Psalm 73:18 - Endow the King with Your Justice

Audio Bible

Context

Endow the King with Your Justice
…17until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end. 18Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. 19How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!…

Cross References

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.Matthew 7:13
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.1 Corinthians 10:12
So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.Luke 12:20
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’Job 21:30
Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.Isaiah 47:11
But disaster will come upon you; you will not know how to charm it away. A calamity will befall you that you will be unable to ward off. Devastation will happen to you suddenly and unexpectedly.1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.Proverbs 11:5
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.Matthew 24:39
And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.Jeremiah 23:12
“Therefore their path will become slick; they will be driven away into the darkness and fall into it. For I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.Isaiah 30:13
this iniquity of yours is like a breach about to fail, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse will come suddenly—in an instant!Romans 11:22
Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.Ezekiel 18:24
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

Psalm 35:6
Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

Deuteronomy 32:35
To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Jeremiah 23:12
Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.

thou castedst

Psalm 37:20,24,35-38
But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away…

Psalm 55:23
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Psalm 92:7
When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

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Psalm 73

Surely You set them on slick ground;
This phrase highlights the precarious position of the wicked, who may appear stable and prosperous but are actually on unstable footing. The imagery of "slick ground" suggests a lack of firm foundation, reminiscent of the parable of the house built on sand (Matthew 7:26-27). In biblical times, slick or slippery ground would be a common hazard, especially in hilly or mountainous regions where rain could quickly turn paths treacherous. This metaphor underscores the temporary and uncertain nature of the prosperity of the wicked, contrasting with the firm foundation of those who trust in God (Psalm 40:2). Theologically, it reflects the principle that God is sovereign over the destinies of all people, and He allows the wicked to continue in their ways only for a time, ultimately leading to their downfall.

You cast them down into ruin.
This phrase speaks to the ultimate judgment and destruction that awaits the wicked. The act of being "cast down" implies a sudden and forceful action, indicating divine intervention. The term "ruin" suggests complete desolation and is often used in the context of divine judgment throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 13:6, Ezekiel 7:25). Historically, this reflects the fate of many nations and individuals who opposed God's will, such as the fall of Babylon (Isaiah 47:11). Culturally, the concept of divine retribution was well understood in ancient Israel, where God's justice was seen as inevitable and righteous. This phrase also connects to the broader biblical theme of the Day of the Lord, a time when God will judge the earth and establish His kingdom (Zephaniah 1:15-18). In a typological sense, it foreshadows the ultimate defeat of evil through Jesus Christ, who will cast down all powers and authorities opposed to God's kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:24-25).

Persons / Places / Events

1. Asaph
The author of Psalm 73, Asaph was a prominent Levite singer and seer in David's court. He is known for his honest and heartfelt psalms that often explore the tension between the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous.

2. The Wicked
In this context, the wicked are those who live in opposition to God's ways, often prospering in worldly terms but ultimately facing divine judgment.

3. God
The sovereign judge who sets the wicked on "slick ground," indicating His control over their ultimate fate.

4. Slick Ground
A metaphor for instability and impending downfall, representing the precarious position of those who reject God.

5. Ruin
The ultimate end of the wicked, a state of destruction and judgment as a consequence of their actions.

Teaching Points

The Illusion of Prosperity
The prosperity of the wicked is temporary and deceptive. While they may seem secure, their foundation is unstable.

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
God is in control and will ultimately bring justice. The wicked are not beyond His reach, and their downfall is certain.

The Importance of a Firm Foundation
Believers are called to build their lives on the solid ground of God's truth, avoiding the slick ground of worldly allurements.

Trust in God's Timing
We must trust in God's timing for justice, knowing that He sees the bigger picture and will act according to His perfect will.

Self-Examination
Reflect on areas in our own lives where we might be standing on "slick ground" and seek to align ourselves more closely with God's ways.

Verse 18. - Surely thou didst set them up in slippery places. The wicked have at no time any sure hold on their prosperity. They are a "set in slippery places" - places from which they may easily slip and fall. Thou castedst them down to destruction. The fall often comes, even in this life. The flourishing cities of the plain are destroyed by fire from heaven; Pharaoh's land is ruined by the plagues, and his host destroyed in the Red Sea; Sennacherib's army perishes in a night; Jezebel is devoured by dogs; Athaliah is slain with the sword; Antiochus Epiphanes perishes in a distant expedition; Herod Agrippa is eaton of worms; persecutors, like Nero, Galerius, Julian, come to untimely ends. A signal retribution visits the wicked in hundreds and thousands of instances. When it does not, the question remains - Is death the end? This point is not formally brought forward, but it underlies the whole argument; and, unless retribution after death be regarded as certain, a single exception to the general rule of retribution in this life would upset the solution which the psalmist finds satisfactory. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Surely
אַ֣ךְ (’aḵ)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

You set them
תָּשִׁ֣ית (tā·šîṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7896: To put, set

on slick ground;
בַּ֭חֲלָקוֹת (ba·ḥă·lā·qō·wṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2513: Smoothness, flattery, an allotment

You cast them down
הִ֝פַּלְתָּ֗ם (hip·pal·tām)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

into ruin.
לְמַשּׁוּאֽוֹת׃ (lə·maš·šū·’ō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4876: Perhaps deceptions

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Psalm 73:18 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Psalm 73:18 Surely you set them in slippery places (Psalm Ps Psa.)