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Envious of the Wicked Ps. 73
Envious of the Wicked
The Bible says: "Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. (Psalms 73:12). Well, it is recorded that way but that is NOT God's viewpoint of the situation. Rather that was the viewpoint of the Psalmist when he was at a low point of his life.
Men often see things wrong because they look at the little picture instead of the big one. If you shorten your vision on this world it can seem like the wicked are at ease. The Psalmist spends many verses describing the prosperity of the wicked. He recognized that viewing things in this manner affected his whole view point of God and righteousness: "my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (vs. 2-3).
Haven't we all felt this way at times? We read of the 'famous' people and all their ungodly ways, yet they 'enjoy' fame and fortune. Seemingly the rules don't apply to them as they do what they want and appear to 'get away with it.' We too can be envious of wicked.
Such wrong thinking leads to wrong living. "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" (Psalms 73:13-14). This brings about one great big pity party - woe is me. It doesn't take long in that frame of mind until you join them in their evil ways.
The problem with that way of thinking is that it is based upon human experience and worldly thinking. It confines the view point of life to events of this world. Even a cursory reading of the Old Testament will show that the wicked seldom died of old age and often lived in perpetual turmoil. Look again at the kings of the northern 10 tribes. Some ruled for a few days. Few of them died of natural causes. Few were able to pass their kingship on to their sons. This thinking however is wrong even when considering those who did live a long a prosperous life of ungodliness for such leaves out the judgment of God.
For the Psalmist, such thinking lasted 'until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end" (vs. 17). Eternal existence is more than this life. There is a judgment and eternal consequences that will be brought to bear. We will all stand before God in judgment to receive the things done in the flesh. No matter whether our lives are short or long, no matter whether we die young or in old age, we will meet God in judgment.
It is better to be poor and right with God than rich and condemned for eternity.
