How does Psalm 73:20 illustrate God's view of the wicked's temporary success? Setting the Scene Psalm 73 is Asaph’s honest struggle with the prosperity of people who ignore God. He is disturbed until he enters the sanctuary (v. 17) and gains God’s perspective. Verse 20 becomes the turning point that seals his new outlook. Verse Spotlight: Psalm 73:20 “Like a dream when one awakens, so You, O Lord, when aroused, will despise their form.” What the Imagery Tells Us • A dream vanishes the moment we open our eyes; likewise, the wicked’s success dissolves when God “awakens” to judge. • “Despise their form” shows that the very shape of their existence—everything they built apart from God—provokes divine rejection. • The verse places all apparent triumph on a timer. God’s intervention is not in doubt; only its moment is. Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 37:1-2 — “Do not fret over those who do evil… For they wither quickly like grass.” • Psalm 37:9-10 — “Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more.” • Job 20:5-8 — “The triumph of the wicked is brief… He flies away like a dream and is not found.” • Psalm 92:7 — “Though the wicked sprout like grass… they will be forever destroyed.” • Proverbs 24:19-20 — “For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.” Key Takeaways • Temporary: Earthly success without God is as fleeting as a forgotten dream. • Certain Judgment: God’s “awakening” is assured; He will personally “despise” the structures of rebellion. • Perspective Shift: Envy evaporates when we realize the wicked are living on borrowed time and breath. • Hope for the Faithful: God’s people inherit what endures (Psalm 37:9); their future is secure because it rests in Him. Living It Out • Measure success by eternity, not by momentary appearance. • Guard your heart from envy—recognize that what dazzles today may be gone by morning. • Anchor confidence in God’s unchanging justice; His timing may feel slow, but His verdict is final. • Celebrate the permanence of God’s promises; they outlast every human scheme. Conclusion Psalm 73:20 strips away the illusion of lasting prosperity for those who spurn God. Their rise is ephemeral—no more substantial than last night’s dream—while the Lord’s righteousness stands forever. |
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