Meaning of Psalms 73:20

This verse, Psalms 73:20, vividly illustrates the transient and ultimately worthless nature of the prosperity and arrogance of the wicked when contrasted with the eternal reality of God's presence and judgment. The psalmist, after wrestling with envy over the apparent success of those who disregard God, arrives at a profound realization: their perceived triumphs are as insubstantial and fleeting as a dream upon waking. When the Lord "arises" – signifying His active intervention and judgment – these worldly advantages will be revealed as mere illusions, devoid of lasting value and ultimately despised by God. This is not a statement of God's mere displeasure, but a declaration of the utter futility and emptiness of a life lived apart from Him, a reality that will be starkly evident in His final accounting.

Context and Background

Psalms 73 is a psalm of Asaph, a Levitical musician and seer. The psalm begins with the psalmist confessing his near-fall into envy and despair as he observed the wicked prosper, seemingly free from the usual afflictions and punishments that befell others (vv. 1-14). He felt his faith was in vain, as he kept his heart pure and washed his hands in innocence, yet still suffered. The turning point comes in verse 17, where he enters "the sanctuary of God" and understands their end. This verse, therefore, is the climax of his reflection, the moment he sees the true nature of the wicked's perceived success from God's eternal perspective.

Key Themes and Messages

• Transience of Wickedness: The central theme is the temporary nature of worldly success for those who oppose God. Their achievements, wealth, and power are ultimately fleeting.
• Illusory Nature of Worldly Gain: The comparison to a dream emphasizes that the wicked's perceived advantages are not real in an eternal sense. They are deceptive and will vanish.
• Divine Judgment and Vindication: God's "arising" signifies His righteous judgment. He will not tolerate the wicked indefinitely; His sovereignty will be asserted, and their boasts will be nullified.
• The Value of God's Presence: The psalmist's own journey from envy to assurance highlights the ultimate value of closeness to God, which is contrasted with the emptiness of the wicked's worldly pursuits.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse offers profound encouragement to believers who witness the apparent flourishing of the ungodly. It reminds us that earthly success is not the ultimate measure of well-being or divine favor. Our focus should not be on the temporary gains of those who disregard God, but on our eternal relationship with Him. When we face trials or see injustice, this verse calls us to trust in God's ultimate justice and the impermanence of all that stands against Him. It encourages perseverance in faith, knowing that our present struggles are temporary, and God's vindication is sure.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The message of Psalms 73:20 resonates throughout Scripture. The Old Testament prophets frequently denounced the wicked and promised their eventual downfall (e.g., Isaiah 10:5-19, Jeremiah 12:1-6). The New Testament echoes this theme, particularly in Jesus' parables like the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21) and the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), which emphasize preparedness for the future and the vanity of earthly possessions. The concept of final judgment, where the righteous will be vindicated and the wicked condemned, is a cornerstone of biblical eschatology (e.g., Revelation 20:11-15).

Analogies

• A Dream Upon Waking: Just as a vivid dream can feel real while you are asleep, but upon waking it dissolves into nothingness, so too will the prosperity of the wicked fade away. The morning light of God's judgment will reveal its illusionary nature.
• Bubbles: The fortunes of the ungodly can be likened to iridescent bubbles, beautiful and shimmering for a moment, but easily popped and gone.
• Sandcastles Before the Tide: Their accomplishments are like sandcastles built on the shore, impressive for a brief time, but inevitably washed away by the incoming tide of divine justice.

Relation to Other Verses

• Psalms 37:1-2: "Do not fret because of evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked, for like grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away." This verse directly parallels the theme of the impermanence of the wicked's prosperity.
• Proverbs 23:4-5: "Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for wealth itself will sprout wings, like an eagle in the sky, and fly away." This highlights the fickle and unreliable nature of riches, aligning with the dream-like quality described in Psalms 73:20.
• Matthew 6:19-20: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." This emphasizes the eternal value of spiritual riches over temporal ones, underscoring the vanity of worldly pursuits.
• 1 John 2:17: "The world and its desires, however, will pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." This verse directly contrasts the ephemeral nature of the world with the eternal destiny of those who obey God.