Day 489: The final curtain – Psalm 73
1-3 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4-9 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. 10-11 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. 13-14 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16-20 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21-22 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast towards you. 23-24 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterwards you will receive me to glory. 25-28 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Psalm 73 English Standard Version.
Has it ever distressed you to see how people who are powerful, wealthy and arrogant seem to get away with everything and never be held to account? The man who wrote this Psalm must have felt that sort of distress. He almost gave up his faith because of being envious of how people who obviously cared nothing about God or goodness had such easy carefree lifestyles! (vs 1-3) He describes them as not having troubles like other people; being proud and even cruel; and having everything their hearts could wish for! They even scoff at God. (vs 4-9) He began to wonder if all his wrestling against temptation and sin was all for nothing.(vs 13-14). What is the dangerous outcome of this sort of thinking? (vs 21-22 & vs 15)
He realized that envy of the wicked had made him all bitter and twisted inside. He also realized that if he had spoken to others about all his doubts and anger he may have caused them to lose their faith too! Fortunately he recovered his footing! What led to his recovery? (vs 16-17)
Basically it was that he saw the wider and better perspective of things. It dawned on him that this world isn't the final picture! It’s only when life ends that the true outcome is known. He realized that, whereas the wicked will be swept away in a moment, God fearing people can say to God: “You guide me with your counsel, and will afterwards receive me to glory.”
Yes, wicked people do flourish in this world and in this life. It's often those who are full of hate and who are opposed to God who take centre stage. And it often seems as if God is silent. But the final curtain still has to fall. That's why the writer ends by saying to God: “Whom have I in heaven but You? There’s nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever! For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to You. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.” Don't be discouraged when ungodliness and wickedness is flourishing - and don't give up telling people of God's works. The final curtain has yet to fall.