Psalm 73 is a Psalm that contrasts the end of the wicked and the end of the righteous. For the believer, we know that heaven awaits us, promised to us by God. But time under the sun creates a struggle of this fleshly body we inhabit. The Psalmist says in vs. 1 “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart!” I agree. However, the conjunction “but” appears and here is where many of us find ourselves. Vs. 2 “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped” but why did he says this? Vs. 3 confirms “For I was envious of the arrogant, as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Before you start condemning the psalmist for having this view, it should be noted that you may have had or have this view now. 

Let’s be honest, inhabiting this sinful, fleshly body, we desire to have what makes us satisfied temporarily. We look at those who are openly against God and see the success they have. The psalmist did this. Notice what he observed. In vs. 4-9, it seems they had no pain in death. He observed they are “fat,” meaning they didn’t seem to lack anything. He indicated he observed they are not in trouble for their sinful behavior, so it seems. They are prideful. He speaks of them oppressing, speaking mockingly and how they have set their mouths against heaven (God). Of course, this seems to be quite familiar to many today in our culture. Many observe and do these very things, yet they seem to do so without trouble.

As the Psalmist continues in vs. 10-14, he addresses two main thoughts. First, the wicked are always at ease and increase in wealth. We seem to think the same today as we look at the wicked evil around us seemingly increasing. Second, he makes a bombshell point as well. He begins to question his commitment to holiness and purity in vs. 13, “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence.” Yes, he seemed to think it would have been better to enjoy the sin, pleasure and ways of the wicked since they seem to not have any distress. 

It appears as if the psalmist is wavering; however, as he pondered (vs. 16), something changed his direction of thought. It wasn’t until he came to the sanctuary of God (vs. 17) that he perceived their end. It takes a moment with God in His word to determine that the way of the righteous is far better than the seemingly easy way of the wicked. The psalmist said, “Then I perceived their end” (vs. 17), indicating he knew the eternal destruction without God. What was clear was the ease and enjoyment would soon end in judgement. What he learned was their end, which was they were on slippery slopes. That God cast them down to destruction. And how they are destroyed in a moment, in a flash, and utterly swept away by sudden terror. What was ease on the outside became quite the revelation to the psalmist, the wicked suffer far greater than the righteous. 

There truly is a point in our spiritual walk when we realize the eternal end of the wicked. It’s always because we saturate ourselves in the word of God, seeking, looking and reading. It’s easy for us to think that other people have it easier or better in this life. Solomon sought for these pleasures and never found them, cf. Ecclesiastes 1-2. The psalmist speaks of honesty in his feelings towards the apparent ease of others. But when he comes to understanding of God’s ways, he is overwhelmingly reassured. 

The confession of the psalmist comes as he truly sees the hope he has versus the hope of the wicked, which rests in things, not an eternal God. In vs. 21, the confession is made “When my heart was embittered, and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before you.” Have you been embittered? Have you felt senseless and ignorant when you realize, your complaint before God? Nevertheless, God does not forsake us because we have a complaint. In fact, He takes hold of us (vs. 23) and guides us through this life to eternity (vs. 24) where we will receive the glorious place of heaven. This hope is far better than that of the wicked. The pleasures of this life, which are temporal, won’t last beyond the earth. The psalmist found his hope and pleasure not in things here, but in the hope of glory. 

The last four verses of this Psalm sum up the hope of the righteous. The rhetorical question in vs. 25a “Whom in I in heaven but you?” We ask such questions at times in our life. At the end of the day so to speak, God is the only faithful one. He never fails. However, we cannot stop there. The rest of the verse indicates our true desire, “And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” For the Christian who realizes that this world is a failure, dying, and temporal, the desire of his heart is for God. I think this is what Paul was alluding to in Philippians 1:23 “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.” His desire was to be with God. Every believer, in the midst of trials, has a longing for God. 

Two final thoughts on this Psalm when we see the Psalmist alluding to his heart and flesh failing (vs. 26), we understand this to be true in our own lives. Our heart and flesh fail at the battles and trials under the sun. But God is our strength and portion. While we recognize the hope of the believer, the Psalmist also recognized the doom of the unbeliever. In vs. 27, he looks to see those who are far from Him and they will perish. He is not gloating in their demise, he recognizes the grace and mercy of God in his own life. As we should too. The trials we encounter here on this earth are simply not to be compared to the glory of being with God. He is our refuge (vs. 28), which literally means a safe place. We endure many things to tell “of all Your works” (vs. 28) to a world that’s dying.

We often find ourselves in self-pity given the events that are befallen upon us. We must understand those events are not outside of the control of God. Our foundation rests upon the truth and sovereignty of God. He is not out of control. He is not asleep nor surprised at our current situation. We look to Him to be our refuge and know He is our strength and portion.