Psalms 73

PLUS
The Book of Psalms
Chapter 73

Chapter Overview:


It is probable, Asaph was the author of this psalm; for we read of the words of David and the words of Asaph the seer, which were used in praising God in Hezekiah's time, 2 Chronicles 29:30 .
He begins with laying down a general principle, ver. 1.
Confesses his temptation to envy the wicked, ver. 2 - 14.
Tells how he gained the victory over it, and advantage by it, ver. 15 - 28.
A psalm of Asaph.
Verses:
73:1A clean heart - To all true Israelites, who love God, and serve him in spirit and truth.
73:2My feet - My faith in God's providence, was almost overthrown.
73:4No bands - They are not dragged to death, by the sentence of the magistrate, which they deserve.
73:5As other men - As good men frequently are.
73:8And speak - Boasting of their oppressions.
73:9Against - Against God, blaspheming his name, and deriding his providence. Walketh - Using all manner of liberty, reproaching all sorts of persons.
73:10Turn - To this wicked company. Waters - And partake of the same prosperity with their leaders. God seems to give them a full cup of consolation, as if he would wring out all his blessings upon them.
73:12Behold - These seem to be the words of the psalmist, summing up the matter.
73:13In vain - Hence I was sometimes tempted, to think that religion was a vain, unprofitable thing. True religion is here described by its two principal parts, the cleansing of the heart, and the hands.
73:15Offend - By grieving, discouraging and tempting them to revolt from God.
73:16To know - To find out the reason of this providence.
73:17Until - 'Till I consulted the word of God. He alludes to the practice of those times, which was, in difficult cases to resort to God's sanctuary, and the oracle therein. Their end - There I learned that their prosperity was short.
73:19Terrors - With God's dreadful judgements unexpectedly seizing upon them.
73:20They awake - Out of the pleasant dream of this vain life.Despise - Thou shalt make them despicable both to themselves and to all others; raise them to shame, and everlasting contempt.Image - All their felicity and glory, which shall be evidently discerned to be, no real or substantial thing, but a mere image or shadow.
73:21Pricked - I was deeply wounded with disquieting thoughts.
73:22Nevertheless - Although I gave thee just cause to cast me off, yet thou didst continue thy care and kindness to me.Hast held - That my faith might not fail.
73:27Go a whoring - Those who revolt from thee, to work wickedness; which is called whoredom in scripture.