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73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
73:4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
73:5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
73:6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
73:7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
73:8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
73:9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
73:10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
73:11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
73:13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
73:14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
73:15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
73:16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
73:18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
73:19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
73:20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.



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Everything King James Bible:Psalms
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 73

Overview:
The psalmist's Temptation. (1-14) How he gained a victory over
it. (15-20) How he profited By it. (21-28)

1-14 The psalmist was strongly tempted to envy the prosperity
of the wicked; a common Temptation, which has tried the graces
of many saints. But he lays down the great principle By which he
resolved to abide. It is the Goodness of God. This is a Truth
which cannot be shaken. Good thoughts of God will fortify
against Satan's temptations. The Faith even of strong believers
may be sorely shaken, and ready to fail. There are storms that
will try the firmest anchors. Foolish and wicked people have
sometimes a great share of outward prosperity. They seem to have
the least share of the troubles of this Life; and they seem to
have the greatest share of its comforts. They live without the
fear of God, yet they prosper, and get On in the world. Wicked
men often spend their lives without much sickness, and End them
without great pain; while many godly persons scarcely know what
health is, and die with great sufferings. Often the wicked are
not frightened, either By the remembrance of their sins, or the
prospect of their misery, but they die without terror. We cannot
Judge men's state Beyond Death, By what passes at their Death.
He looked abroad, and saw many of God's people greatly at a
loss. Because the wicked are So very daring, therefore his
people return hither; they know not what to say to it, and the
rather, because they Drink Deep of the Bitter Cup of affliction.
He spoke feelingly when he spoke of his own troubles; there is
No disputing against sense, except By Faith. From all this arose
a strong Temptation to cast off religion. But let us learn that
the true course of Sanctification consists in cleansing a Man
from all pollution both of soul and body. The Heart is cleansed
By the Blood of Christ laid Hold upon By Faith; and By the begun
Works of the Lord's Spirit, manifested in the hearty resolution,
purpose, and study of Holiness, and a blameless course of Life
and actions, the hands are cleansed. It is not in vain to serve
God and keep his ordinances.

15-20 The psalmist having shown the progress of his Temptation,
shows how Faith and Grace prevailed. He kept up respect for
God's people, and with that he restrained himself from speaking
what he had thought amiss. It is a sign that we repent of the
evil thoughts of the Heart, if we suppress them. Nothing gives
more Offence to God's children, than to say it is vain to serve
God; for there is nothing more contrary to their universal
experience. He prayed to God to make this matter Plain to him;
and he understood the wretched End of wicked people; even in the
height of their prosperity they were but ripening for ruin. The
Sanctuary must be the resort of a tempted soul. The righteous
Man's Afflictions End in peace, therefore he is happy; the
wicked Man's enjoyments End in Destruction, therefore he is
miserable. The prosperity of the wicked is short and uncertain,
slippery places. See what their prosperity is; it is but a vain
show, it is only a corrupt imagination, not substance, but a
mere Shadow; it is as a Dream, which may please us a little
while we are slumbering, yet even then it disturbs our repose.

21-28 God would not suffer his people to be tempted, if his
Grace were not sufficient, not only to save them from harm, but
to make them gainers By it. This Temptation, the working of envy
and discontent, is very painful. In reflecting upon it, the
psalmist owns it was his folly and ignorance thus to vex
himself. If good men, at any time, through the surprise and
strength of Temptation, think, or speak, or act amiss, they will
reflect upon it with sorrow and shame. We must ascribe our
safety in Temptation, and our victory, not to our own Wisdom,
but to the gracious presence of God with us, and Christ's
intercession for us. All who commit themselves to God, shall be
guided with the counsel both of his Word and of his Spirit, the
best counsellors here, and shall be received to his Glory in
another world; the believing hopes and prospects of which will
reconcile us to all dark providences. And the psalmist was
hereby quickened to cleave the closer to God. Heaven itself
could not make us happy without the presence and Love of our
God. The world and all its Glory vanishes. The body will fail By
sickness, Age, and Death; when the Flesh fails, the conduct,
courage, and comfort fail. But Christ Jesus, our Lord, offers to
be all in all to every Poor sinner, who renounces all other
portions and confidences. By Sin we are all far from God. And a
profession of Christ, if we go On in Sin, will increase our
condemnation. May we draw near, and keep near, to our God, By
Faith and Prayer, and find it good to do So. Those that with an
upright Heart Put their trust in God, shall never want matter
for thanksgiving to him. Blessed Lord, who hast So graciously
promised to become our portion in the next world, prevent us
from choosing any other in this.

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