It speaks to the Christian experience. In it, the psalmist Asaph is pouring out his misery. He's discontented because the world is influencing him, and he's envious of what other people seem to have. They don't walk with God and yet they seem so blessed.
a. Truly God is good to Israel: Asaph began this psalm with a simple declaration of the goodness of God to His people. By this he indicated that he understood not only that God was good, but that He actively showed that goodness to Israel and to the pure in heart.
Psalm 73 A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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.
“Lord, thank you for my suffering. This life is hard, my body fails me, but I know that through it all You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. My suffering drives me even deeper into Your love and shows me that Your grace is enough, every single day. “Thank you for the hope of heaven.
It has been categorized as one of the Wisdom Psalms", but some writers are hesitant about using this description because of its "strongly personal tone" and the references in the psalm to the temple (verses 10, his people return here, and 17, the sanctuary of God).
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 73:16-17
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.
Even if our flesh, our heart or our spirit may grow weak or fail, God is still forever our strength. This means that even if our body will be struck with the worst diseases, or if our heart gets broken over and over again, or of we are crushed in spirit and see no hope, God will forever be our strength, our comfort.
Origin:Hebrew. Meaning:gatherer of people. Asaph is a masculine name of Hebrew origin. Derived from 'āsāp̄, "collector," Asaph means "a gatherer of people." It's a rare name that speaks to a warm and welcoming soul inspired by the biblical musical leader.
Theme of the Service. Psalm 73, a Psalm of Asaph, is one of those psalms which speaks very candidly about the seeming inequities of life and expresses honest doubts and questions to God.
It is comprised of four sections (vv. 15-17; 18-20; 21-26; 27-28), similar to the structure of the first half (vv. 2-3; 4-9; 10-12; 13-14) although the order is reversed.
In Chronicles, it is said that Asaph was a descendant of Gershon the son of Levi and he is identified as a member of the Levites. He is also known as one of the three Levites commissioned by David to be in charge of singing in the house of Yahweh (see below).
Asaph was a person, and he was a worship leader assigned by David for the tabernacle choir.
The Comfort of God's Intimate Presence (Psalm 73:23-24a)
" 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. Asaph begins by looking at his present blessings. The structures of life around us -- the people, loved ones, our jobs, our security -- all these can change suddenly, even unalterably.
This Psalm is for the discouraged and doubters. It is for those who are frustrated when immoral people get their way, when justice is not served, and when the needy are overlooked. Then, in verses 25-26, he talks truth to himself.
Context Summary. Psalm 73:10–14 describes a kind of despair, to which God's people are often tempted. Scripture notes that following God's will is a surer path to success than rejecting Him (Proverbs 9:10–12), but those who do evil can sometimes prosper.
2 Chronicles 29:13-30 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah: 14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
Asaph (Hebrew: אָסָף 'Āsāp̄, "Gather") is the name of three men from the Hebrew bible. The articles related to the son of Berachiah and descendant of Kohath refer to the same person.
But in the New Living Translation of Psalm 68:19, Selah is translated as “Interlude.” “Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day, he carries us in his arms. Interlude.” This could mean a musical interlude, considering the Psalms are often used as hymns.
It means that I am loved all the time and for eternity. I can rest, I can stop striving, I can stop worrying, I lack nothing because He is my Shepherd. God's presence means comfort and security. By His indwelling, the Holy Spirit comforts us in all our troubles. There is nothing that compares to the comfort of God.
Psalm 73:28: Asking God to Remind Us That He is Better Than the World. Yes. God, bring us to this realization in our lives, we pray, that there is nothing this world can offer to us that is anywhere close, that is cumulatively close.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
God will judge the wicked, and He will reward the righteous; those who have turned away from their sins, and followed Jesus as their Savior. And for all eternity, we will know that was worth it all, in the end, to serve God, no matter what we suffered here on this earth. That's the message of Psalm 73.
In essence, the verse means that God, the Lord above all, is fully with those who are distraught, and He saves those who fear Him and repent of their wrongs. He's with those who belong to Him who experience hardship and suffering, whose hearts are crushed by the tragedies and discords of life.
Through the Psalms, we learn about the importance of prayer and the acknowledgment of pain, as well as the power of praise and fulfillment of prophecy. This book has been designed as a prayer book for God's people as they wait for the arrival of the Messiah and the fulfillment of God's promises.