Psalm 73
A psalm is a poem or a song.
Many of them were written for worship in the Temple or the synagogues, and they are often shockingly honest, covering the full range of human emotion. Psalm 73 is one of those psalms. It does not pretend that life is simple, and it does not shy away from the questions that quietly trouble all of us. We are going to walk through the whole psalm, reading a section and then considering what it means before moving on to the next.
God Is Good
The psalm opens with its conclusion before it ever asks a single question.
Psalm 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
This is where we are going to end up, but it is worth noticing where we begin. God is good. That goodness is bound up in His character, His actions, and His motives. The opening verse also tells us that those whose hearts are pure will experience and enjoy that goodness. Having a heart for God invites His blessing, and remaining faithful and obedient draws us closer to Him.
We may believe that this is true and right, and yet life does not always look that way. It can be genuinely difficult to see the goodness and justice of God in the world around us, and that is exactly the tension the next few verses put into words.
An Honest Look at Injustice
Psalm 73:2-9 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives. Their bodies are so healthy and strong. They do not have troubles like other people. They are not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for. They scoff and speak only evil. In their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
We have all seen this. People get ahead even though they cheat and lie. People find success even though they act dishonorably. People full of pride and ego come out on top, and when we see it, the injustice agitates us. The psalm began by saying that God is good and blesses those whose hearts are pure, but here it honestly admits how often the good times seem to belong to those who reject God entirely. The author confesses that he almost lost his footing. The envy and outrage at this injustice nearly ate away at him, and bitterness was causing him to lose heart.
When Doubt Creeps In
Psalm 73:10-12 And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. "What does God know?" they ask. "Does the Most High even know what is happening?" Look at these wicked people, enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
What we observe shapes how we see everything else. The complexity and struggle of life can stir up doubt and questions among God's people. I am assuming that all of us can identify with this. Have any of us never asked these questions? Never felt the dismay or confusion the psalm describes? Never wondered where God is in all the injustice and hardship of the world? As we reflect on our own lives, the world around us, and human history, the same questions rise to the surface.
Wrestling through doubt and confusion is part of a life of faith. Pretending otherwise is not helpful. In fact, contending with difficult questions is one of the things that makes our faith strong.
One of the most common objections raised by skeptics is what is often called the problem of evil. The argument goes something like this. If God is all powerful, He could stop evil. If God is all good, He would want to stop evil. Yet evil, suffering, injustice, disease, war, and tragedy exist all around us. Therefore, the argument concludes, either God is not all powerful, not all good, or He does not exist at all. What is fascinating is that Psalm 73 wrestles with a very similar question. The psalmist is not questioning whether God exists, but he is struggling with the apparent unfairness of life. He looks around, sees arrogant and wicked people prospering while faithful people suffer, and it shakes him to the core. The difference is that while many skeptics use the problem of evil as a reason to walk away from God, the psalmist brings his questions, doubts, frustration, and confusion into the presence of God. There he discovers that the answer is not found in denying God, but in seeing life from God's perspective.
It raises the question. Is God passive? Is He simply watching from a distance while injustice spreads unchecked? When the wicked prosper, the innocent suffer, prayers seem unanswered, and life feels unfair, it is easy to wonder whether God is truly involved at all. That is the tension the psalmist feels, and the longer he stares at the prosperity of the wicked, the more dangerous his conclusion becomes.
Is Faithfulness Even Worth It?
Psalm 73:13-14 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long. Every morning brings me pain.
Here is the heart of it. Is a life of discipline worth it? Remember verse 1. God is good to those whose hearts are pure. So what do we do when life does not look like that? If the wicked get ahead and the righteous struggle, then what is the benefit of faithfulness at all?
Psalm 73:15-16 If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is.
The book of Ecclesiastes has become one of my favorite books of the Bible. The older I get, the more its questions resonate with me. These verses echo one of its major themes. Like the author of Ecclesiastes, the psalmist looks at life "under the sun" and discovers that it does not always make sense. The righteous do not always prosper, the wicked do not always suffer, and the outcomes we expect are not always the outcomes we see. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there are aspects of God's work that are simply beyond our ability to fully understand, and the psalmist arrives at the same place here. He tries to reason it out and make all the pieces fit, but some questions are too heavy for human wisdom alone.
So what do we do with this confusion? How do we hold onto the truth that God is good and just in spite of the suffering and tragedy in the world?
A Change of Perspective in the Sanctuary
Psalm 73:17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
This is the turning point. He makes sense of it by going into the sanctuary. For the original author, that meant going into the tabernacle, the designated place of worship. We might read it as church, but I believe it applies to any time we set aside for prayer, for seeking God, or for devoted worship. It is through worship that our perspective begins to change.
How do we start coming to terms with the injustice in the world? How do we keep going as faithful people when God's promises and what we see in front of us do not line up? We set our minds on Him. We take time in prayer and worship. We set aside our distractions, put our phones away, and seek God for His wisdom and His assurance. What turned this around for the psalmist was going to the sanctuary to seek God, and the same path is open to us today.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Psalm 73:17-20 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
Through worship the psalmist realizes that he had been measuring things on too small a scale. The timeframe he was observing was short. Remembering how limited our understanding is, and comparing it to the complete and total knowledge of God, invites us to see life differently. This is not about celebrating anyone's downfall. It is about uncovering the myth that rejecting God, mistreating people, and feeding our self centeredness can lead to the kind of joy and contentment we actually want.
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be misled. You cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Drawing Near to God
Psalm 73:21-28 Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant. I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you. You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart. He is mine forever. Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
This change in perspective leads us closer to God. Instead of bitterness, anger, or foolishness, we remember that God is with us. The imagery is that He holds our hand as we navigate life, that He guides us toward a glorious destiny, and that He is the strength we need.
This may sound flowery or emotional, but it is the real life experience of those who put their faith and trust in Him. It may sound sentimental, but this is the life of faith. This is the endurance the New Testament authors wrote about. This is the white knuckle grip of holding on when life does not make sense. This is the faith that keeps you going in a hospital waiting room. This is what sustains you when it is all falling apart and you have no idea if it can ever be put back together. This is what keeps your head in the game when people who mock your faith get promoted over you, or people who openly reject God flaunt things you only dream about.
The Problem of Envy
Maybe you have watched co workers lie, cut corners, and act unethically, and yet they are the ones who get the promotion. It is incredibly easy to feel a punch to the gut when a neighbor gets a new car, a boat, or a lavish vacation. Envy has a way of sneaking up on us, often in people who never thought of themselves as envious at all.
It is often said that comparison is the thief of joy. We have heard it many times, and we probably agree with it, but agreeing with it does not automatically stop us from comparing ourselves to those around us. Social media has only multiplied the problem and distorted it further. We are now conditioned to compare ourselves with the very best and most carefully curated snapshots of someone else's life.
A Change in Perspective
The remedy is a change of perspective. The psalmist went into the sanctuary and changed how he understood what he saw around him. Though he watched people get ahead in life despite rejecting God and His promises, a new perspective revealed that their path did not lead to long term, deep joy, peace, or fulfillment.
There is real power in reminding ourselves of what we already know. We know comparison is the thief of joy. We know that social media only shows the best possible version of a life. We know that even someone who has good things going on is not immune to difficulty, just as we are not. And as we hold all of this together, it is worth asking what we are really pursuing. What is our goal? What is the prize we are striving for?
Jesus Is the Prize
A change in perspective forces us to question how we measure success and victory. If it is not money, fame, private jets, or lavish vacations, then what is it? The biblical answer points to two things. The first is Jesus Himself. Having a relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is the greatest prize of all. It is having our souls come alive in Him, enjoying the new life only He can give, and living day after day with Him at the very center of our lives. It is finding out for ourselves that the scripture is true, that if we draw close to God, He will draw close to us, and discovering that this relationship with the Creator of the universe is the greatest prize imaginable.
Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
There is something freeing in this. We are no longer striving to get the prize. We are learning how to live as people who already have it. When an unknown actor wins an Oscar, the work shifts to learning how to live as an award winner. What Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection is infinitely more consequential than any of that. It means we can be forgiven. The debt was repaid. Jesus took the punishment and the consequence so that we could come home and enjoy a restored relationship with our Creator. That is the ultimate prize, and we already have it. Christian discipleship is learning how to live as people who have received the prize, not learning how to earn the love of God or merit His mercy. We have been welcomed back into the house, and now we relearn how to live in our new home.
Enjoying and Sharing the Good Gifts
The second prize is to enjoy the blessings He has given us. It is to delight in the good things that flow out of a restored relationship with God.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. These are gifts from God.
And the blessings are not meant to be hoarded. They are meant to be shared.
Acts 20:33-35 I have never coveted anyone's silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Because the psalmist has changed his perspective, he now sees that success is not measured by wealth, status, or recognition. The greatest prize is God Himself, to know Him, walk with Him, and enjoy a restored relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. And because we already possess this prize through the gospel, we no longer spend our lives striving to earn God's love or prove our worth. We learn how to live as people who have already received the greatest gift imaginable. From that relationship flows every other blessing, the ability to enjoy the good gifts God has given, to find joy in ordinary life, and to generously share those blessings with others. When God becomes the prize, everything else finally finds its proper place.
What Would Change?
So what would happen if we actually lived this way? I think we would spend far less time wondering how green everyone else's grass is, and far more time enjoying the good things God has given us. Our faith would become steadier, because our confidence would no longer rise and fall with our circumstances. We would find ourselves enjoying simple blessings again, laughing with a spouse, teaching the kids something, sharing a meal with friends, finding a way to help someone. Instead of constantly asking why someone else has what they have, we would begin to say, "God, thank You for what You have given me." And when difficult seasons come, because they still will, our faith would stand firmer, because our hope is not built on circumstances, success, or possessions. It is built on Jesus Himself, the prize we have already received.
The world keeps telling us the prize is out there somewhere, in more money, more success, more recognition, more possessions. But Psalm 73 reminds us that the greatest blessing is not something we spend our lives trying to grab hold of. It is Jesus Himself. And when we recognize that Jesus is more than enough, everything else finally falls into its proper place.
Reflection Questions
Where is envy quietly shaping your thinking?
What would change if Jesus truly became your greatest treasure?
A Closing Word
Psalm 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
Psalm 73:17 I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood.
Psalm 73:23-28 I belong to you. You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart. He is mine forever. How good it is to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
On their own these are deeply encouraging words, but the whole psalm also carries the pain of real life. It does not omit the confusion and difficulty of what we see around us. These uplifting words are true and real in spite of the hardships of life. The promises in this psalm hold even though we live on this side of eternity.
The incredible story of the Bible is that God became involved in His own creation. He does not only reign supreme, knowing the beginning from the end and holding the whole universe in His hands. He also humbled Himself to become human. He sent His Son, as a baby, so He could grow up and teach the world what it means to find our place in the eternal Kingdom of God. He promised forgiveness even for the worst of the worst, and He went to the cross to defeat the sin and death that have been plaguing God's good creation ever since Adam and Eve. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is God's ultimate answer to the injustice and suffering in the world. We can look around and be heartbroken at the pain we see, and the message of the gospel is that God shares that heartbreak. We are devastated, and He is devastated. His answer was to become one of us in order to fix the problem we could never fix ourselves. On the cross, Jesus took our place and received the punishment we deserved. Because the penalty for sin has been paid, the invitation now goes out to everyone. Through Him we can be forgiven, restored to God, and look forward to eternal joy and peace. We can take our place in heaven, not because we are more worthy or better behaved than anyone else, but because we have freely accepted His gift of forgiveness. Though this gift is free to us, it cost Him His life on the cross. And the Bible says He endured it because He knew that on the other side of the cross was joy. That joy was you, and me, and everyone else who accepts this gift of forgiveness, so that the broken relationship between us and our Heavenly Father could finally be restored.
