Psalm 73
Theme
Why Do the Wicked Prosper?
Outline
1-14, The psalmist, tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked, 15-20, by considering the end of the wicked is convinced of their misery. 21-28, He is humbled by his own folly, and comforted in God's presence.
Key Verse
(73:25) Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. (73:1) Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.
Notes
In Psalm (73:1–12) the psalmist reflects on how he was tempted when he beheld the shalom of the wicked. He then relates in (73:13–17) how he was tempted to betray God’s people by envying the wicked, until he entered God’s holy places and perceived the end that awaits the enemies of God. Psalm 73 concludes in (73:18–28) with a resolution of the problem that tempted the psalmist in the opening section, describing the destruction of the wicked and the goodness of God’s presence.