Psalms 73:15-25

15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have betrayed the 1generation of Your children.
16 When I 2pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight
17 Until I came into the 3sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their 4end.
18 Surely You set them in 5slippery places; You cast them down to 6destruction.
19 How they are 7destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by 8sudden terrors!
20 Like a 9dream when one awakes, O Lord, when 10aroused, You will 11despise their form.
21 When my 12heart was embittered And I was 13pierced within,
22 Then I was 14senseless and ignorant *; I was like a 15beast before You.
23 Nevertheless 16I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With Your counsel You will 17guide me, And afterward 18receive me to glory.
25 19Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

Psalms 73:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 73

\\<>\\. It seems by the title that Asaph was the penman of this psalm, as it is certain that he was a composer of psalms and hymns; see 2Ch 29:30, though it may be rendered, "a psalm for Asaph", or "unto Asaph" {a}; and might have David for its author, as some think, who, having penned it, sent it to Asaph, to be made use of by him in public service; see 1Ch 16:7, and so the Targum paraphrases it, ``a song by the hands of Asaph;'' the occasion of it was a temptation the psalmist fell into, through the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous, to think there was nothing in religion, that it was a vain and useless thing; under which he continued until he went into the house of God, and was taught better; when he acknowledged his stupidity and folly, and penned this psalm, to prevent others falling into the same snare, and to set forth the goodness of God to his people, with which it begins.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Psalms 14:5
  • 2. Ecclesiastes 8:17
  • 3. Psalms 27:4; Psalms 77:13
  • 4. Psalms 37:38
  • 5. Psalms 35:6
  • 6. Psalms 35:8; Psalms 36:12
  • 7. Numbers 16:21; Isaiah 47:11
  • 8. Job 18:11
  • 9. Job 20:8
  • 10. Psalms 78:65
  • 11. 1 Samuel 2:30
  • 12. Judges 10:16
  • 13. Acts 2:37
  • 14. Psalms 49:10; Psalms 92:6
  • 15. Job 18:3; Psalms 49:20; Ecclesiastes 3:18
  • 16. Psalms 16:8
  • 17. Psalms 32:8; Psalms 48:14; Isaiah 58:11
  • 18. Genesis 5:24; Psalms 49:15
  • 19. Psalms 16:2; Philippians 3:8

Footnotes 10

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