Psalms 73:19
How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 73:19
How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The swiftness of their destruction is emphasized – not just that they fall, but that it happens "in a moment," a stark contrast to their seemingly solid prosperity. This suddenness is so profound that the psalmist cries out in amazement, highlighting how God's judgment can shatter the most secure-seeming lives instantly.
The Psalmist Asaph recounts his struggle with doubt after observing the prosperity of the wicked, which seemed to mock his faithfulness. He details how these ungodly people appear healthy and free from typical human suffering, leading him to question the value of serving God. However, after entering God's sanctuary, he gains a new perspective, realizing the temporary nature of the wicked's success and their ultimate, sudden destruction.
The wicked seem to prosper forever, but what happens when God finally intervenes? This verse points to a stunning, swift conclusion.
The psalmist, Asaph, expresses profound astonishment at the abrupt downfall of the ungodly. He uses the phrase 'in a moment' to capture the shocking speed of their destruction. This isn't a slow decline; it's an instantaneous collapse. The commentaries highlight this suddenness, comparing it to a 'wink' or the abrupt end of a dream upon waking. This emphasizes that while God's justice might seem delayed, its arrival is often swift and decisive, catching those who felt secure completely off guard.
It's not just the destruction that's terrifying, but the experience of it. What does it mean to be 'consumed with terrors'?
The phrase 'utterly consumed with terrors' paints a vivid picture of the internal and external experience of the wicked's downfall. The commentaries suggest this refers not only to God's overwhelming judgments from without but also to the sheer terror that grips their souls from within. It implies a complete engulfment, where fear itself becomes the instrument of their undoing. This isn't just a physical end; it's an experience of profound dread and despair, stripping away any false security they once held.
Understand the original words
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.
This psalm reflects the deep spiritual struggle of a believer witnessing the apparent prosperity of the wicked, especially during the tumultuous periods of exile and return, when faithfulness to God seemed to bring only hardship while unfaithfulness led to temporary worldly success.
c. 1010 BC
David Reigns in Jerusalem
David establishes Jerusalem as the capital of a united Israel, ushering in a period of relative peace and prosperity.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Reign and Temple Construction
Solomon succeeds David, building the First Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of Israel's devotion to God and a peak of national prestige.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah.
c. 732 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Israel
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire conquers significant portions of the northern Kingdom of Israel, initiating a period of fear and instability.
c. 701 BC
This passage describes the wicked being consumed by fear and dread, paralleling the 'terrors' that overwhelm them in Psalms 73:19, highlighting their inner turmoil and impending doom.
Job 27:20This verse speaks of the wicked being 'terrified' and 'driven away' in their prosperity, mirroring the sudden and terrifying end described in Psalms 73:19.
Proverbs 1:27This proverb directly links terror and destruction to the wicked, stating that their calamity will come suddenly, much like the 'moment' of desolation in Psalms 73:19.
Matthew 25:46While focused on eternal outcomes, this passage contrasts the eternal punishment of the wicked with the eternal life of the righteous, reinforcing the ultimate 'destruction' and 'consumption' implied in Psalms 73:19, albeit on a different timeline.
Luke 12:20The parable of the rich fool shows a sudden, unexpected death that leaves a person's accumulated wealth useless, echoing the swift and devastating end of prosperity mentioned in Psalms 73:19.
clarkePsalms 73:19: "How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors."
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.
pulpitPsalms 73:19: "How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors."
Verse 19. - How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! There is something very striking in the suddenness with which the prosperity of a wicked man often collapses. Saul, Jezebel, Athaliah, Epiphanes, Herod Agrippa, are cases in point, likewise Nero, Galerius, Julian. The first and second Napoleonic empires may also be cited. They are utterly consumed with terrors; literally,…
The swiftness of their destruction is emphasized – not just that they fall, but that it happens "in a moment," a stark contrast to their seemingly solid prosperity. This suddenness is so profound that the psalmist cries out in amazement, highlighting how God's judgment can shatter the most secure-seeming lives instantly.
The Psalmist Asaph recounts his struggle with doubt after observing the prosperity of the wicked, which seemed to mock his faithfulness. He details how these ungodly people appear healthy and free from typical human suffering, leading him to question the value of serving God. However, after entering God's sanctuary, he gains a new perspective, realizing the temporary nature of the wicked's success and their ultimate, sudden destruction.
The Psalmist Asaph recounts his struggle with doubt after observing the prosperity of the wicked, which seemed to mock his faithfulness. He details how these ungodly people appear healthy and free from typical human suffering, leading him to question the value of serving God. However, after entering God's sanctuary, he gains a new perspective, realizing the temporary nature of the wicked's success and their ultimate, sudden destruction.
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Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian army under Sennacherib besieges Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. Though the city is not captured, the threat and devastation are immense.
587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, and exiles much of the population, marking a devastating low point for the people of God.
c. 539 BC— this verse
Persian Conquest and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple, offering a glimmer of hope.
"How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!" — The swiftness of their destruction is emphasized – not just that they fall, but that it happens "in a moment," a stark contrast to their seemingly solid prosperity. This suddenness is so profound tha…