Psalm 73 begins the third of five “books” or collections of songs in the Book of Psalms. This third book includes Psalm 73-89. Of these seventeen psalms eleven of them, like this one, are ascribed to the Levite named Asaph. It seems that Book III is a collection of psalms by Asaph (also Psalm 50) who was a leader of one of the Levitical choirs organized by David. David appointed Asaph to assist Heman (the prophet Samuel’s grandson through his son Joel, 1 Chron. 6:31-38 and 1 Samuel 8:1-3) as the leading musician in the worship in the sanctuary (1 Chronicles 6:39). Later when Solomon dedicated the temple in 2 Chronicles 5:12 Asaph, now a legendary musician, was there to perform.
Asaph identifies his problem and the near crash of his faith in 73:2-3. Then in verses 73:4-9 Asaph describes the pleasant and comfortable lot of the wicked:
- No struggles
- Healthy, strong bodies
- Free from common burdens
- No ills
Because of their innate success and the pleasantness of their lives these wicked become prideful of themselves and oppressive of others. They have callous hearts that scoff at the failings of others and gloat arrogantly concerning their own pleasant lot in life. Eventually, they question the existence of God and settle on dismissing him altogether. The wicked continue to live carefree lives and prosper in their secular world view while mocking others who struggle in life and look to God for help. (73:11-12)
In verses 73:13-14 Asaph records the thoughts in his heart that he had been tempted to proclaim out loud (possibly being tempted to put these thoughts into lyrics to be sung to the general public), but he had not:
“Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure:
In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.” - 73:13
Fortunately, Asaph had somehow refrained from speaking these corrupt thoughts in the hearing of others because if these words had been proclaimed, or in the case of Asaph the musician, if these lyrics had been set to song, they could have misled the younger generation:
“If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ I would have betrayed your children.” - 73:15
Yet, the contrast of the life of a righteous man like Asaph compared to the prosperous wicked life of the man who had no fear of God continued to confounded this great Levite. That is until he went to the sanctuary of God and put things in perspective from the divine point of view:
“When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.” - 73:16-17
Asaph credits the Lord with having been faithful and believes the Lord had never left him during this struggle between these two conflicting world views. Asaph says the Lord held him by his right hand through the struggles of this learning process and will continue to guide Asaph into eternal glory. (73:21-24)
When Asaph’s physical life eventually fails, God will be his strength and his portion forever (73:26). This is contrary to the ultimate fate of the godless wicked who will also perish physically, but will be eternally destroyed. (73:27)
Asaph has come full circle from 73:1 to 73:28 to begin and end this psalm confident that God is good and that it is good to be near God. This is the message the lyrics of Asaph's songs will proclaim. Asaph ends this song saying so:
“I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” – 73:28 |
