1 <<A Psalm of Asaph.>> 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 73:1-28 KJV)
Thomas Haweis
Verses 1-14: The prosperity of the wicked hath been a common temptation to the saints of God. The psalmist was staggered at it, and musing on the mysterious providence, breaks forth, Truly, or notwithstanding, God is good to Israel, even to them that are of a clean heart: this he is assured of, amidst all his doubts and perplexities, and holding fast this principle, rides out the storm. Note, (1.) There are some first principles clear as the sun; to them we must recur under all our difficulties. (2.) God’s Israel are of a clean heart, washed in the blood, and renewed by the Spirit of a Divine Redeemer. (3.) They who are thus pure in heart, will ever by experience, own that God is good, and all his ways mercy and truth.
1. The psalmist owns, how near he was being overcome by the temptation. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped; the assault was so violent, and his faith so shaken, that it was with difficulty he kept his footing; For I was envious at the foolish, or the wicked, for folly and sin are inseparably linked together. Note, (1.) The strongest believers are often the most sorely tempted, and sometimes ready to faint under their trials. (2.) Many a precious soul that enters heaven, can look back and reflect on the day and hour, when there was but a step between him and hell. (3.) Though in our own apprehension we seem sometimes well nigh gone, it is engaged in the everlasting covenant, that God will never leave nor forsake us, and all our trials shall but the more magnify the riches of his grace.
2. He describes the cause and process of the temptation:
(1.) I saw the prosperity, or peace of the wicked. They knew few of the troubles to which good men are exposed, and seem to have a less share of the common calamities of human life, Ps 73:5. Their worldly wealth increases, ungodly as they are, and evil as the means are which they use to obtain it, Ps 73:12. They give a loose to every appetite, and wallowing with luxury, their eyes stand out with fatness, or go out, pampered lust continually seeking after forbidden gratification, Ps 73:7. They have more than heart could wish, their prosperity exceeded their former most sanguine hopes; or, the imaginations of their heart go on to covet more, and still add to their store: and as their life is prosperous, their death is peaceful; for there are no bands in their death, or until their death, nothing distresses them, they have neither pain of body, nor terrors of conscience, and die in peace, and at ease; but their strength is firm, not weakened with sickness or disease, or brought down to the grave by an untimely death. Note, (1.) It is an ill sign when we know no trouble here below, but all things go on smoothly; for every son whom God loveth he chasteneth. (2.) Prosperous iniquity may continue even to the grave; yea, in death the sinner may lie down insensible of danger; but he is not therefore the safer. Many die like lambs, who, if they saw whither they were going, would roar like lions.
(2.) He saw them not only prosperous, but abusing that prosperity, and hardening their hearts in wickedness, instead of being thankful for the gifts of God. Pride compasseth them about as a chain, Ps 73:6 they attribute to their own wisdom all their acquisitions, and think it an ornament to look great, and make a display of their riches and magnificence. They speak loftily, boasting of their acquisitions and mighty deeds, and with disdain, insolence, and arrogance, addressing their inferiors, Da 3:15. Their power is turned into oppression, they are corrupt in principle and practice; they speak wickedly concerning oppression, Ps 73:8 vindicating their injustice, and glorying in their iniquity, violence covereth them as a garment, they deck themselves with the spoils of rapine, and are not ashamed publicly to appear in these garments of violence, Isa 59:6 and they show no more fear of God, than regard to man. They set their mouth against heaven, blaspheming God, denying his providence, and defying his threatenings; and their tongue walketh through the earth with unbridled licentiousness, neither greatness nor goodness is any protection from their malevolence and slander. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities, and none escapes the lash of their calumnies; and they say, how doth God know? And is there knowledge in the most High? Atheistically concluding he took no concern in the affairs of mortals, and that as he neither saw nor regarded their iniquities, they were safe, and might live as they listed. Behold these indeed are the ungodly, Ps 73:12. Note, (1.) Pride was the sin of devils, and thereby men most resemble them. (2.) They who talk proudly, talk foolishly, as well as wickedly, and will shortly change their tone. (3.) Though the oppressor succeed in his violence, these garments will prove his shame, not his glory. (4.) Wickedness in practice is often productive of infidelity in principle. They who fear a day of recompense, flatter themselves there is none.
(3.) Whilst the wicked were thus prosperous and proud, he observed God’s faithful ones afflicted, and felt it to be his own case; and this especially staggered him. Therefore his people return hither, God’s people are brought to the psalmist’s perplexity by observing these things; and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them, for many and bitter are their afflictions. Though these words may be applied to the wicked, as connected with the foregoing and following verse, intimating the multitudes who join them, and approve their ways, and have a full cup of worldly comforts put into their hands. The psalmist also himself had experienced many a sore trial, all the day long have I been plagued, or scourged, and chastened every morning, Ps 73:14 every day brought him some cross and trial, whilst they who blasphemed God, knew no sorrow, and this made him ready to accuse God’s ways as unequal. Note, (1.) Correction is a mark of God’s paternal heart towards us, and therefore we must not faint when he chastiseth. (2.) Though our afflictions be heavy, or long continued, the deepest of our distresses are far preferable to the greatest height of prosperous iniquity.
3. He owns the temptation so far prevailed against him, as to lead him to this rash conclusion. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency: as if it profited a man nothing to serve God, and that as the wicked suggested, God had indeed forsaken the earth: this he owns was his infirmity. Note, (1.) By nature we are all impure, till our hearts are cleansed in the fountain of a Redeemer’s blood. (2.) Every one who hath washed-therein, walks in holiness, as Christ also walked. (3.) They who have faith to wait the issue, will be convinced, whatever they suffer here below, that it is not in vain to serve God, when they perceive that great is their reward in heaven.
Verses 15-20: He was strongly tempted, but as strongly supported, and enabled at last to prevail.
1. He kept his thoughts to himself, whilst he ruminated on the subject, lest he should offend God’s people; and though he saw the rash suggestion of his spirit, he would not speak unadvisedly with his lips. If I say, I will speak thus; behold I should offend the generation of thy children; and that he was shocked to think of and carefully avoided. Note, (1.) When evil thoughts arise, our labour must be to suppress them; when once uttered, their mischief may be endless and irreparable. (2.) There are a people in the world dear to God as children, and who love him as their father, whom we must be careful never to offend, to grieve, or discourage. (3.) It would be the greatest reproach on God’s service, and most effectually tend to weaken the hands of his people, to misrepresent his good ways, as unprofitable and vain. (4.) They who do so, show they have never truly served God, since the experience of every faithful soul proves her service to be the supreme felicity.
2. Though by the light of reason he could not reconcile this difficulty, yet when he went into the sanctuary, sought God by prayer, and communed with his word and ministers, then the mystery was unfolded; he saw the prosperity of sinners no longer to be envied, when they were fattening only as an ox for the slaughter, -Ps 73:17. Their joy had no stability, was precarious and momentary, their destruction inevitable, sudden, and terrible, Ps 73:18,19. Like a dream of the night, when God awakes to judgment, their prosperity vanishes, and their image, their vain pomp and splendour, which now proves a mere shadow, is despised, and exchanged for everlasting shame and contempt, Da 12:7. Note, We must form our judgment of men and things not by appearances, but by the word of God; and when we there see the end of prosperous iniquity in everlasting burnings, and of suffering piety in eternal glory, we shall no longer hesitate about our choice.
Verses 21-28: The temptations of the saints serve to brighten their graces, and their recovery from the doubts which staggered them, issues in their greater establishment. Such good the psalmist found.
1. His sinful thoughts tended to his deeper abasement. My heart was grieved, or leavened, he owns it to his shame, that the prosperity of the wicked put his mind into an undue ferment; and I was pricked in my reins, his envy at them gave him acute pain; so foolish was I, and ignorant, even as a beast before thee: he scarce finds words sufficiently expressive of the stupidity and folly of his conduct. Note, (1.) Envy and fretfulness make men their own tormentors. (2.) Good men who have the deepest knowledge of their own hearts, have the deepest sense of their own perverseness and folly; and each knowing most of himself, thinks he can with greatest propriety apply to himself the saying, I am more brutish than any man, Pr 30:2.
2. He owns his deep obligations to the grace of God. Nevertheless, notwithstanding his folly, I am continually with thee, the object of God’s tender regard, and at bottom, in heart and affection cleaving to God amidst all his temptations; thou hast holden me by my right hand, as a tender parent that supports his falling child. Note, We are weak as helpless infancy, and stand wholly indebted to the everlasting arms that are under us, for our preservation. And the more we are convinced of this, the more shall we be engaged to love God.
3. He expresses his confidence of God’s continual guidance and support, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, his revealed word, and the teachings of his Holy Spirit, and afterwards receive me to glory, when every trial past, and death the last enemy overcome, thou wilt bring me to the consummation of bliss in thy eternal kingdom. Note, (1.) God’s counsel in his word, infallibly conducts to his glory those who follow it. (2.) From past experience of God’s grace, we may comfortably conclude the continuance of it ever to the end. (3.) If we have a sure inheritance in eternal glory, we little need envy sinners any thing they possess above us here below.
4. His soul rises up in fervent aspirations after God, Whom have I in heaven but thee? A covenant God is the sole object of the believer’s worship and confidence, from whom alone he expects his felicity, and in the enjoyment of whom his eternal happiness consists. He hopes to be happy in heaven, because God is there: and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee, all that earth affords, health, wealth, friends, family, honour, &c. are nothing, compared with a sense of God’s love, and the enjoyment of communion with him. All without him cannot satisfy, whilst, in the want of all, he can satisfy our souls, and be to us a better portion than ten thousand worlds. Note, (1.) The more we see of God’s excellence and all-sufficiency, the less we shall regard every thing besides. (2.) What cause have we to lament the coldness of our hearts, that so little correspond with the psalmist’s fervent desires!
5. In every distress he rests his soul upon this Almighty God, his everlasting portion. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength, or rock, of my heart, to support me in every distress, and my portion for ever; when the body is laid in the dust and forgotten, God would be still the same to him, the portion of his immortal soul. Note, (1.) We must expect the hour, when this feeble flesh shall fail, and sickness, or age, bring us to the grave. (2.) Death is terrible to nature, and our heart, as well as flesh, will fail us in that trying season, unless God be our strength, and faith in his power and grace removes the sting of death. (3.) They who make God their rock in time, will find him their portion in eternity.
6. Miserable will be the end of the ungodly. For lo, they that are far from thee, that depart from God in heart and conduct, and live estranged from his love, worship, and service, shall perish eternally. Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee, that follow other gods, or, idolatrously attached to the creature, love and serve it more than their Creator; all such sinners have perished, and all such will perish to the end of time, who thus apostatize from God. Note, Let no willful sinner hope for impunity; none every yet hardened his heart against God, and prospered.
7. He declares his fixed purpose of cleaving to God. But it is good for me to draw near unto God in prayer, and all those means of grace, whereby communion with God is maintained, and which they, who have their souls truly attached to him, find most profitable and delightful. I have put my trust in the Lord God, who will never disappoint my expectations, that I may declare all thy words of providence and grace, wherein his faithfulness and mercy appear, and for which we owe everlasting praise. Note, (1.) They who know the comfort of communion with God, can say by experience, it is good to draw near to him. (2.) None ever trusted on him, and were confounded. (3.) The more we are enabled to trust him, the more shall we see cause to praise him.