Psalm 73:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.

NIV: Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.

NASB: You indeed put them on slippery ground; You dropped them into ruin.

CSB: Indeed, you put them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin.

NLT: Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

KJV: Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

NKJV: Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.

Asaph sought out God (Psalm 73:17) to help him resolve the frustrating example of those who defy God yet seem successful anyway (Psalm 73:2–3). The main complaints given by Asaph were framed in exaggerated, melodramatic terms (Psalm 73:4–14). Here, he takes a more reasonable tone and points out what a more careful look reveals. The book of Proverbs explains how rejecting God's wisdom puts a person at risk of earthly consequences (Proverbs 9:13–18). Scripture, overall, clarifies that defying God inevitably leads to eternal consequences—even if that person seems to temporarily escape troubles on earth (Hebrews 9:27).

Those who arrogantly defy God may feel secure and untouchable in their present circumstances. But their future is terrifying. Their fate resembles a crumbling building that collapses and becomes a pile of debris. In the end times, God will judge wealthy Babylon for its wickedness, including sexual immorality, human bondage, and sorcery. When He strikes Babylon, an angel calls out, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!" (Revelation 18:2–3). The angel describes Babylon as demon infested and unclean. A voice from heaven describes Babylon as having been clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls, but the voice declares that "in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste" (Revelation 18:16–17). God will not allow the prosperous wicked to defy Him forever!

Psalm 73:15–28 gives a fitting resolution to Asaph's complaint (Psalm 73:2–3). He was disturbed by the contrast between the seemingly prosperous wicked and the difficulties of the righteous. Many today feel the same conflict. An eternal perspective gave the answer he needed to those hard examples. In short, wickedness does come with risks, and earthly life is not all there is to our existence. Even in the context of the natural world, evil invites negative consequences and disaster. In eternity, judgment on godlessness is absolutely guaranteed.

Seeing godless people thrive, even as they hatefully mock God, while believers suffer, leads many people to a crisis of faith. This was the case for Asaph. Using exaggerated imagery, he complains to the Lord that it seems as if evil people have easy lives, while godly people suffer. Further reflection reminds Asaph that sin does lead to consequences, both in this life and the next. He confesses his sins of bitterness and resolves to trust God more deeply.

This psalm is the first in a collection which corresponds to Leviticus and the overall theme of worship. Asaph, who wrote Psalm 73, confesses that seeing prosperity among wicked people brought him bitterness and envy. That nearly caused him to lose trust in God. Carefully considering God and His eternal truth led Asaph to a stronger faith. Job chapter 21, in which trial-laden Job also complains about the success of some wicked people, mentions many of the same ideas as Psalm 73.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.