But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

.... My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:2, 3). Have you ever wondered what was the use of living for God,  when many who don't seem to live lives to the full, often prospering from less than righteous means?   The Psalmist was there, and had almost imitated their ways.  This in spite of the fact that he knew that God is good to those who are pure in heart (verse 1). He  spends the next 9 verses caught up in his envy. He declares “Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence” (verse 13). He goes on in the next verse to complain about his lot.  Then finally describes the process of coming to his senses.

To follow the way of the wicked would to be untrue  (verse 15). In other words,  as he almost started down the wrong road,  his conscience was warning him this was not good. All this thinking about the prosperity of the wicked,  and about his own situation was too painful for him until he went into God's presence. There he understood their end,  “they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors” (verses 16, 17, 19). At this point he starts to see how foolish he had been, and to consider again the wonder and glory of his relationship with God, how God was always with him,  giving council, and in the end being received into glory (verses 21-24). Moreover in the here and now God is the strength of heart.  And actually there is no one he desire more than God. And with this renewed perspective he  knows that it is good to draw near to God  (verses 25, 28).

Another  translation of verse 2 has “I had nearly lost confidence; my faith was almost gone.”  There are lessons for us here. One of the things he had been doing was taking his eyes off the Lord, putting them on the temporal prosperity of the wicked,  and  comparing his own circumstances with that prosperity. And He became envious. It is all too easy to go there, we likely all have! The solution of course is to get alone with God (the secret place), to meditate on God's goodness and the consequences of going down the wrong road. Also, when we compare ourselves with others we are unwise
(2 Corinthians 10:12), especially when we fixate on these things like the Psalmist did. When we do this, our feet far too easily slip. We need to take such negative thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), and return to the Lord!


Father, Your Word encourages us not to be discouraged by circumstances, ours or others. Jealousy is a sin because it so easily leads us down the wrong path. Help us Lord to not be weary well doing.  Thank You for the promise that when we endure we will,  in  Your time, reap if we do not draw back (Galatians 6:9).  Thank You Lord for Your principles and Your promises, and Your Word which when we hide it in our hearts helps us not to sin. Thank You too Lord for the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness. Thank You  for the fellowship of the saints. Thank You that You who have begun a good work in us will keep right on working in us, in Jesus Name Amen