Psalms 73:17-27

17 When I come into the sanctuary of God, then I shall understand their end.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; in desolation thou shalt cause them to fall.

19 How they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! They have come to an end; they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As the dream of one who awakes; so, O Lord, when thou shalt rise up, thou shalt despise their appearances.

21 Truly my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my kidneys.

22 But I was ignorant and did not understand; I was as a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless I was continually with thee; thou hast apprehended me by my right hand.

24 Thou hast guided me with thy counsel, and afterward thou shalt receive me unto glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And apart from thee there is nothing upon the earth that I desire.

26 My flesh and my heart fail; the strength of my heart is that God is my portion for ever.

27 For, behold, those that stray from thee shall perish; thou dost cut off all those that go a whoring from thee.

Psalms 73:17-27 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.