psalm-73:18-22-esv

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 73:15-20

We have seen what a strong temptation the psalmist was in to envy prospering profaneness; now here we are told how he kept his footing and got the victory. I. He kept up a respect for God's people, and with that he restrained himself from speaking what he had thought amiss, Ps. 73:15. He got the victory by degrees, and this was the first point he gained; he was ready to say, Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and thought he had reason to say it, but he kept his mouth with this... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 73:21-28

Behold Samson's riddle again unriddled, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong sweetness; for we have here an account of the good improvement which the psalmist made of that sore temptation with which he had been assaulted and by which he was almost overcome. He that stumbles and does not fall, by recovering himself takes so much the longer steps forward. It was so with the psalmist here; many good lessons he learned from his temptation, his struggles with it, and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:18

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places ,.... In which a man cannot stand long, and without danger; and the higher they are the more dangerous, being slippery, and such are places of honour and riches. The phrase denotes the uncertainty and instability of these things, and the danger men are in who are possessed of them of falling into destruction and misery. The Targum is, "thou didst set them in darkness;' to be in slippery places, and in the dark, is very uncomfortable, unsafe,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:19

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment ?.... Very suddenly, which is often the case of wicked men, who cry Peace and safety, and sudden destruction comes upon them, 1 Thessalonians 5:3 , so as in a moment were the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Pharaoh and his host, and of Korah and his company, Lamentations 4:6 , the words are expressed with admiration, as wondering at the sudden and amazing turn of things: they are utterly consumed with terrors : their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:20

As a dream when one awaketh ,.... So will be all the temporal felicity of wicked men, all an illusion, all a dream; when they lift up their eyes in hell, and awake in the resurrection, they will find themselves destitute of all their riches and honours, and it will be as if they had only dreamed of them, and never enjoyed them; see Job 20:6 so, "O Lord, when thou awakest"; to judgment, to take vengeance on wicked men, and vindicate his own people; and who seems sometimes to be as it were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:21

Thus my heart was grieved ,.... Not with his own sins, nor with the sins of the wicked, but at their prosperity; for this is an account of himself, while under the temptation, and before he went into the sanctuary of the Lord; or when he was "leavened" F18 יתחמץ "effervesceret fermenti instar", Tigurine version; "in fermento esset", Cocceius; so Ainsworth. , with the old leaven of wickedness, and envy, and indignation; he was in a ferment, so Plautus F19 Casina, Act. 2. Sc. 5. v.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:22

So foolish was I ,.... To envy the prosperity of the wicked, which is of so short a continuance; to arraign the providence and perfections of God, and to conclude so hastily that there was nothing in religion: and ignorant ; or, "I knew not" F23 לא אדע "nescivi", V. L. "non cognoscebam", Pagninus, Montanus; "nec sciebam", Piscator; "non noveram", Cocceius. ; what he attempted to know, Psalm 73:16 , nor the end of the wicked, till he went into the sanctuary of the Lord; nor... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:18

Thou didst set them on slippery places - Affluence is a slippery path; few have ever walked in it without falling. It is possible to be faithful in the unrighteous mammon, but it is very difficult. No man should desire riches; for they bring with them so many cares and temptations as to be almost unmanageabe. Rich men, even when pious, are seldom happy; they do not enjoy the consolations of religion. A good man, possessed of very extensive estates, unblamable in his whole deportment, once... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:19

Are they brought into desolation - This is often a literal fact. I have known several cases where persons, very rich, have by sudden losses been brought into desolation as in a moment; in consequence of which they were utterly consumed in terrors. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:20

As a dream when one awaketh - So their goods fled away. Their possession was a dream - their privation, real. Thou shalt despise their image - While destitute of true religion, whatever appearance they had of greatness, nobility, honor, and happiness; yet in the sight of God they had no more than the ghost or shade of excellence which God is said here to despise. Who would be rich at such risk and dishonor? read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 73:15-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 73:21-28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 73:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:20

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