Psalm 73 - Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee!

 

Psalm 73 KJV Commentary Dennis Edwards

73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

Having a clean heart is the key in our relationship with God and others. How can we have clean hearts, when we are plagued by our own sins? God’s word tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. It is by admitting that we are sinners, seeking for God’s forgiveness, and by changing our behaviour and attitude as a result that brings about our relationship with God. It’s by walking humbly before Him. We read in Micah:

“O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

David, in his repentance over his sins concerning Bathsheba and Uriah prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me,” Psalm 51:10.

It is only God that can forgive sins and cleanse our hearts from iniquity. Jesus said to his disciples, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you,” John 15:3. He prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth,” John 17:17. It is receiving and believing God’s word that we are cleansed.

It is in receiving and believing in Jesus, the Word made flesh, that our hearts are cleansed and made new. We put on the righteousness that is in Christ. “For He (God) has made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Corinthians 5:21. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, (with a new heart): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them,” Ezekiel 36:26.

When we receive Jesus into our hearts, our hearts are cleansed of sin and we become new creatures. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” John 1:12. As a result of the new relationship with God through Jesus, we hide God’s word in our hearts, that we might not sin against him. “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee,” Psalm 119:13.

Jesus is the light of the world. His word is a light and a lamp. Apostle John says, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:7-9.

It is the humble, repentant sinner, like King David or Zacheus, who has the clean heart. It’s the thief on the cross who finds forgiveness and not the self-righteous religious leaders that condemned him to death. Our hearts are only cleansed through Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross. It is our receiving and believing in Him and His righteousness into our heart, mind, body, and soul that brings us eternal life.

Psalm 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped.

Asaph is confessing that he has been comparing his own life with that of the ungodly rich. Apostle Paul has warned about comparing ourselves with others.

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measure themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise,” 2 Corinthians 10:12.

Much of the rest of the psalm is similar to David’s Psalm 37 a condemnation of the wicked. Asaph goes on to describe the wicked and his behaviour.

Psalm 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

David in Psalm 37 admonished, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb,” Psalm 37:1-2.

Our tendency is to be envious. We need to keep the heavenly outlook. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come,” Hebrews 13:14. We need to keep looking up to the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ, and not compare ourselves with others.

Psalm 73:4-5 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

The rich are able to avoid the inheritance tax at their death. They have their money in foundations and or off-shore accounts so that they can avoid paying hight taxes. They are able to secure their wealth and pass it own to the next generation fully in tack. Their money generally is able to save them from many of the troubles that other men suffer.

Psalm 73:6 Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.

As we have seen in the releasing of the Epstein files, they are capable of violence in order to maintain their secrecy, their wealth and their power.

Psalm 73:7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

The national deficit owed to the Federal Reserve Bank is actually owed to a private corporation, a private group of international banking families. If everyone really understood the banking system and how it works, there would be a revolution tomorrow. It’s a scam, a Ponzi scheme, with the rich on top and the poor man holding him up with his sweat and his labour.

Psalm 73:8-9 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.

The trouble is that the rich, through their money, controls the media: newspapers, magazines, television, cinema, internet. They can produce films and programs where they promote behaviours contrary to God’s word and the character of Jesus. They “speak great words against the most High,” [Daniel 7:25a.]

Psalm 73:10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

It seems God’s people are often tempted to taste the waters poured out by the culture. We doubt whether it’s really worth it to follow God so closely and passionately. Is there really “wisdom” in following God 100%?

Psalm 73:11 And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

The culture proclaims we should enjoy ourselves and live for ourselves. There is no God to worry about. Don’t be overly religious. There’s no point. We, the Godly, are tempted by their propaganda.

Psalm 73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

The believer can be tempted to faint in his mind when he compares himself with the ungodly. He sees the ungodly rich and increased with goods, when he himself struggles to get ahead.

Psalm 73:13-14 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.  For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

The Psalmist is questioning whether all his dedication to following God closely is really worth it. He has been denying himself and taking up his cross daily, but it doesn’t seem to be helping him in the present. The rich who aren’t seeking and following God seemed blessed, while he is plagued with problems.

Psalm 73:15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

He realises that if he speaks what he is thinking, it will hurt the faith of others. He knows enough that he should not share his doubts.

Psalm 73:16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Nevertheless, he can’t seem to figure out God’s ways. Why does it seem that the unrighteous prosper and the just suffer? He doesn’t seem to come up with good answers that satisfy his soul. It is too painful to think how the righteous suffer in the present life.

Psalm 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

It wasn’t until he spent time with God in prayer, meditation, and reading His word that he finally understood, he finally understood the reward of the wicked.

Psalm 73:18-19 Surely, thou didst set them in slippery places: thou casted them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Here again he is talking about the rich and increased with goods in the present life. Their riches cause them to forget God. Their forgetting God leads to their ultimate downfall, and in the next life, “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Psalm 73: 20 As a dream when one awakes; so, O Lord, when You awake, thou shalt despise their image.

The rich are living in a dream world. One day they will awake to reality, but it will be too late. The Lord, also, shall one day “awake” from His apparent sleep, to judge and condemn the unrighteous, and despise their habitation.

Psalm 73:21-22 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

The Psalmist realises his mistake in envying the wicked. He was looking through the natural eyes, and not through his spiritual eyes. He had taken on a naturalistic ungodly mindset. When he puts back on the supernatural believing mindset, he sees things as God sees them.

Psalm 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

He realises that God is the source of his life. It is God that upholds him with the right hand of His righteousness.

Psalm 73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  

It is God that leads and guides are steps, if we seek for His for His guidance. The Lord is preparing a place for us, that where He is, we may be, also.

Psalm 73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Our desires need to be for God above every and any other desires. Seek God first, and all the other things will be given unto you. Though at times we may stumble and fall, we may even end up discouraged, God will give us strength to carry on. He is our reward for eternity. The wicked who have their reward in the present life.

Psalm 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

If we go a whoring after other gods, who are not God, we will bring upon ourselves our own destruction. The Lord admonishes us to cling to Him, to cleave to Him, and not to the gods of the present world. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, are not of the Father, but of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust, thereof, but he that does the will of God abides forever.” [1 John 2:15-17]

Psalm 73:19 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.

If we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. He will fulfil all our petitions. Not necessarily in the way we desire, but according to what God knows is best for us. In the meantime, God desires that we do our best to share His love and truth with others. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” [Mark 16:15]