Controversial Psalm 73 - Surely thou didst set them in slippery places

#1
Psalm 73:1-28

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

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.


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Awesome psalm imo
 
#3
keep your stuff in one thread
I mean you know it would actually be super cool to havw a thread for bible verses

Imo though I love this psalm so much because look at what the person goes through

First they see people who live wickedly prosper, then they think they live innocently in vain, then they see the end of people who live wickedly


"Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction."




But especially this:

"So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee."

I might be wrong, and I'll look into it, but I think that's the writer saying they were mad at God, and that they felt like they had been as a beast before God

And still after that

"
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."
 
#4
Psalm 73:1-28

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

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.


______________



Awesome psalm imo
It is a great Psalm indeed. It reminds God's servants to be faithful. God is going to chastise whom he loves. Wicked people usually prosper because they took Satan up on his offer. Since GOD is not punishing evil work, people deceive themselves into thinking it is ok. Nah GOD looking directly at you hoping you will change before it is too late.

Ecclesiastes 8: 11 - 13
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
 
#7
It is a great Psalm indeed. It reminds God's servants to be faithful. God is going to chastise whom he loves. Wicked people usually prosper because they took Satan up on his offer. Since GOD is not punishing evil work, people deceive themselves into thinking it is ok. Nah GOD looking directly at you hoping you will change before it is too late.

Ecclesiastes 8: 11 - 13
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
Yeah, I especially like the part where the writer says he was as a beast before God, I take that to mean he was mad at God, like a beast, but he still changed
 
#8
It is a great Psalm indeed. It reminds God's servants to be faithful. God is going to chastise whom he loves. Wicked people usually prosper because they took Satan up on his offer. Since GOD is not punishing evil work, people deceive themselves into thinking it is ok. Nah GOD looking directly at you hoping you will change before it is too late.

Ecclesiastes 8: 11 - 13
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
And I mean, God not punishing evil, evil is its own punishment, you reap what you sow, although he does punish it later
 
#9
For example, live as an atheist, ok you have no hope

Live in drinking and smoking, ok your health and testosterone get destroyed while you live like that, and your life gets filthy

Swear and curse, ok your attitude gets filthy




Evil is its own punishment
 
#10
Hey man, if you want to talk about it, did you read Isaiah 53?
Yes I’ve read it. No, I don’t think it predicts Jesus anymore than it predicts Alex Pretti or any other of the numerous good people throughout history who have been killed due to the failings of society.

Certainly I would agree that the Jesus described in the gospels sounds like a good person, and perhaps he was influenced by Hashem in a way that other good people are.

No I don’t wish to associate him with Hashem or act as if they are one and the same, that would be idolatry.

No, I don’t think he is the messiah. We objectively don’t live in the messianic world, Jesus has as good of a chance of being the messiah as Bar Kokhba or the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and I don’t particularly care to dwell on messianic prophecies regardless.
 
#11
Yes I’ve read it. No, I don’t think it predicts Jesus anymore than it predicts Alex Pretti or any other of the numerous good people throughout history who have been killed due to the failings of society.

Certainly I would agree that the Jesus described in the gospels sounds like a good person, and perhaps he was influenced by Hashem in a way that other good people are.

No I don’t wish to associate him with Hashem or act as if they are one and the same, that would be idolatry.

No, I don’t think he is the messiah. We objectively don’t live in the messianic world, Jesus has as good of a chance of being the messiah as Bar Kokhba or the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and I don’t particularly care to dwell on messianic prophecies regardless.
Well you can say that but it predicts 1 for 1 what he did, it doesn't do that for others, and he was the one who divided the world into BC and AC, he wasn't a random guy who did good things, especially because he did claim to be God and the Messiah, so he would have been a deceiver if he wasn't, plus the new testament talks a lot more about the future messianic world and sheds light on a lot of things

Do you want to talk about it?
 
#12
Romans 5:14-19

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.


__________


For example, Romans 5 sheds light on how Adam and Jesus are parallels

You get death because of Adam, you get eternal life because of Jesus, if you accept him so you can be born again by him





Jesus talked about the place named Abraham's bossom, explains the old testament afterlife and why Samuel's ghost came from up out of the ground, also the new testament explains what happened to them after sins were paid for and how we now go to heaven





It shed more light on what Job said:

Job 23:10

“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”







It sheds more light on what David said:

Psalms 32:2

“Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”







It explains these verses:


Zechariah 12:10
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.




Proverbs 30:4

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?”






And it is also a fulfillment of what Abraham said, "God will provide himself a lamb", Jesus is the Lamb of God




In fact, Jesus said Abraham saw his day and was glad, and Abraham said to the servsnts that he and the boy would come back

Meaning, Abraham parallels God the Father, Isaac parallels the Son


And Abraham thought God was going to resurrect Isaac, that's why he said they would both come back, as Jesus resurrected
 
#13
And I mean, God not punishing evil, evil is its own punishment, you reap what you sow, although he does punish it later
Well the book says some get the punishment right away and some is reserve for judgement. So God does punish it. However God is long suffering and does not want anyone to perish so he is hoping man would change their minds. Hence the reason why he is always knocking on the doors of our minds.

1 Timothy 5: 24
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
For example, live as an atheist, ok you have no hope

Live in drinking and smoking, ok your health and testosterone get destroyed while you live like that, and your life gets filthy

Swear and curse, ok your attitude gets filthy




Evil is its own punishment
I understand your point. Doing evil hurts your life. In other words we bring evil upon ourselves by doing evil.

Please know and understand that atheist do have hope because it is written while you are living there is hope.

Ecclesiastes 9: 4 - 7
4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.


The issue comes once you are dead. Someone can be an atheist all their life and change their mind the day before they died. You can repent the last day of your life just like the thief on the cross. If you die while being wicked then there is no more hope because the dead don't know anything.

Now this bring me to your second example. Smoking is bad for your health and drinking can be bad for your health but neither of those things are sin. You are however commanded not to get intoxicated. The very first miracle Jesus did was turning water to wine. The bible also says wine cheereth both man and God. You commit sin (evil) by breaking Gods law. That's why keeping it is man whole duty.

Ecclesiastes 12: 13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
 
#14
Well the book says some get the punishment right away and some is reserve for judgement. So God does punish it. However God is long suffering and does not want anyone to perish so he is hoping man would change their minds. Hence the reason why he is always knocking on the doors of our minds.

1 Timothy 5: 24
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.


I understand your point. Doing evil hurts your life. In other words we bring evil upon ourselves by doing evil.

Please know and understand that atheist do have hope because it is written while you are living there is hope.

Ecclesiastes 9: 4 - 7
4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

The issue comes once you are dead. Someone can be an atheist all their life and change their mind the day before they died. You can repent the last day of your life just like the thief on the cross. If you die while being wicked then there is no more hope because the dead don't know anything.

Now this bring me to your second example. Smoking is bad for your health and drinking can be bad for your health but neither of those things are sin. You are however commanded not to get intoxicated. The very first miracle Jesus did was turning water to wine. The bible also says wine cheereth both man and God. You commit sin (evil) by breaking Gods law. That's why keeping it is man whole duty.

Ecclesiastes 12: 13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Well keeping the law being the whole duty of man was for ancient jews under the law, not for anyone living today

But I mean, atheists have no hope, in the sense of, they don't wake up and have hope for something, although of course they have hope in the sense of they can get saved

Their lifestyle is a lifestyle of no hope is what I mean, not that they can't ever change
 
#15
Well you can say that but it predicts 1 for 1 what he did, it doesn't do that for others, and he was the one who divided the world into BC and AC, he wasn't a random guy who did good things, especially because he did claim to be God and the Messiah, so he would have been a deceiver if he wasn't, plus the new testament talks a lot more about the future messianic world and sheds light on a lot of things

Do you want to talk about it?
Not really

I like where I’m at in life and see no reason to convert to Christianity.
 
#16
Well keeping the law being the whole duty of man was for ancient jews under the law, not for anyone living today
Mind explaining how you came to this conclusion?
But I mean, atheists have no hope, in the sense of, they don't wake up and have hope for something, although of course they have hope in the sense of they can get saved

Their lifestyle is a lifestyle of no hope is what I mean, not that they can't ever change
Understood.
 
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