Have you ever had an experience where you’re walking along, preoccupied, looking at other things and don’t realize you’re stepping on something slippery like a banana peal? That’s similar to an experience the psalmist describes in Psalm 73:2, “As for me my feet had almost slipped. I had nearly lost my foothold.”
You feel one foot stumble a little bit and the other foot lands on something solid. You don’t fall, but you almost fall. Your heart skips a beat and when you regain your balance you’re so glad you didn’t fall and injure yourself. That’s what the psalmist is describing.
What was it that caused the psalmist to almost slip, to almost lose his foothold? Verse 3 says, “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” When you get your eyes off of the Lord you’ll be vulnerable to those places where your feet can lose their grip and slip. You won’t be able to stand tall and strong. Be careful!
When you look out and see the prosperity and seeming blessing of some who disregard God you might be tempted to question God or even get angry with God. That’s what Psalm 73 is all about. In fact, the psalmist gets to where he says in verse 13, “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure, in vain have I washed my hands in innocence,”
Notice, however, he doesn’t end the Psalm there: God will settle things in the end. Get your eyes off of the arrogant. Don’t get preoccupied with the prosperity of the wicked. Get your eyes on God and keep them there. He will keep you firm. Remember, He writes the last chapter!
