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Psalms 73:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 73:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The solution of a great problem.

The question here is—Why should good men suffer, and bad men prosper, when the Law had said that God was a righteous Judge, meting out to men in this world the due recompense of their deeds? The course of things should perfectly reflect the righteousness of God. The psalmist struggles for a solution of this problem. The first verse contains the conclusion he had arrived at.

I. HIS DANGER. Expressed in the second, thirteenth, and twenty-second verses.

1. The example and sophistries of the wicked had nearly wrought his own downfall. His feet had been tempted by their prosperity to forsake the ways of righteousness, and he had almost fallen into their infidelity.

2. His faith in righteousness had been nearly lost. (.) In vain had he cleansed his inward and outward life—at least, he was tempted to think so for a time.

3. Others had been induced to follow the example of the wicked. (.) "Therefore turn his people after them, and at the full stream (of their prosperity) would slake their thirst" (Perowne).

II. THE CAUSE OF HIS DANGER. (.)

1. The wicked and atheistic seemed prosperous and happy. They had no trouble, no sorrows that hasten their death ("bands"). They are proud and violent, oppressive and defiant of the heavens. All these are hasty and superficial estimates of the experience of the wicked.

2. He himself was troubled and chastened continually. (.) He who had been at such pains to cleanse his heart and hands. This was mystery that bewildered him.

3. But he restrains the utterance of his doubts to others. (.) He forebore to shake the faith of others, and cause them to stumble.

III. REASSURANCE BY THE RECOVERY OF HIS FAITH. (.)

1. He found the solution in the light of God's presence. (.) The sanctuary was the symbol of God's presence. Hitherto he had studied the matter only in the light of human experience; now in the light of God's righteous character.

2. Their prosperity would come to a sudden end. (.)

3. Communion with God is the realization of our highest destiny, not any unknown good. (.)—S.

Psalms 72

Psalms

Psalms 74

Psalms 73 - psalms-73 - worlddic.com

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 73:1-14The psalmist was strongly tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked; a common temptation, which has tried the graces of many saints. But he lays down the great principle by which he resolved to abide. It is the goodn…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 73:1-28The grievous conflict of the flesh and the Spirit, and the glorious conquest of the Spirit at the last. I. THE BEGINNING OF THE PSALM. In this he ingeniously pointeth at those rocks against which he was like to have spl…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 73:1-28Asaph's trial and deliverance. Asaph was greatly tempted, as this psalm plainly shows. It does not matter whether he speaks of himself or, as is likely, of some other servant of God. Consider— I. HIS TEMPTATION. 1. It w…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 73:1-28EXPOSITION THIS is the first of the "Psalms of Asaph," whereof the present book contains eleven. They are characterized by a preponderating use of the name "Elohim" over that of" Jehovah," by a great calmness and solemn…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 73:1Truly God is good to Israel; i.e. verily, in spite of appearances to the contrary, which had for a time made the writer doubt. It is suggested that the triumph of Absalom may have been the circumstance that shook Asaph'…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 73:2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. The psalmist had doubted God's goodness and righteousness, on account of the prosperity of the wicked. He feels now that his doubt had been a sin,…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 73:2Narrow escapes. "The victorious general, in the hour of triumph, has not unfrequently reason to remember how nearly, through oversight or miscalculation, he had lost the day. A little more pressure on this wing or that,…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 73:3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked (comp. Psalms 37:1). To envy the wicked because they prosper is to make more account of the good things of this life than of God's favour—to pref…Joseph S. Exell and contributors