Chronicles of a Journeyman

Psalm 73

1-3: God’s goodness and Asaph’s struggles

4–12: The prosperity of the wicked

13-17: Asaph’s dismay and discovery

18-20: The true destiny of the wicked

21-24: God’s mercy in Asaph’s struggles

25-28: God – the portion of the righteous

This psalm of Asaph – the first in Book 3 of the book of Psalms – documents the struggles of a man who watches the wicked prevail and prosper in their wickedness.

He declares God’s goodness and relays his (now past) struggles as he observed the prosperity of the wicked. He had to caution himself from speaking out his deductions lest he betray God’s children.

Thankfully, his perspective changed as he entered God’s presence. He realized the sudden destruction that comes upon the wicked and lamented his own foolishness in envying them.

After affirming God’s faithful mercy during his struggles with the wicked’s prosperity, he closes the psalm with a reaffirmation of God’s faithfulness to His people and commits to telling of all His works!