Psalm 73:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

NIV: They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

NASB: Like a dream when one awakes, Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.

CSB: Like one waking from a dream, Lord, when arising, you will despise their image.

NLT: When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

KJV: As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

NKJV: As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.

The book of Proverbs helps to explain that sin, even if it seems to bring benefits, is always a path to disaster (Proverbs 9:13–18). Even so, there are times when a godless person seems happy, healthy, and successful (Psalm 73:4–5) even though they are ignorantly hateful towards God and His people (Psalm 73:6–9). This tempts those who honor God to be bitter (Psalm 73:2–3) and others to abandon truth to follow those bad examples (Psalm 73:10–11). Once we move beyond those natural, very real anxieties, we realize that rejecting God ultimately gains a person nothing (Psalm 73:15–19). The destruction of those who hate God will be swift and complete.

Those who are arrogant and wicked, yet manage to be rich, live in a dream world. That "dream" state applies in two ways: their lives seem blissful, like a good dream, but they are also just as illusory as a dream. Those dreams and fantasies will turn into nightmares of very real suffering when God judges them. The Old Testament concept of "despising" involves dismissal or rejection: God will wave away the comfortable lives of the wicked like someone waving their hand to ignore an illusion.

Luke 12:16–21 relates the story of a rich farmer who lived in a dream world. A bumper crop launched his dreams of bigger barns and a luxurious lifestyle. He fantasized that his abundant wealth could satisfy his soul. He told his soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry" (Luke 12:19). However, God put a quick end to the rich farmer's dreams; He said to him, "Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" (Luke 12:20). Jesus told this story to warn all who lay up treasure for themselves and are not rich toward God (Luke 12:21). This warning is highly appropriate for those who smugly depend on their bank account and investments to make them secure and happy.

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.