The Rearview Mirror
One of my favorite quotes is, “Life must be lived forward — unfortunately it can only be understood backward.” In other words, our clearest understanding of life’s events comes only when we see those events through the rear view mirror. There is something about the “rearview” perspective that gives more meaningful and accurate context to what we have experienced. Reflection, examination, and evaluation often clarify what at the time was difficult to understand. It was the backward look that helped Asaph understand his circumstances. Eventually he arrived at a time when he could look back on the doubts, pain, and despair, the times when he had wondered about the goodness and fairness of God. Finally, in retrospect, the picture becomes clearer and more understandable.
Notice the opening words of Psalm 73: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart!” Asaph’s struggle is that the “pure in heart” do not seem to be blessed. Some see this verse as his declaration of faith despite an internal conflict over his beliefs. The realities of life had declared war on his deepest convictions. Others view this verse as the beginning of several of Asaph’s reversals of thought. They see him starting with faith, then lapsing into a time of deep despair and near-desertion of that faith. But Asaph described his experience as he saw it in the rearview mirror — a vantage point that allowed him to see his emotions and responses more clearly.
Asaph’s heart had been a battleground. War over the trustworthiness of God raged in his heart. As he recounted his experience, he revealed his despair in vs. 2: “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped.” In the crucible of suffering his complaints had seemed appropriate, even justified. But now, he could see them for what they really were — a dangerous temptation to reject God. He honestly remembered the thoughts assaulting his mind in vs. 3: “For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
Asaph confessed emotions we might feel but rarely acknowledge; his blunt words capture all too familiar thoughts. His self-disclosure encourages us to be honest with ourselves and with God. We too envy and resent prosperity, especially when it seems to come to those who do evil. Describing those who seemed to have the upper hand for all the wrong reasons, he wrote: “For there are no pains in their death, and their body is fat. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind. Therefore, pride is their necklace; the garment of violence covers them. Their eyes bulges from fatness; the imaginations of their heart run riot. They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; they speak from on high. They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue parades through the earth. They say, ‘How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?’” (Vs. 4-9, 11). Phrase by phrase, frustration by frustration, Asaph reflects on the luxury that seems to characterize the lives of those around him:

They seem to live such painless lives – (vs. 4). They die full and satisfied, enjoying life to the hilt every step of the way. “Their body is fat,” indicates great prosperity in an age when most people struggled just to survive. Indulgence in every delicacy was theirs on a daily basis, and their lifestyles reflected the means and opportunity to relax and enjoy the finer things of life.
They aren’t plagued like others – (vs. 5). They seem free from the difficulties, toils, and struggles of life. They seem immune to sickness and disease. Money and safety are the least of their concerns. Trouble doesn’t seem to touch those who prosper despite their wrongdoing.

Their pride and violence seem rewarded – (vs. 6). Asaph’s faith had taught him to believe that people who reject God will suffer. But as he observed life, it looked to him as if those who dared to be proud and oppressive were honored and rewarded. They seem to have all the things that those who spent their lives in devotion to God wanted, wished for, and thought they were due.

Their abundance is unimaginable – (vs. 7). Asaph saw the outward display of their wealth. “Their eyes bulges from fatness.” All the luxuries of life seemed to be theirs: comfort, safety, convenience, people and things to meet their every wish and want.

Their speech is filled with mockery, pride, and arrogance – (vs. 8-9). The targets of their mocking were those who valued character. But what troubled Asaph the most about these prosperous people was their attitude toward God. they mocked Him in all they did. Their prosperity led them to mockingly ask in vs. 11: “How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?” They seemed carefree and unconcerned about tomorrow. For them, life is now, and now seems to be forever. They felt protected from the normal pains of life (vs. 4-6), so they assumed they were also invulnerable to any divine response.

As Asaph looked at the wealth and happiness of ungodly, self-centered people, he came to a discouraging conclusion: In spite of all their wrongdoing, those who live for only themselves still prosper! No wonder Asaph was frustrated! Bad people thrived, apparently immune to the problems of life. They mocked god and seemed to get away with it.
Inequity and injustice motivated Asaph’s confession in vs. 3: “I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Faced with similar circumstances, we too want to scream, “It just isn’t fair!”
But that was only the beginning. Though venting his frustration seemed natural and even helpful, doing so led him down a dark and troubling path.
Tomorrow, we will look at his response…