Mirror images: Psalm 73 as a reflection of Psalm 37

The Psalms are inconsistent in tone, changing drastically from one to the next along with the instability of David's situation, and by extension, the highs and lows of every person's life.

While the Psalms vary from laments to expressions of joy, underlying themes are repeated throughout them and the entire Bible. A similar theme is found in Psalm 37 and Psalm 73. Though they were written by different authors, the theme of temptation to envy prosperous evil people and trusting in God's justice is also found in other parts of the Bible.

The 73rd Psalm is written by Asaph, and he laments the apparent prosperity of wicked people. Like Psalm 37, the first line has a positive, comforting tone: "Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart." This implies confidence in God's sense of justice. God gives favor to those who live righteously.

However, the next lines change direction and complain about the apparent prosperity that wicked people enjoy: "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked."

This is a confession that Asaph was deeply troubled by wicked people who seemed to have everything they could ever want. In the Bible, "arrogance" and "wickedness" are practically synonymous, so by using these words in the same line, the psalmist accentuates the evil he describes. The use of the word "envious" in regard to the wicked brings to mind Proverbs 24:19 - "Do not fret because of evildoers. Do not envy the wicked; for the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will go out."

Psalm 73 describes the wicked in a similar way as the Proverb, ending with the promise of their demise: "Indeed, those who are far from You will perish; You put an end to those who are false to You."

This theme of God bringing justice to the wicked and arrogant is often repeated in the Bible. The parallel structure Asaph uses -- repeating the same idea in different words -- adds emphasis and implies he is absolutely certain of this truth. The language is clear and decisive, leaving no option for a different interpretation.