “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (Mt. 20:15 NLT)
Asaph regains his spiritual sanity
(73:15) If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
“If I had spoken out like that.” Asaph must have kept these thoughts inside. Very often, when we fall into the sin of envy and bitterness, we bottle this up in our hearts.
“I would have betrayed your children.” Asaph realizes how his envy would affect God’s people. The lives of the wicked destroy the lives of others (v.10), and Asaph sees that his own unbelief would have the same effect. One of the great deceiving aspects of jealousy is the fact that we don’t see how it affects others. But a soul poisoned with jealousy will spread into the lives of others around us. Estes writes, “His careless speech could cause catastrophe for those who after hearing him make their own poor decisions. The psalmist realizes that some thoughts are better left unspoken, lest other people be harmed by his intemperate words.”[12]
(73:16-17) When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
Jealousy, envy, and bitterness overwhelmed Asaph. He couldn’t face these pernicious sins on his own. So, what was his solution? He needed to take this to God! He “entered the sanctuary of God,” coming into his presence.
“I understood their final destiny.” He realized that the wicked are living on “borrowed time.”[13]
(73:18) Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
“Slippery ground.” This harkens back to the beginning of the psalm where Asaph realized that he almost lost his walk with God: “As for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold” (v.2). Asaph was going to slip and fall from materialistic envy. But now, he sees that the wicked are the ones who will fall. Materialistic pursuit is a faulty foundation for life. He compares it to “slippery ground,” like walking across your driveway when it’s covered with ice. VanGemeren writes, “The Lord has set them up for the fall. The ‘when’ is not as important as the certainty that they will slip and fall.”[14]
(73:19) How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
Materialism ends the same way every time. Our lives will end in complete destruction.
(73:20) They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
The lives of the wicked are transitory in the grand scheme of life—like a “dream” or “fantasies.” Estes writes, “The wicked who have appeared so intimidating to the psalmist will disappear like a dream after one wakes up.”[15] VanGemeren writes, “The experiences of terror and anguish of mind will turn out to be little more than a nightmare, a bad dream.”[16]
(73:21-22) When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Envy and bitterness make us something less than human. We do not become stupid like an animal—but stubborn like one.
(73:23) Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
Once we let the bitterness go, we experience renewed closeness with God. If you are trapped in bitterness, it should be no surprise if you feel distant from God. As Asaph experienced repentance, he rediscovered the nearness of God.
(73:24) You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
“You will take me into glory.” The word “take” (lāqaḥ) appears elsewhere to refer to God translating Enoch (Gen. 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kin. 2:3, 5, 10) directly to heaven. God is with us in this life, and he will glorify us in the next.
(73:25) Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
Envy makes us focus on the gifts more than the Giver. However, once we drop this sinful attitude, we gain a higher estimation on God’s value. We realize that he is the only true object of value in all of reality. Estes writes, “God himself, not just his divine blessings, totally meets his needs and satisfies his desires.”[17]
(73:26-28) 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.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is… my portion forever.” Repentance from materialistic jealousy results in a renewed eternal perspective. We stop focusing on how our bodies will “fail,” and we start focusing more and more on how God himself is our inheritance “forever.”
“It is good to be near God.” Asaph began by writing, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart” (v.1). Now, he has come full circle. He knew that God was good to the nation, but finally he sees that God is good to him. This is the conclusion to Asaph’s struggle. He rediscovered goodness of God.
“Near God.” This is in stark contrast with his earlier statement: “Those who are far from you will perish” (v.27).
Devotional paraphrase of Psalm 73
“I’m not only good to the nation of Israel; I’m good to you. The problem is your envious attitude. You spend most of your time comparing yourself to people with relative prosperity. The jealousy is eating you up inside! What exactly are you jealous of? These people don’t love Me, and they see no need for Me in their lives. In fact, they ignore me altogether. You need to learn that putting Me first in your life is not a waste of time. Come back to me and enjoy quality time with Me. Then, you’ll see that these godless people are the ones who are falling apart—not you. Let me guide you, counsel you, and be the center of your life. It’s good for you to be near to Me!”
Questions to consider regarding envy
Am I discontent with the blessings God has brought into my life?
Does it bother me that God would bless others—especially when they’re so undeserving? Do I think I deserve of God’s blessings?
Do I have the habit of turning my peers and colleagues into my rivals?
Do I believe God scrutinizes me based on gifts I don’t have? (Mt. 25:14-30)
Do I believe more gifts will cure my attitude?
Do I want more of a role than God wants for me?
Can I promote those I’m envious of?
[1] Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 475.
[2] Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 31.
[3] Derek Kidner, Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1975), 288.
[4] Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 31.
[5] Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 478.
[6] Robert Alter, The Book of Psalms (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009), 253.
[7] Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 33.
[8] Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 33.
[9] Beth Tanner, “Book Three of the Psalter: Psalms 73–89,” in The Book of Psalms, ed. E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr., The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014), 590.
[10] Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 33.
[11] Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 478.
[12] Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 35.
[13] Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 36.
[14] Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 481.
[15] Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 36.
[16] Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 481.
[17] Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 38.