Salmos 73

1 CIERTAMENTE bueno es Dios á Israel, A los limpios de corazón.

2 Mas yo, casi se deslizaron mis pies; Por poco resbalaron mis pasos.

3 Porque tuve envidia de los insensatos, Viendo la prosperidad de los impíos.

4 Porque no hay ataduras para su muerte; Antes su fortaleza está entera.

5 No están ellos en el trabajo humano; Ni son azotados con los otros hombres.

6 Por tanto soberbia los corona: Cúbrense de vestido de violencia.

7 Sus ojos están salidos de gruesos: Logran con creces los antojos del corazón.

8 Soltáronse, y hablan con maldad de hacer violencia; Hablan con altanería.

9 Ponen en el cielo su boca, Y su lengua pasea la tierra.

10 Por eso su pueblo vuelve aquí, Y aguas de lleno le son exprimidas.

11 Y dicen: ¿Cómo sabe Dios? ¿Y hay conocimiento en lo alto?

12 He aquí estos impíos, Sin ser turbados del mundo, alcanzaron riquezas.

13 Verdaderamente en vano he limpiado mi corazón, Y lavado mis manos en inocencia;

14 Pues he sido azotado todo el día, Y empezaba mi castigo por las mañanas.

15 Si dijera yo, Discurriré de esa suerte; He aquí habría negado la nación de tus hijos:

16 Pensaré pues para saber esto: Es á mis ojos duro trabajo,

17 Hasta que venido al santuario de Dios, Entenderé la postrimería de ellos.

18 Ciertamente los has puesto en deslizaderos; En asolamientos los harás caer.

19 ¡Cómo han sido asolados! ¡cuán en un punto! Acabáronse, fenecieron con turbaciones.

20 Como sueño del que despierta, Así, Señor, cuando despertares, menospreciarás sus apariencias.

21 Desazonóse á la verdad mi corazón, Y en mis riñones sentía punzadas.

22 Mas yo era ignorante, y no entendía: Era como una bestia acerca de ti.

23 Con todo, yo siempre estuve contigo: Trabaste de mi mano derecha.

24 Hasme guiado según tu consejo, Y después me recibirás en gloria.

25 ¿A quién tengo yo en los cielos? Y fuera de ti nada deseo en la tierra.

26 Mi carne y mi corazón desfallecen: Mas la roca de mi corazón y mi porción es Dios para siempre.

27 Porque he aquí, los que se alejan de ti perecerán: Tú cortarás á todo aquel que fornicando, de ti se aparta.

28 Y en cuanto á mí, el acercarme á Dios es el bien: He puesto en el Señor Jehová mi esperanza, Para contar todas tus obras.

Salmos 73 Commentary

Chapter 73

The psalmist's temptation. (1-14) How he gained a victory over it. (15-20) How he profited by it. (21-28)

Verses 1-14 The 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 goodness of God. This is a truth which cannot be shaken. Good thoughts of God will fortify against Satan's temptations. The faith even of strong believers may be sorely shaken, and ready to fail. There are storms that will try the firmest anchors. Foolish and wicked people have sometimes a great share of outward prosperity. They seem to have the least share of the troubles of this life; and they seem to have the greatest share of its comforts. They live without the fear of God, yet they prosper, and get on in the world. Wicked men often spend their lives without much sickness, and end them without great pain; while many godly persons scarcely know what health is, and die with great sufferings. Often the wicked are not frightened, either by the remembrance of their sins, or the prospect of their misery, but they die without terror. We cannot judge men's state beyond death, by what passes at their death. He looked abroad, and saw many of God's people greatly at a loss. Because the wicked are so very daring, therefore his people return hither; they know not what to say to it, and the rather, because they drink deep of the bitter cup of affliction. He spoke feelingly when he spoke of his own troubles; there is no disputing against sense, except by faith. From all this arose a strong temptation to cast off religion. But let us learn that the true course of sanctification consists in cleansing a man from all pollution both of soul and body. The heart is cleansed by the blood of Christ laid hold upon by faith; and by the begun works of the Lord's Spirit, manifested in the hearty resolution, purpose, and study of holiness, and a blameless course of life and actions, the hands are cleansed. It is not in vain to serve God and keep his ordinances.

Verses 15-20 The psalmist having shown the progress of his temptation, shows how faith and grace prevailed. He kept up respect for God's people, and with that he restrained himself from speaking what he had thought amiss. It is a sign that we repent of the evil thoughts of the heart, if we suppress them. Nothing gives more offence to God's children, than to say it is vain to serve God; for there is nothing more contrary to their universal experience. He prayed to God to make this matter plain to him; and he understood the wretched end of wicked people; even in the height of their prosperity they were but ripening for ruin. The sanctuary must be the resort of a tempted soul. The righteous man's afflictions end in peace, therefore he is happy; the wicked man's enjoyments end in destruction, therefore he is miserable. The prosperity of the wicked is short and uncertain, slippery places. See what their prosperity is; it is but a vain show, it is only a corrupt imagination, not substance, but a mere shadow; it is as a dream, which may please us a little while we are slumbering, yet even then it disturbs our repose.

Verses 21-28 God would not suffer his people to be tempted, if his grace were not sufficient, not only to save them from harm, but to make them gainers by it. This temptation, the working of envy and discontent, is very painful. In reflecting upon it, the psalmist owns it was his folly and ignorance thus to vex himself. If good men, at any time, through the surprise and strength of temptation, think, or speak, or act amiss, they will reflect upon it with sorrow and shame. We must ascribe our safety in temptation, and our victory, not to our own wisdom, but to the gracious presence of God with us, and Christ's intercession for us. All who commit themselves to God, shall be guided with the counsel both of his word and of his Spirit, the best counsellors here, and shall be received to his glory in another world; the believing hopes and prospects of which will reconcile us to all dark providences. And the psalmist was hereby quickened to cleave the closer to God. Heaven itself could not make us happy without the presence and love of our God. The world and all its glory vanishes. The body will fail by sickness, age, and death; when the flesh fails, the conduct, courage, and comfort fail. But Christ Jesus, our Lord, offers to be all in all to every poor sinner, who renounces all other portions and confidences. By sin we are all far from God. And a profession Christ, if we go on in sin, will increase our condemnation. May we draw near, and keep near, to our God, by faith and prayer, and find it good to do so. Those that with an upright heart put their trust in God, shall never want matter for thanksgiving to him. Blessed Lord, who hast so graciously promised to become our portion in the next world, prevent us from choosing any other in this.

Chapter Summary

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.