Bible Commentaries
Psalms 73

Introduction

Psalms 73:0 : PSALMS 73-89. THE THIRD OR LEVITICUS BOOK*. THE SANCTUARY. 73-83. THE SANCTUARY IN RELATION TO MAN. 84-89. THE SANCTUARY IN RELATION TO JEHOVAH. 73-83. THE SANCTUARY IN RELATION TO MAN.. 73. THE EFFECT OF BEING OUTSIDE THE SANCTUARY. OCCUPATION OF HEART WITH OTHERS, AND CONSEQUENT DISTRACTION. 74. THE ENEMY IN THE SANCTUARY. 75. GOD''S ANOINTED IN THE SANCTUARY. 76. DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMIES OF THE SANCTUARY. 77-78. THE EFFECT OF BEING OUTSIDE THE SANCTUARY. OCCUPATION OF HEART WITH SELF, AND CONSEQUENT MISERY. 78 IS INSTRUCTION (Machil AS TO 73 AND 77, SHOWING HOW JEHOVAH FORSOOK "SHILOH" (v. 60), And Choose Not JOSEPH (v. 67):But Choose ZION (vv. Psa 73:68 , Psa 73:69 ), And Choose DAVID (vv. Psa 73:70-72 ). Psa 73:79 . THE ENEMY IN THE SANCTUARY. 80, 81:82. GOD IN THE SANCTUARY. 83. DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMIES OF THE SANCTUARY. 84 89. THE SANCTUARY IN RELATION TO JEHOVAH. 84-85. THE BLESSEDNESS OF APPROACHERS TO THE SANCTUARY. 86. PRAYER BEFORE GOD (IN THE SANCTUARY). MESSIAH''S HUMILIATION THE SECRET AND SOURCE OF THE BLESSING. 87. BLESSEDNESS OF DWELLERS IN ZION. 88. PRAYER BEFORE GOD. INSTRUCTION (Maschil AS TO MESSIAH''S HUMILIATION, AS THE SECRET AND SOURCE OF THE BLESSING. 89. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THOSE WHO "KNOW THE JOYFUL SOUND" (v. 15). GOD IN THE ASSEMBLY OF HIS SAINTS (v. 7). INSTRUCTION AS TO GOD''S DEALINGS IN HIS SANCTUARY, AS TO THE WHOLE BOOK. * LEVITICUS is the title which man has given to the third book of the Pentateuch, because of its subject-matter:viz. the ordinances, &c, pertaining to the Levites. The title in the Hebrew Canon is (vayyikra''), "AND HE CALLED" It is emphatically the Book of the SANCTUARY. It tells how God is to be approached; and teaches us that none can worship except such as are "called" (Psalms 65:4 ), and whom "the Father seeks to worship Him" (John 4:23 , John 4:24 ). In Leviticus 1:1 , Leviticus 1:2 , we see the exemplification of the words:"Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts:we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple" (Psalms 65:4 ). The types in Leviticus are types of the Sanctuary:i. e. of Access and Worship. In this Leviticus-Book of the Psalms we find the corresponding thought. Its teaching is Dispensational, as in the other books; but, in this, the counsels of God are seen, not in relation to Man (as in Genesis), not in relation to the Nation (as in Exodus), but in relation to the SANCTUARY, which is mentioned or referred to in nearly every Psalm of this third book. The Sanctuary is seen from its ruin, to its establishment in the fullness of blessing. In the first Division (73-83) Elohim (Appdx-4. I) occurs sixty-five times (twice with Jehovah); and Jehovah only fifteen times. In the second Division (84-89) Jehovah occurs fifty times, and Elohim only twenty-eight times (four of which are with Jehovah). El (Appdx-4. IV) occurs five times. All the Psalms in the first Division (73-83) are Psalms of Asaph. Maschil. See Appdx-65. XI. All the Psalms (except 86 and 89) in the second Division (84-89) are Psalms of the sons of Korah. 73-89. THE LEVITICUS BOOK. 73-83. THE SANCTUARY IN RELATION TO MAN. This Third Book has to do with the Sanctuary; as the First Book (1-41) had to do with Man; and the Second Book (42-72) had to do with Israel.

Verse 1

Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. See App-65 .

of Asaph. The second of Asaph's twelve Psalms, Psalms 50:0 being the first. See App-63 .

Truly, &c. = Nothing but good is God to Israel. Occurs three times in this Psalm : here, rendered "Truly"; Psalms 73:13 , "Verily"; Psalms 73:18 , "Surely". The uniform rendering would be "Only" or, "After all".

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

good. The conclusion is stated before the distraction of mind caused by occupation of heart with others is described.

Israel. This links on Book III with Book II.

Verse 2

me. Note the emphasis on this (by repetition of the first Person), which is the key to the Psalm.

almost = quickly. See note on Proverbs 5:14 .

gone = stumbled.

Verse 3

foolish = arrogant, or boasters.

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha'.

Verse 4

bands: or pangs. The Massorah calls attention to this Homonym ( harzuboth ) as occurring not only twice, but in two different senses. The other case is Isaiah 58:6 .

in = at.

is. Supply Ellipsis by "continues".

Verse 5

in trouble as other = in the trouble of. Used first of Joseph (Genesis 41:51 .)

like: or with.

men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 6

chain = necklace.

Verse 7

stand out = protrude.

They have, &c.: or The imaginations of their heart overflow.

could wish = could picture, or imagine. Hebrew. maskith. See note on Proverbs 25:11 .

Verse 8

wickedly. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

Verse 9

the heavens . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for God, Who dwells there.

tongue walketh. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia.

earth. Supply the Ellipsis, by adding "[they say]". "Let His People return hither" as in Psalms 73:10 .

Verse 10

His People = God ' s people.

return = tum: i.e. follow.

hither = to us. (Spoken by the wicked.)

are = shall be.

wrung out to = drained by.

Verse 11

How . . . ? is there . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .

MOST HIGH. Hebrew. Elyon. App-4 .

Verse 12

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

ungodly = lawless. Hebrew. rasha . (No Art.)

the world = this age.

Verse 13

Verily. See note on "Truly", Psalms 73:1 .

I have cleansed. This is the result of occupation with others. Distraction. Compare Structure, above.

Verse 14

every morning. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for "continually".

Verse 15

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

offend = deal treacherously. Hebrew. bagad.

children = sons.

Verse 16

thought = pondered [it]. Compare the same word in Psalms 77:5 .

know = reconcile, or understand.

too painful for me = vexation in mine eyes.

Verse 17

the sanctuary. This is the book of the Sanctuary, and nearly every Psalm in it contains some reference to it, or to the congregation who worship in it. Then. Supply "Until" by the Figure of speech Anaphora.

end = latter end, or hereafter.

Verse 18

Surely. See note on "Truly", Psalms 73:1 .

didst set = wilt set.

Verse 19

How are they = How [is it that] they are.

They are = [How is it that] they are.

Verse 20

LORD *. One of the 134 emendations of the Sopherim by which they changed Jehovah, of the primitive text, to Adonai. App-32 .

awakest = ariseth. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

image = image of which they dreamt.

Verse 21

Thus. Compare the Structure (Psalms 73:3 )and (Psalms 73:21 ).

Verse 22

foolish = brutish.

Verse 23

Nevertheless I. Note the emphasis on Pronoun, according to the Structure, (Psalms 73:23 ) and (Psalms 73:28 ), "As for me, I".

Verse 25

Whom have I. ? This is ever the cry of God's saints. Figure of speech Erotesis. See note on Exodus 15:11 .

Verse 26

strength. Hebrew zur = rock, or refuge.

Verse 27

whoring from. Supply Ellipsis ( App-6 ) thus: whoring [in departing] from. Refers (spiritually) to idolatry, or anything that takes us from God.

Verse 28

it is good for me. The Hebrew accent ( pasek ) emphasizes the Pronoun "me". Others may go "far from Thee" (Psalms 73:27 ), but "as for me, I will draw near to Thee" (Compare Psalms 73:23 ). The "good" is seen in the twofold result: (1) I find a refuge in Him; (2) I tell forth His praises.

put my trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 .

the Lord GOD = Adonai Jehovah. App-4 .