What does "no struggles" in Psalm 73:4 reveal about the wicked's temporary success? Setting the Scene of Psalm 73 • Asaph wrestles with the disturbing sight of ungodly people prospering while the faithful often suffer (Psalm 73:2–3). • Verse 4 focuses on the external appearance of their lives: “They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong”. The Meaning of “No Struggles” • Surface-level ease – nothing seems to hinder their plans, health, or finances. • A boastful confidence – their apparent security reinforces pride (Psalm 73:6). • A deceptive peace – an absence of visible hardship can mask spiritual emptiness (Psalm 73:7). How Their Ease Fits the Bigger Picture • Psalm 73:12 confirms the pattern: “Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth.” • Yet Psalm 73:18–19 exposes the reversal: “Surely You set them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin … completely swept away by terrors.” • Proverbs 24:19–20 warns that the wicked “has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.” • Job 21:7–13 and Jeremiah 12:1–2 echo the same tension: momentary prosperity often precedes sudden judgment. Lessons for Believers Today • Don’t confuse present comfort with divine approval. What looks like blessing may actually be the calm before collapse. • Envy drains spiritual vitality (Psalm 73:21–22) and shifts focus from eternal realities (2 Corinthians 4:18). • Entering God’s presence brings clarity: “Until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end” (Psalm 73:17). Key Takeaways • “No struggles” highlights the temporary nature of the wicked’s success; it is a snapshot, not the final frame. • God’s timing may allow seasons of ease for the ungodly, but His justice remains certain and swift in its appointed moment. • The believer’s perspective is corrected by worship, grounding hope in God’s enduring goodness rather than the fleeting fortunes of the unrighteous. |
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