Psalm 73
Why Do The Wicked Prosper?
This Psalm 73 is the beginning of the “Third Book” of the Psalms. It contains Psalms 73-89.
There are 5 “books” of the Psalms, the number chosen by Jewish scholars to match the 5 books of Moses in number.
Psalms 73-83 are attributed to Asaph. Asaph was a contemporary of David.
When David brought the ark to Jerusalem, he appointed some Levites to minister before the ark to sing and play thanksgiving and praise songs
Asaph was the chief of these Levites & also played the cymbals (1 Chronicles 16). David appointed Asaph to direct the music in the temple when it was built.
The music was provided by his sons with instruments. (2 Chronicles 25)
The psalm begins with the writer saying God is good to Israel, those who are pure in Heart. “Pure in heart” means totally committed to God. Therefore, we see that he is referring to spiritual Israel, not the whole nation. He recognizes that everyone in the nation is not committed to God.
A good point for us is that knowing God is good, and good to his people, is the starting point for us to resolve theological issues.
The problem: why the wicked prosper
73:2-14
The psalmist was having a crisis of faith. He had almost stumbled or slipped as he wrestled with the problem. It is the image of walking the path of righteousness and faithfulness, but stumbling over rocks in the path. (2)
The root of the psalmist’s problem was envy. (3) He was concerned with the question of why the wicked prospered when he, a man committed to God, did not. By implication, he is also a questioning God’s character here: if wickedness prospers, is God just?
Description of the Wicked
73:3-9
In these verses, the psalmist described the wicked people of his day:
arrogant
prosperous
at ease, getting even more wealthy
not suffering any “pangs”; not in trouble or stricken; during their lifetime
proud
violent, malicious, threatening oppression
talking against God
Because of the success and arrogance of the wicked, some of God’s people turned away from God and to these wicked people. God’s people saw nothing wrong with them. (10)
Many idolized the rich & famous. We see in our time the same thing, and that promising health & wealth sells.
In arrogance, the wicked questioned God’s omniscient knowledge: can God know everything they think and do? (11) We know from the Bible that God is omniscient. He knows himself and all things that have been, are now, and will be in the future. But, those who had seemed to get away with being wicked thought they had escaped God’s knowledge.
All these things lead the psalmist to question the value of his purity (clean heart) and innocence (as opposed to wickedness) because he suffered
because he was stricken & rebuked. (13)
We have all been in this situation!
Faith Triumphs
73:15-28
Despite his envy and doubts, the psalmist kept silent to avoid sowing doubt in those who were pure in heart. (15) This shows that he had not given up his faith. He moved from self interest & self pity to his responsibility to protect others.
But, he found thinking of the problem to be tiring (16) until he turned to God, entering His presence in the temple. Then, he discerned the end\destiny of the wicked. (17)
The destiny of the wicked is destruction. It may occur in their lifetime. They may fall into ruin. (18) It can happen quickly. (19) Remember the parable of the rich fool. (Luke 12:16-21) He celebrated his wealth and vowed to take it easy and party, then found out he would die that very night.
The destruction of the wicked will definitely occur at the judgment. They shall perish. (27) God will put an end to them. They will experience “shame and everlasting contempt”. (Daniel 12:2)
The psalmist recognized his own bad attitude; it was bitterness. (21) It had led him to confusion & ignorance (22) He came to realize this and to recognize that, despite hiss troubled thinking, God continued with him, supported him, and guided him. (23-24)
The psalmist knew God would receive him to glory. As another psalm said, “God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” (Psalm 49:15)
It was good for the psalmist to be in the Lord’s presence, making God his refuge ( a safe place). (28)when he relies on God, not comparing his life to others, he can tell of God’s works as God takes care of him (29)
So, the psalmist realized that his relationship with God was what mattered
his own strength might fail, but God would be his strength (25)
Takeaways
- There will be times you struggle to understand things.
- Believers begin their analysis of problems with the belief that God is good and just.
- You will do better when you run toward God than away.
- God will deal with wickedness in his own time.
- Our responsibility is to live righteously and in faith, trusting the Sovereign God.
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