Psalms 73
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Chapter 73
Chapter Overview:
Verses:
It is probable, Asaph was the author of this psalm; for we read of the words of David and the words of Asaph the seer, which were used in praising God in Hezekiah's time, 2 Chronicles 29:30 .
He begins with laying down a general principle, ver. 1.
Confesses his temptation to envy the wicked, ver. 2 - 14.
Tells how he gained the victory over it, and advantage by it, ver. 15 - 28.
A psalm of Asaph.
73:1 | A clean heart - To all true Israelites, who love God, and serve him in spirit and truth. |
73:2 | My feet - My faith in God's providence, was almost overthrown. |
73:4 | No bands - They are not dragged to death, by the sentence of the magistrate, which they deserve. |
73:5 | As other men - As good men frequently are. |
73:8 | And speak - Boasting of their oppressions. |
73:9 | Against - Against God, blaspheming his name, and deriding his providence. Walketh - Using all manner of liberty, reproaching all sorts of persons. |
73:10 | Turn - To this wicked company. Waters - And partake of the same prosperity with their leaders. God seems to give them a full cup of consolation, as if he would wring out all his blessings upon them. |
73:12 | Behold - These seem to be the words of the psalmist, summing up the matter. |
73:13 | In vain - Hence I was sometimes tempted, to think that religion was a vain, unprofitable thing. True religion is here described by its two principal parts, the cleansing of the heart, and the hands. |
73:15 | Offend - By grieving, discouraging and tempting them to revolt from God. |
73:16 | To know - To find out the reason of this providence. |
73:17 | Until - 'Till I consulted the word of God. He alludes to the practice of those times, which was, in difficult cases to resort to God's sanctuary, and the oracle therein. Their end - There I learned that their prosperity was short. |
73:19 | Terrors - With God's dreadful judgements unexpectedly seizing upon them. |
73:20 | They awake - Out of the pleasant dream of this vain life.Despise - Thou shalt make them despicable both to themselves and to all others; raise them to shame, and everlasting contempt.Image - All their felicity and glory, which shall be evidently discerned to be, no real or substantial thing, but a mere image or shadow. |
73:21 | Pricked - I was deeply wounded with disquieting thoughts. |
73:22 | Nevertheless - Although I gave thee just cause to cast me off, yet thou didst continue thy care and kindness to me.Hast held - That my faith might not fail. |
73:27 | Go a whoring - Those who revolt from thee, to work wickedness; which is called whoredom in scripture. |