Psalms 73:1-5

BOOK III

1

Psalms 73–89

1

A psalm of Asaph.

1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.

Psalms 73:1-5 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 6

  • 1. S Psalms 24:4; Matthew 5:8
  • 2. S Deuteronomy 32:35
  • 3. Psalms 69:2; Ephesians 4:27
  • 4. Psalms 37:1; Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:1-2
  • 5. S Job 9:24; S Job 21:7; Jeremiah 12:1; Malachi 3:15
  • 6. Job 21:9; ver 12; Ezekiel 23:42

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text "struggles at their death;" / "their bodies are healthy"
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