Psalms 73


A PSALM OF ASAPH
Asaph was a poet and song-writer in the time of David.
Descendants of Asaph continued in his path even in Second Temple Times.
Most of the Psalms were written by David.
Some of the Psalms were written by others but even these were written in the spirit, style, and format that David had set before them and in accordance to a trend of thought that David had both re-constituted and pioneered.
 
[Psalms 73:1] TRULY GOD IS GOOD TO ISRAEL, EVEN TO SUCH AS ARE OF A CLEAN HEART.  
God is good to Israel. God is also good to the clean of heart.
Being both of Israel and clean of heart means receiving extra goodness.
"Cleanness of heart" is usually understood not bearing grudges and not being petty about things.  
People who have this quality are usually the ones who succeed in the end.    
One does not have to a "sucker" on every occasion but more often than not, and surprisingly enough,  it actually helps.
People in their subconscious know things.
They respect someone who lets matters in his personal sphere "slide".
On the other hand if confrontation does eventuate you should usually do your best to win.    
S.R. Hirsch points out here that the word used for "CLEAN" in the expression "OF A CLEAN HEART" is  "bari" from the root "bar".
This word connotes cleansing. Some people seem to be naturally good and pure-hearted.
The Promise of the Almighty however is to they who actively endeavor to cleanse themselves.   
 
[Psalms 73:2] BUT AS FOR ME, MY FEET WERE ALMOST GONE; MY STEPS HAD WELL NIGH SLIPPED.                     
 
[Psalms 73:3] FOR I WAS ENVIOUS AT THE FOOLISH, WHEN I SAW THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED.                     
 
[Psalms 73:4] FOR THERE ARE NO BANDS IN THEIR DEATH: BUT THEIR STRENGTH IS FIRM.  
<<ARE NO BANDS IN THEIR DEATH>>:  No impediments, they die without suffering.                  
 
[Psalms 73:5] THEY ARE NOT IN TROUBLE AS OTHER MEN; NEITHER ARE THEY PLAGUED LIKE OTHER MEN.                     
 
[Psalms 73:6] THEREFORE PRIDE COMPASSETH THEM ABOUT AS A CHAIN; VIOLENCE COVERETH THEM AS A GARMENT.                     
 
[Psalms 73:7] THEIR EYES STAND OUT WITH FATNESS: THEY HAVE MORE THAN HEART COULD WISH.                     
 
[Psalms 73:8] THEY ARE CORRUPT, AND SPEAK WICKEDLY CONCERNING OPPRESSION: THEY SPEAK LOFTILY.                     
 
[Psalms 73:9] THEY SET THEIR MOUTH AGAINST THE HEAVENS, AND THEIR TONGUE WALKETH THROUGH  THE EARTH.                     
 
[Psalms 73:10] THEREFORE HIS PEOPLE RETURN HITHER: AND WATERS OF A FULL CUP ARE WRUNG OUT TO THEM.  
Because the People of the Almighty see that the wicked prosper so they too are led astray and cast aside the cup of goodness they had previously prepared for themselves.  This is according to Rashi but other Commentators differ concerning the end part of this explanation.               

[Psalms 73:11] AND THEY SAY, HOW DOTH GOD KNOW? AND IS THERE KNOWLEDGE IN THE MOST HIGH?                     
 
[Psalms 73:12] BEHOLD, THESE ARE THE UNGODLY, WHO PROSPER IN THE WORLD; THEY INCREASE IN  RICHES.                     
 
[Psalms 73:13] VERILY I HAVE CLEANSED MY HEART IN VAIN, AND WASHED MY HANDS IN  INNOCENCY.                     
 
[Psalms 73:14] FOR ALL THE DAY LONG HAVE I BEEN PLAGUED, AND CHASTENED EVERY MORNING.
Every person who tries to go in the Right Path at some stage or others asks themselves similar questions.,
 e.g. I have been doing my best. I am not a bad person. I have done good deeds, had a positive Biblically oriented attitude and avoided temptation on the whole. 
Why are things not going for me as they should?
Why do I see others succeeding much more even though they obviously are not as correctly-directed as I am? Etc.
This Psalm addresses such questions.                     
 
[Psalms 73:15] IF I SAY, I WILL SPEAK THUS; BEHOLD, I SHOULD OFFEND AGAINST THE GENERATION OF THY CHILDREN.
If I would let such heretical opinions as those above be uttered it is as if I am betraying the Offspring of the Almighty meaning  Future generations of Israelites.
We want to do good. We want others to do good. We especially want future generations to go in the right path since there will be something in them of ourselves. That is our future, to be good.                     
 
[Psalms 73:16] WHEN I THOUGHT TO KNOW THIS, IT WAS TOO PAINFUL FOR ME;
These questions and the possibility of their being no reward and punishment in this world was too hard for me.                     
 
[Psalms 73:17] UNTIL I WENT INTO THE SANCTUARY OF GOD; THEN UNDERSTOOD I THEIR END.  
David entered the Sanctuary of the Almighty.
We can do something similar by withdrawing in our mind to a quiet place of calmness and communing with the Almighty.                   
 
[Psalms 73:18] SURELY THOU DIDST SET THEM IN SLIPPERY PLACES: THOU CASTEDST THEM DOWN INTO DESTRUCTION.                     
 
[Psalms 73:19] HOW ARE THEY BROUGHT INTO DESOLATION, AS IN A MOMENT! THEY ARE UTTERLY  CONSUMED WITH TERRORS.                     
 
[Psalms 73:20] AS A DREAM WHEN ONE AWAKETH; SO, O LORD, WHEN THOU AWAKEST, THOU  SHALT DESPISE THEIR IMAGE. 
This is it. There is reward and punishment. The good receive a reward and the wicked are punished. This happens in ways we cannot always discern. The Almighty has plenty of time and HE knows how to help and how to hinder.                   
 
[Psalms 73:21] THUS MY HEART WAS GRIEVED, AND I WAS PRICKED IN MY REINS.                     
 
[Psalms 73:22] SO FOOLISH WAS I, AND IGNORANT: I WAS AS A BEAST BEFORE THEE.                     
 
[Psalms 73:23] NEVERTHELESS I AM CONTINUALLY WITH THEE: THOU HAST HOLDEN ME BY MY RIGHT  HAND. 
Even when I let heretical thoughts and doubts foolishly enter my mind the Almighty was with me.
HE helped me.
HE was there all the time.                   
 
[Psalms 73:24] THOU SHALT GUIDE ME WITH THY COUNSEL, AND AFTERWARD RECEIVE ME TO GLORY.
God enables us to do good and then rewards us for ding it.                     
 
[Psalms 73:25] WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT THEE? AND THERE IS NONE UPON EARTH THAT I  DESIRE BESIDE THEE.                     
 
[Psalms 73:26] MY FLESH AND MY HEART FAILETH: BUT GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART, AND MY PORTION FOR EVER.  
God is true. HE is the only truth.                  
 
[Psalms 73:27] FOR, LO, THEY THAT ARE FAR FROM THEE SHALL PERISH: THOU HAST DESTROYED ALL THEM THAT GO A WHORING FROM THEE.                     
 
[Psalms 73:28] BUT IT IS GOOD FOR ME TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD: I HAVE PUT MY TRUST IN THE LORD GOD, THAT I MAY DECLARE ALL THY WORKS.                     
"As an exponent of the mysteries of the human mind, as a soother of the troubled spirit, to whose harp do the people of England fly for sympathy and solace? Is it to Byron or Wordsworth, or even the myriad minded Shakespeare ? No; the most popular poet in England is the sweet singer of Israel, and by no other race except his own have his odes been so often sung. It was the sword of the Lord and of Gideon that won for England its boasted liberties and the Scotch achieved their religious freedom, chanting upon their hill sides the same canticles which cheered the heart of Judah amid their glens." Benjamin Disraeli, "Tancred".