View Psalms 73 in the note window.
It is probable, Asaph was the author of this psalm; for we read of
the words of David and the words of Asaph the seer, which were used in
praising God in Hezekiah's time, (2Ch 29:30).
He begins with laying down a general principle, ver. 1.
Confesses his temptation to envy the wicked, ver. 2 - 14.
Tells how he gained the victory over it, and advantage by it,
ver. 15 - 28.
A psalm of Asaph.
1: A clean heart - To all true Israelites, who love God, and serve
him in spirit and truth.
2: My feet - My faith in God's providence, was almost overthrown.
4: No bands - They are not dragged to death, by the sentence of the
magistrate, which they deserve.
5: As other men - As good men frequently are.
8: And speak - Boasting of their oppressions.
9: Against - Against God, blaspheming his name, and deriding his
providence. Walketh - Using all manner of liberty, reproaching all
sorts of persons.
10: Turn - To this wicked company. Waters - And partake of the same
prosperity with their leaders. God seems to give them a full cup of
consolation, as if he would wring out all his blessings upon them.
12: Behold - These seem to be the words of the psalmist, summing up
the matter.
13: In vain - Hence I was sometimes tempted, to think that religion
was a vain, unprofitable thing. True religion is here described by its
two principal parts, the cleansing of the heart, and the hands.
15: Offend - By grieving, discouraging and tempting them to revolt
from God.
16: To know - To find out the reason of this providence.
17: Until - 'Till I consulted the word of God. He alludes to the
practice of those times, which was, in difficult cases to resort to God's
sanctuary, and the oracle therein. Their end - There I learned that their
prosperity was short.
19: Terrors - With God's dreadful judgements unexpectedly seizing
upon them.
20: They awake - Out of the pleasant dream of this vain life.
Despise - Thou shalt make them despicable both to themselves and to all
others; raise them to shame, and everlasting contempt.
Image - All their felicity and glory, which shall be evidently discerned
to be, no real or substantial thing, but a mere image or shadow.
21: Pricked - I was deeply wounded with disquieting thoughts.
22: Nevertheless - Although I gave thee just cause to cast me off,
yet thou didst continue thy care and kindness to me.
Hast held - That my faith might not fail.
27: Go a whoring - Those who revolt from thee, to work wickedness;
which is called whoredom in scripture.
