Brutish Faith
Psalm 73
Psalm 73 tackles one of the oldest and most unsettling spiritual dilemmas: Why do the wicked thrive while the righteous struggle?
It opens with a familiar declaration: “God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart” (v.1). But by verse 2, the psalmist’s faith buckles. He wonders: Is God truly good to the pure in heart?
As he wrestles with envy, he confesses nearly losing his footing (v.2). He saw the arrogant flourish and felt his heart lurch. The wicked glide through life unscathed (v.4), dodge common troubles, wield violence (v.5), strut with pride (v.6), spew malice (v.8), and oppress the weak—yet their wealth swells (v.12). They even mock God with impunity (v.9).
Meanwhile, the psalmist—who has lived with integrity—asks, “Have I kept my heart clean for nothing?” (v.13). Where is the reward for faithfulness?
The question exhausts him (v.16). Like us, he feels crushed by the injustice. He nearly abandons faith. Until.
And that “until” shifts everything.
Nothing makes sense until he enters the sanctuary of God (v.17). Only there does the illusion of the wicked’s security collapse under the weight of divine justice.
God sets them on slippery ground (v.18), hurls them to ruin, wipes them out in an instant (v.19). All who stray from Him will perish (v.27).
That’s the fate of the wicked. But what of the righteous?
The Lord holds them close (v.23). He guides them with wisdom (v.24), strengthens their hearts (v.26), receives them into glory (v.24). To dwell near Him is the truest good (v.28).
The contrast blindsides the psalmist. Light floods the darkness. He sees how envy warped his vision.
He confesses: “I was brutish and ignorant” (v.22)—a beast before God. The Hebrew word translated “brutish” means “stupid,” as the CSB renders it. Others soften it—“senseless” (NIV), “ignorant” (NET)—but the idea remains: he lacked understanding. The imagery paints him as a mindless animal groping for sense in a world he doesn’t grasp.
And honestly, that hits home.
When I see the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer, I don’t feel ignorant. I feel like I see clearly. I want to shout, “God, don’t You see what’s happening?” If I’m brutally honest, He feels like the senseless One. Why doesn’t He act now?
This psalm slaps me with two truths.
First, God sees more than I ever could. My complaints sound like a cockroach critiquing a rocket scientist’s blueprint. I don’t possess the wisdom to govern a universe, and frankly, I don’t want that job. When should justice fall? I can’t say. I stagger along like a senseless beast. I must trust the Lord, whose wisdom dwarfs mine.
But more than that—Psalm 73 doesn’t just call me to trust; it calls me to rejoice.
Look at what the righteous gain: God’s nearness. His guidance. His strength. His hand holding ours. His counsel shaping our path. His presence never leaving. How do the empty riches of this world compare?
So, do you struggle with the age-old question—Why do the wicked prosper? You won’t find peace until you carry that question into God’s presence. Only there can you rest beneath His justice, and only there can you see the blessing of belonging to Him.
Thank You, Lord, for welcoming back this foolish, ignorant beast.