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1 (A Psalm of Asaph.) Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
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View All Psalms Chapter 73 Comments...
Richard H Priday's Psalms Chapter 73 comment on 1/06/2023, 4:50am...
Psalm 73.
This Psalm basically describes Asaph's contemplation of the wicked. In particular it examines those who are rich in this life all the way up to the moment of their death; and has envious feelings. Finally; he is in the Temple and the final state of eternal destruction is revealed to him and he repents of his attitude.
There is a general description of pride given in verse 6; but the real issue is that they think God is ignorant to their behaviors and mindset (v. 11); and they are generally listed as "the ungodly" in verse 12.
It is interesting to note verse 15 where there is not only envy but a desire not to "offend against the generation of thy children." We should remember that Asaph was in charge of the music and worship therefore even if not in charge of preaching the law directly; he couldn't show favoritism just because these were descendants of Abraham.
Verses 18 through 20 give a vivid description of God's wrath after the wicked people die and their spirit passes to the afterlife. Verse 22 shows the penitent attitude with further details in verse 23-25 once this situation is realized. He is grateful to be saved. Verse 26 shows Asaph's own mortality perhaps with his death approaching. Verse 27 shows that those who are "far from thee" AND those that go "a whoring FROM thee" have a bad end (i.e. atheists and those that walk away from God who used to be part of the visible "church" or in this case natural descendants of Israel and those under the Covenant of Abraham. Such would no doubt recieve greater damnation. Finally verse 28 shows trust in God as well as "declaring His works" as important for his own meditation and praise in worship.
Jesse's Psalms Chapter 73 comment on 7/28/2022, 8:04pm...
Bert,
Something else to consider is that most believers when asked how many letters Paul wrote, the answer they give is 13, Romans through Philemon. It is safe to say Paul wrote those 13 letters because at the very beginning of each letter, Paul puts his inscription in the first verse. We don't see that in Hebrews so it would seem odd that Paul would put his inscription on all his letters but one.
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