How can Psalm 73:20 encourage trust in God's ultimate justice and sovereignty? The Verse in Full “Like one waking from a dream, O Lord, when You arise, You will despise their form.” (Psalm 73:20) Immediate Context • Asaph has wrestled with why the arrogant seem to prosper (vv. 2–12). • In the sanctuary he gains clarity: the apparent security of the wicked is temporary (vv. 16–19). • Verse 20 captures the decisive moment when God “arises” and sets everything right. What the Image Conveys • A DREAM ENDS SUDDENLY – Just as a dream evaporates the moment we wake, the power and glamour of evil vanish when God intervenes. • GOD “ARISES” – Scripture often pictures God rising to judge (Isaiah 33:10; Psalm 68:1). His standing up signals the certainty of action. • “YOU WILL DESPISE THEIR FORM” – He discerns the true emptiness of wickedness and treats it accordingly. No injustice, however entrenched, escapes His notice. Reasons Psalm 73:20 Builds Trust in God’s Ultimate Justice • God’s timing is perfect—He wakes at the precise moment He has appointed (Ecclesiastes 3:17). • The transition from dream to waking is abrupt—assurance that judgment, once begun, will be swift (Malachi 3:5). • God Himself evaluates evil; human courts or circumstances do not have the final word (Romans 12:19). • The verse confirms the literal outcome foretold earlier in the psalm: “They are suddenly destroyed” (v. 19). What God says, He performs. Reasons It Affirms God’s Sovereignty • He alone determines when to “arise”; no power forces His hand (Daniel 4:35). • He can instantly reverse every earthly advantage, proving that all authority ultimately resides with Him (Psalm 115:3). • The dream imagery underscores that human powers exist only by His permission, as fleeting as sleep (Job 12:23). Living It Out Today • Anchor hope in the Lord’s unfailing timeline rather than visible circumstances. • Refuse envy of temporary success that lacks God’s blessing; it will dissolve like a dream. • Rest in the certainty that every act of injustice will meet a perfect response when He “arises.” • Celebrate God’s sovereignty by choosing obedience and integrity, confident that He honors those who fear Him (Psalm 37:34–40). |
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