Psalm 73: God is Good, Even When Others Look Better

In Psalm 73, the writer is troubled by the prosperity of the wicked. The psalmist knows in v. 1-2 that God is good to Israel if they follow God with a pure heart. Then notice in verse two the shift to the 1st person pronouns, the psalmist is personally unsure. As he is at a low, feeling he has almost slipped losing his foothold. The wicked seem to be doing so well though! It looks like these others are in a better condition. These wicked people are well described in vv. 4-12. In the most vivid terms he describes them in such terms as having no struggles, free from burdens, pride is their necklace, clothed with violence, mouths that lay claim of heaven, always carefree, and they increase their wealth. It is easy to despise these wicked ones and be quick to judge them in abstraction. Certainly, we may know individuals, who fit this description. How sad; they ought to be pitied and plead with to change?

But what are those who are not wicked to be like? Like the psalmist. But come on, sometimes it doesn’t seem worth it to be a God-follower! He says in v. 13 looking at the wicked it seems like it was in vain that he kept his heart pure and that he washed his hands in innocence. These activities seemed useless to him in comparison with all that was going right for the wicked.

Then he comes to the place of the sanctuary of God in v. 17. This is not the church in this original context, although if one encounters God and meets with Him there it could fit. The sanctuary for this exilic to postexilic psalm might mean the rebuilt in God’s presence by Torah or the temple in Jerusalem. Throughout the psalms a transfer is being made for the people dispossessed of their land. The Old Testament faith that worshipped in a temple is changing to a worship of God through His words alone. The book of the Law, the Torah, and Prophets, and soon developing the Writings. Here the psalmist can find a paradigm shift in his mind from envying the prosperity of the wicked. I to must come to the words of Scripture, encounter God, and see my values change.

It is this encounter with God that causes the psalmist to understand the destiny of these wicked ones. This meeting with God shifts how the psalmist was previously feeling in v.1-2. It is the wicked who are on slippery ground, waiting the sudden destruction coming upon them. The change of his outlook has changed. The psalmist contrasts his own relationship with God and knows that it is better. V.23 says he is always with God. He is guided by God’s counsel. God alone is the psalmists hope in heaven and desire upon the earth. God is his strength and his inheritance (a direct contrast with the wealth of the wicked as land was closely related to both ideals of wealth).

Then the psalmist offers a spectrum on which to find oneself in v. 27-28. He says those that are far from God will perish as they are unfaithful. Then v. 28 he acknowledges it is good to be near God. The Sovereign Lord is his refuge. Then notice in contrast to the unfaithfulness of the wicked is the telling of God’s deeds –namely his faithfulness. This does not mean that the psalmist is always faithful in contrast to the wicked, but that he is near God, whom he takes his refuge in. Thus, God is faithful so again it is good to be near Him.