Psalm 73:17-19
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The "sanctuary of God" here isn't just the physical building, but a place of seeking God's wisdom through His Word and presence. It was in this deeper communion and reliance on divine truth, rather than human reasoning, that the psalmist finally grasped the ultimate, disastrous outcome for the wicked.
until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist Asaph has been deeply troubled by the apparent success and ease of wicked people, feeling his own faith slipping as he contrasts their flourishing lives with the struggles of those who try to live righteously. He grapples with doubts, questioning God's justice and care for His people. This verse marks the turning point where he seeks divine counsel and gains clarity.
Ever felt like the world makes no sense, with the wicked prospering while you struggle? The Psalmist Asaph felt it too, but he found an answer.
Asaph was deeply troubled by the success of the wicked. His own reasoning couldn't solve the puzzle of why they seemed so blessed while he, who sought God, faced hardships.
A Shift in Perspective
His breakthrough came not from more thinking, but from a change of venue. The verse says, "until I went into the sanctuary of God." This wasn't just about going to a building; it was about entering into God's presence, consulting His Word, and immersing himself in divine wisdom.
The Oracle of Truth
Think of the "sanctuary" as the place where God's truth was revealed – through Scripture, through prayer, and through worship. It was here, in God's space, that the Psalmist gained a spiritual understanding that his own mind couldn't grasp. He moved from earthly observation to heavenly perspective.
What does it truly mean to understand the 'end' of the wicked? It's more than just a final moment; it's a complete re-evaluation.
When Asaph entered the sanctuary, he didn't just see a fleeting misfortune befall the wicked. He saw their ultimate destiny.
Beyond the Present Moment
The prosperity of the wicked, which had so troubled him, was seen in its true context. He realized their apparent success was temporary and headed towards destruction. This wasn't about God being unfair; it was about an eternal accounting.
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The Contrast with God's People
This understanding revealed a stark contrast: the wicked's end was ruin, while the faithful, even through trials, were heading towards a glorious and eternal future with God. The sanctuary provided the lens to see the full picture, not just the immediate circumstances.
Understand the original words
miqdash · Hebrew Noun
A sacred place or space dedicated to the presence and worship of God, representing the locus of divine revelation and the dwelling place of the Most High.
achariyth · Hebrew Noun
In a moral or theological sense, this refers to the ultimate outcome or destiny of a person’s life, particularly in contrast to the righteous and the wicked before God.
chalaqlaqqowth · Hebrew Noun
A state of moral instability or precariousness, often used metaphorically to describe the vulnerability of the wicked who lack the firm foundation of God's truth.
sho'ah · Hebrew Noun
A state of complete desolation, ruin, or sudden annihilation, often serving as a manifestation of divine judgment against those who oppose God.
shamem · Hebrew Verb
An act of God, a process, or a state of being brought to an end, often implying total loss or catastrophic judgment.
ballahah · Hebrew Noun
A state of intense fear or dread, frequently associated in the Old Testament with the judgment of God or the sudden realization of divine power.
The psalm grapples with the prosperity of the wicked during a time of national crisis and exile, a period when the very presence and justice of God were under intense scrutiny. The 'sanctuary' likely refers not to a physical building (which was destroyed or absent), but to places of prayer, meditation, and consulting God's word, where the psalmist found clarity amidst confusion.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian invasions of Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered and its people deported by the Assyrian Empire, serving as a stark warning about national judgment.
605 BC - 586 BC— this verse
Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah faced multiple deportations to Babylon, including the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to profound theological questioning.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, paving the way for the return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Rebuilt
The Temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt by returning exiles, restoring a focal point for worship and seeking God's guidance, though on a smaller scale than before.
This passage offers a similar perspective by emphasizing that all actions, whether good or bad, will ultimately be brought into judgment by God, revealing the true 'end' of things.
Romans 2:5-8Paul echoes the idea of a future reckoning where God’s justice is revealed, contrasting the temporary prosperity of the wicked with the eternal life reserved for those who persevere in good.
Matthew 13:30Jesus uses the parable of the wheat and the weeds to illustrate that both righteous and wicked will grow together until the final harvest (the 'end'), when they will be separated by divine judgment.
Galatians 6:7-8This passage directly speaks to the principle of reaping what you sow, highlighting that while outward appearances might deceive, there is an ultimate harvest that reflects one's actions, aligning with understanding the 'end' of the wicked.
clarkePsalms 73:17: "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end."
Until I went into the sanctuary - Until, in the use of thy ordinances, I entered into a deep consideration of thy secret counsels, and considered the future state of the righteous and the wicked; that the unequal distribution of temporal good and evil argued a future judgment; that the present is a state of trial; and that God exercises his followers according to his godly wisdom and tender mercy. Then light sp…
jfbPsalms 73:17: "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end."
- went into the sanctuary—to enquire (compare Ex 25:22; Ps 5:7; 27:4).
The "sanctuary of God" here isn't just the physical building, but a place of seeking God's wisdom through His Word and presence. It was in this deeper communion and reliance on divine truth, rather than human reasoning, that the psalmist finally grasped the ultimate, disastrous outcome for the wicked.
The psalmist Asaph has been deeply troubled by the apparent success and ease of wicked people, feeling his own faith slipping as he contrasts their flourishing lives with the struggles of those who try to live righteously. He grapples with doubts, questioning God's justice and care for His people. This verse marks the turning point where he seeks divine counsel and gains clarity.
The psalmist Asaph has been deeply troubled by the apparent success and ease of wicked people, feeling his own faith slipping as he contrasts their flourishing lives with the struggles of those who try to live righteously. He grapples with doubts, questioning God's justice and care for His people. This verse marks the turning point where he seeks divine counsel and gains clarity.
"until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!" — The "sanctuary of God" here isn't just the physical building, but a place of seeking God's wisdom through His Word and presence. It was in this deeper communion and reliance on divine truth, rather t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
