Why Do the Wicked Prosper?

By Joseph M. Stowell

Psalm 73

WHEN DEVOUT CHRISTIANS encounter one trial after another, we tend to ask, "Why do good people suffer?" It seems so unfair. But we soon learn from the Bible that God puts trials and tribulations in our lives to chasten and refine us, to strengthen our faith and to increase our dependence on Him.

A similar yet opposite question believers have often had to wrestle with is: "Why do the wicked prosper?" This, in fact, is what Asaph had in mind when he wrote Psalm 73 . He began with a strong affirmation of faith: "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart."

But then, he confessed that spiritually he nearly fell, "for I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (v. 3).

So, if you have a hard time squaring what you see in life with what you have learned from the Bible, you are not alone. But note that Asaph eventually found truth, and his envy and depression turned to joy and gratitude. I think his experience, as recorded in Psalm 73, is a great encouragement to all of us.

Observation

In verses 4-12, Asaph offers his views of unrighteous people. He starts by noting that "there are no bands in their death", which means they die peacefully; and that when they are alive, "their strength is firm", they enjoy good health. Worse yet, they are proud people, and "violence covereth them as a garment"; they use violence to get what they want.

He then observes that the wicked are so prosperous that they are bulging with fat; they have more than their heart could desire (v. 7). So corrupt are they that they arrogantly malign and oppress the poor and weak (v. 8). They even talk against the heavens; they blaspheme God without fear. And just because they are wealthy and powerful, whatever they say commands attention all over the world (v. 9).

Asaph further notices that even though the wicked mock God, saying "How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?", they prosper in the world and increase in riches just the same (vv. 11,12).

Aggravation

All this aggravates Asaph, sending him into a spiritual depression. He says in verse 13, "Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency." In other words, "I have lived a righteous life for nothing; I have just been naive." Like most people in this world, the Psalmist is measuring blessings in terms of external rewards.

Asaph adds, "For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me" (vv.14-16).

Many a believer is like that. He has trouble reconciling what he sees in the world with what the Bible
teaches. But he is afraid to talk to other Christians about that, lest they think that he is a carnal Christian. But keeping those questions inside produces pains, which could lead to a spiritual fall in time.

Revelation

The Psalmist's inner doubt did not persist, however. He says in verse 17: "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end." He entered into God's presence and saw a totally different perspective. In any crisis of life, we must lift our eyes to God and seek understanding from Him.

In that new perspective, Asaph sees the end of the wicked. He writes in verses 18 and 20: "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destructionAs a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image." Right now, God is patient; He lets the wicked prosper. But the time will come when He arises and brings them down.

You see, from an eternal point of view, our life on this earth is but a fleeting thought. A man who prospers in a fleeting thought and then has to spend eternity in hell can hardly be considered prosperous.

Now the Psalmist emerges from his depression and feels ashamed for how he has felt earlier. "Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee" (vv. 21, 22). And he discovers what true prosperity really is:

1. The ever presence of God. "Nevertheless I am continually with thee" (v. 23a). Asaph has discovered that he is prosperous because God is with him always. We read in Hebrews 13:5, "Let your conversation (that is, your life-style) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." The Bible is saying here: Don't covet. Be content with whatever things you have, because if you have Jesus, you have it all.

2. The protection of God. "Thou hast holden me by my right hand" (v. 23b). God holds us by our right hand. That's a symbol of Divine protection. Sometimes, the Bible says that God holds us by His right hand. We believers are protected by the powerful hand of God. That is what I call true prosperity.

3. The guidance of God. "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel" (v. 24a). We live in a complex and spiritually dark world. But we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach us all truths and guide us in all righteousness. We have what may be called a spiritual radar system that hones us through the darkness, constantly correcting our path and keeping us on target. Given such supernatural help, we are truly prosperous.

4. The gift of God. "And afterward receive me to glory" (v. 24b). We read in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." With our sins, we have earned eternal damnation; but through Christ, God has graciously given us the free gift of eternal life. This is Prosperity with a capital P.

Adoration

So Asaph ends up with a great flurry of praise: "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee" (v. 25). He is saying, the thing I wish and long for more than anything else, Father, is an intimate relationship with you.

And he adds, "My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever" (v. 26). What happens to our physical well-being is of little importance. True prosperity is found in God's long-range, goodness to His people.

Why do the wicked prosper? From God's point of view, that is a misguided question. The wicked don't really prosper. In terms of eternity, the children of God are the ones that are truly blessed.

Application

The story is told of two missionaries, husband and wife. They had served the Lord long and hard all of their life in a foreign land. Aged and broken of health, they were told by the mission board to come home.

On the same ship with them was an American ambassador who was also retiring and going home. This ambassador, they observed, often went around drunk, used bad language, and behaved crudely. As the missionaries sat broken-health on their deck chairs, their hearts grieved to think that such a man had represented our country in that foreign land.

The ship finally pulled into the harbor. A couple of very important-looking men came aboard and ushered the ambassador and his wife down the gangplank. The crowd closed in around the retiring diplomats and a band began to play. Flash pictures were popping as the ambassador was presented with a medal of distinguished service; and his wife, a dozen red roses.

Pilgrims. The missionary couple grabbed their belongings, made their way through that crowd. No one was there to greet them. No one had come to welcome them home.

Walking toward the baggage claim area, the missionary saw tears running down her cheeks. "Honey, what's wrong?" he asked. She said: "It's not fair. You ought to be the one being honored for your dedicated service for Jesus Christ. But there are no roses, no bands, no flowers for us."

That wise missionary tenderly said to his wife: "Honey, we're not home yet." He knew the reality of Psalm 73! o

Dr. Joseph M. Stowell is President of Moody Bible Institute, 820 North LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610.

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