Psalm 73
A Psalm of Asaph
Asaph (Hebrew name means ‘God sustained’) was a Levite. He was appointed by King David as one of the principal officials in charge of the liturgical music used in public worship in Jerusalem ( Rain of Peace – Ye-ru-sha-la-yim). Psalm 73, while composed by Asaph in the 10th century B.C. , rings true to the ear of the believer as if it were written by one of us only yesterday.
There is no new thing under the sun, as the wise man Solomon (Hebrew – Shlomo ‘peaceable’) said.
Asaph directly states “For as my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped” (verse2) due to his consternation of how the ungodly, the downright vile and corrupt and pagan prospered. And nothing terrible befell them. They could be truly evil and not believe in the Lord our God…and still prosper and be healthy, and wealthy, and seem to have everything come their way.
As Asaph lived to please the Lord our God and worship HaShem, our Father, our Creator. Asaph most likely did not have the cushy life of those who he saw on every side prosper even though they were surely wicked and evil.
Psalms 73 to 83 are – The Sanctuary In Relation to Man.
Psalms 84 to 89 are – The Sanctuary in Relation to HaShem, Jehovah, the Lord our God, our Father
These Psalms are instruction to us what happens when we reside outside the Sanctuary. The effects living outside the Sanctuary has on our lives. As our heart is occupied with others and placing them above the Lord our God, our Father Who is in heaven.
The consequences of distractions outside the Sanctuary.
And how coming to see the truth, coming to the light of the awareness and understanding – the wisdom of the path and plight of the wicked and ungodly, their eventual outcome versus those who;
“But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Thy works.” (verse 28).
We are all Asaph at times. There is nothing new under the sun. Ancient does not mean those very same events, beliefs, feelings, the nature of men and women is any different from those matters today. All that really changes is technology and what it affords, and our mode of dress and speech. But our natures, and what befell men and women 6,000, 3,000, 2,500, or 1,000 years ago are no different – NO DIFFERENT – than what resides and springs up in the heart and mind of anyone alive today. The envy, the jealousy, the anger, the feelings of despair – every human trait is the same today as it was in Adam…and Eve. No different.
Asaph, who saw and understood and had the Spirit of God work in him and give him wisdom, Asaph composed what we all are, and what we should all see and come to know, and what we should all practice.
Going into the Sanctuary of the Living God and Jesus the Lord and Messiah and residing there. Always. Placing Them above all else. Turning continually to the Lord our God and Yeshua the Lord and Messiah for instruction through Their Living Word, the Scriptures:
PSALM 73 – King James Version
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Psalm 73 – Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Book III: Psalms 73–89
A psalm of Asaf:
(1) How good God is to Isra’el,
to those who are pure in heart!
2 But as for me, I lost my balance,
my feet nearly slipped,
3 when I grew envious of the arrogant
and saw how the wicked prosper.
4 For when their death comes, it is painless;
and meanwhile, their bodies are healthy;
5 they don’t have ordinary people’s troubles,
they aren’t plagued like others.
6 So for them, pride is a necklace;
and violence clothes them like a robe.
7 Their eyes peep out through folds of fat;
evil thoughts overflow from their hearts.
8 They scoff and speak with malice,
they loftily utter threats.
9 They set their mouths against heaven;
their tongues swagger through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here
and [thoughtlessly] suck up that whole cup of water.
11 Then they ask, “How does God know?
Does the Most High really have knowledge?”
12 Yes, this is what the wicked are like;
those free of misfortune keep increasing their wealth.
13 It’s all for nothing that I’ve kept my heart clean
and washed my hands, staying free of guilt;
14 for all day long I am plagued;
my punishment comes every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will talk like them,”
I would have betrayed a generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
I found it too hard for me —
17 until I went into the sanctuaries of God
and grasped what their destiny would be.
18 Indeed, you place them on a slippery slope
and make them fall to their ruin.
19 How suddenly they are destroyed,
swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakens;
Adonai, when you rouse yourself,
you will despise their phantoms.
21 When I had a sour attitude
and felt stung by pained emotions,
22 I was too stupid to understand;
I was like a brute beast with you.
23 Nevertheless, I am always with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your advice;
and afterwards, you will receive me with honor.
25 Whom do I have in heaven but you?
And with you, I lack nothing on earth.
26 My mind and body may fail; but God
is the rock for my mind and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who adulterously leave you.
28 But for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made Adonai Elohim my refuge,
so that I can tell of all your works.
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