Psalms 73:12-14
Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss is the emphasis on "always at ease." This isn't just about prosperity, but a deep-seated, unbothered state of being that contrasts sharply with the psalmist's internal struggle. It highlights their apparent immunity to the kind of troubles that plague the righteous, making their success seem even more unfair.
The psalmist is grappling with a profound spiritual crisis, nearly losing his faith as he observes the wicked seemingly thriving and amassing wealth. He details their seemingly effortless prosperity, free from the usual troubles of life, which directly contradicts his understanding of a just God. This verse marks the point where he explicitly identifies these prosperous individuals as the wicked, setting the stage for his internal struggle and eventual spiritual restoration.
Have you ever looked at people who seem to have it all – wealth, peace, success – and wondered if God really notices or cares?
This verse paints a stark picture of the wicked, not as struggling outcasts, but as those who are "always at ease" and "increase in riches." This isn't just about material wealth, but a deep-seated tranquility and outward success that can be incredibly tempting to witness. The word translated "at ease" can also mean "secure" or "untroubled," highlighting a state of comfort and freedom from the common anxieties of life. This prosperity isn't necessarily earned through virtue; it's simply the condition the psalmist observes in those who disregard God. This stark contrast between their apparent well-being and the struggles of the faithful is the very thing that causes the psalmist, Asaph, to nearly lose his footing in his faith.
What happens when what you see clashes with what you believe about God?
The psalmist, Asaph, isn't just observing the wicked; he's wrestling with the implications of their prosperity. He uses the emphatic word "Behold!" to draw our attention to this disturbing reality. This observation leads him to question God's justice and even God's awareness: "How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?" (Psalm 73:11). His faith is shaken to its core because the evidence before his eyes – the ease and wealth of the ungodly – seems to contradict everything he believes about a righteous God. This isn't a simple intellectual puzzle; it's a spiritual crisis that threatens to pull him away from his devotion. His honest struggle highlights that faith isn't about never doubting, but about how we process those doubts when they arise.
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Understand the original words
rasha' · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those who act in moral rebellion against God's law. They are characterized by a lack of fear of God and a lifestyle that disregards His righteousness.
lebab · Hebrew Noun
The inward center of human life, encompassing the intellect, emotions, will, and conscience. It is the place where God evaluates the true nature of a person.
naqiy · Hebrew Noun
Moral purity or uprightness; the quality of being free from guilt or wrongdoing, often associated with outward conduct reflecting inward integrity.
nagaph · Hebrew Verb
To be struck, afflicted, or punished; often used in the context of divine discipline or severe suffering, testing the faith of the believer.
yakach · Hebrew Verb
To reprove, correct, or admonish, typically in a judicial or moral context. It implies an act of calling someone to account for their behavior.
The prosperity of the wicked, a recurring theme throughout Israel's history, was a particularly sharp spiritual crisis for the psalmist Asaph, challenging his faith during a time when divine justice and providence seemed unclear.
c. 1000-950 BC
Reign of David and Solomon
This period, marked by relative peace and prosperity for Israel, would have highlighted the stark contrast between the seemingly blessed lives of the wicked and the struggles of the faithful.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
The splitting of the united monarchy into Israel and Judah led to increased political instability and religious syncretism, potentially exacerbating the problem of why the wicked prospered.
8th Century BC
Prophetic Ministry (Amos, Hosea, Isaiah)
During this era, prophets denounced the rampant injustice and corruption, often pointing to the prosperity of the wicked as a sign of God's apparent judgment or distant rule.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion Threat
The looming threat and eventual campaigns of the Assyrian empire created widespread fear and uncertainty, challenging faith and prompting questions about God's protection of the righteous.
c. 730 BC— this verse
Psalmist's Crisis of Faith
The psalmist Asaph experiences a profound spiritual crisis, observing the ungodly prospering while he, a faithful servant, suffers, leading him to question God's justice and providence.
c. 605-586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
The initial deportations and eventual destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon would have intensified the questions surrounding the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous.
This passage mirrors the psalmist's struggle, as Jeremiah also questions God's justice when the wicked prosper and deal treacherously, highlighting the persistent human struggle with this apparent unfairness.
Job 21:7-15Job directly confronts the same issue, asking why the wicked live long, gain power, and prosper while God seems distant, offering a direct dialogue to the psalmist's observations.
Luke 16:19-31The parable of the rich man and Lazarus contrasts the earthly prosperity of the ungodly with their eternal outcome, revealing that present ease does not equate to future favor.
Galatians 6:7-8This New Testament passage shifts the perspective, reminding us that while immediate results might differ, there is a fundamental principle of reaping what you sow, urging against a focus on temporary prosperity.
jfbPsalms 73:12: "Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches."
- prosper in the word—literally, "secure for ever."
poolePsalms 73:12: "Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches."
These are the ungodly; this is their condition and carriage in it. These seem to be the words of the psalmist, summing up the matter, and preparing his passage to the other part of the Psalm.
What's easy to miss is the emphasis on "always at ease." This isn't just about prosperity, but a deep-seated, unbothered state of being that contrasts sharply with the psalmist's internal struggle. It highlights their apparent immunity to the kind of troubles that plague the righteous, making their success seem even more unfair.
The psalmist is grappling with a profound spiritual crisis, nearly losing his faith as he observes the wicked seemingly thriving and amassing wealth. He details their seemingly effortless prosperity, free from the usual troubles of life, which directly contradicts his understanding of a just God. This verse marks the point where he explicitly identifies these prosperous individuals as the wicked, setting the stage for his internal struggle and eventual spiritual restoration.
The psalmist is grappling with a profound spiritual crisis, nearly losing his faith as he observes the wicked seemingly thriving and amassing wealth. He details their seemingly effortless prosperity, free from the usual troubles of life, which directly contradicts his understanding of a just God. This verse marks the point where he explicitly identifies these prosperous individuals as the wicked, setting the stage for his internal struggle and eventual spiritual restoration.
"Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning." — What's easy to miss is the emphasis on "always at ease." This isn't just about prosperity, but a deep-seated, unbothered state of being that contrasts sharply with the psalmist's internal struggle. I…
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