This Psalm very tenderly and exactly delineates the path of a tempted soul. The prosperity of the wicked is the temptation. In Psalm 73:13-14, the tempest of the soul seems at its height, and Psalm 73:15 discloses the first gracious control given to it by the Spirit. The sanctuary is then entered—that is, the mind of God about the whole scene is understood, and all is interpreted in the light of “the end” (Psalm 73:17); for that is the light which the sanctuary yields, and in which the wise walk (Deut. 32:29, Psa. 90:12). And then we see the further work of the restoring Spirit of God, till the poor soul reflects upon this its path as bringing shame to itself, but proving also the unchanging love of God; for the eater has yielded meat—the temptation has drawn out the still richer resources that are in God. The secret of resurrection is apprehended, and the soul rests. The worshipper had been as a beast, feeling and reasoning as though the present life was everything. But he learns (what Paul so set himself day by day to learn more perfectly, see Phil. 3) the power of resurrection, and that casts a new and a calm light on everything in which he walks, and sees Him who is invisible. (See Psa. 77.)
Observe upon this Psalm, in contrast with Psalm 72, the same object is before the mind in both—the course of the world, and the prosperity of the wicked. But there is not the calmness of faith here as there, but the passions of the soul. There the tranquillizing light of faith and hope gilds the soul from first to last, but here the repose and joy of faith is reached through deep sorrows of heart which had risen from unbelief.
So also, in contrast with the preceding Psalm, we may observe, how different things are in “this present evil world” and in “the world to come.” There, we saw that righteousness and the vindication of wrongs will mark the kingdom or world to come, and peace and prosperity will be the sure fruit of godliness then. Here, we see that the oppressor fattens on his oppressions, and a cup of tears is wrung out for the righteous.
But in this way, different lessons are learned. The one world in which our God acts and shows Himself could never have taught the lessons of the other. In the present world we are learning that He has treasures of grace to meet our need, and in the coming world we shall learn His treasures of glory to meet our joys. Like the blessing committed to Aaron, and that committed to Melchizedek. (See Num. 6, Gen. 14.) Both were blessing, but different, each suiting itself to the different condition of the people of God—to their time of need, of weakness, and temptation, and then to their time of strength, victory, and honor.