The Holy Psalms of David

Psalm 73 ~ For Jews, Muslims and Christians

Verse 1 ‘How good God is to Israel – to those whose hearts are pure.’

The meaning here behind the word Israel, is that of ‘the people who have faith in God’s promises as evidenced by the patriarch Israel (Jacob) who struggled with God in seeking his blessing’.  In his struggle God brought Israel to repentance and to faith.

As the prophet John (the Baptiser) made plain (Mt 3v9 & Lk3v8), it is not the descendants of Abraham (nor of Israel) that are his sons, but rather those who by means of their faith in God, practice goodness to everyone they encounter.  John does not distinguish people in terms of race or culture for he says to the Roman soldiers who come in repentance, “extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages” and he says to the despised tax collectors, “collect no more than that which is appointed to you”.  Thus John sees all people who come in repentance to God, as worthy of becoming disciples and of thus being addressed with the words from God.  It is purity of heart that God is seeking and this can only be given to us as we give our hearts (intentions, wills & emotions) to God in repentance, trust & obedience.

Verse 2 ‘But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff!’                                    

The other night I dreamt that I had driven close to the edge of a massive cliff, and my daughter & a Christian friend were watching.  We all are faced with choices that are cliffs of temptation that we can slip down, whether or not we realise it.  The Psalmist was ‘envious of the prosperity of the proud and wicked’, but there are many other temptations we are each faced with. 

Those who don’t struggle by faith for God’s blessing, those who don’t worship God in their hearts, are often those who become proud in their independence of God and their own amassing of wealth and of their lifestyles.  Sometimes these people are outwardly religious, having the show and the reputation, but in reality they are not in submission to God.  As the Psalmist says, ‘They grow sleek & fat … their pride sparkles like a jewelled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty!’ v5&6.  It is an interesting observation that those who are proud are cruel to others that they despise, whereas those who are pure in heart are those who are kind even to their enemies.   Jesus says (Mt 5v 7, 8), “Blessed by God are the kind and merciful… and those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God.”

“Have I been wasting my time? Why take the trouble to be pure?” asks the Psalmist in v 13.   This is the edge of the cliff that envy has led him to!  But he quickly comes to his senses when he goes into God’s sanctuary to meditate and God reminds him of the slippery slope that the proud and wicked themselves are on, because ‘suddenly God will send them sliding over the edge of the cliff and down to their own destruction…an eternity of terror.  Their present life is only a dream!  They will awaken to the truth..(v.18 to 20)’.  Not that God literally sends them over the cliff: the mature meaning here is that although God longs to give them grace to turn from their pride and envy, God in love does not prevent the consequences of their stubbornness

When the Psalmist sees this truth, he is filled with turmoil, “I saw myself as stupid (to have nearly fallen to the temptation of envy) and so ignorant!” v 22.  Please note, he does not despise the proud & wicked for that would lead to the sin of self-righteousness – rather he is immediately humble and goes on to worship God.

“I must seem like an animal to you, O God.  But even so, you love me! You are holding my right hand! You will keep on guiding me all my life with your wisdom and counsel; and afterwards receive me into the glories of heaven! Who have I in heaven but you? And I desire no one on earth as much as you!….But those refusing to worship God will perish..” from v 22 to 27.