Why Do The Ungodly Prosper?

Psalm 73

Most of us, at one time or another, have looked around at the world and wondered why those who live wicked lives seem to sail through life without a problem.  They never seem to have many problems, and when they do, they always have the money to fix them, or the right connections to other scoundrels who can “fix” the problem for them.  We look at ourselves, trying to live righteously, and we struggle day by day to get by. This is the theme of the psalm that Asaph wrote, which we will look into today.

Sometimes, even when we have tried to do what is right and help others, life is unfair.  Sinful behavior gets rewarded, and godliness goes unnoticed, it seems. However, God does pay attention.  Though it took a little while, Asaph came to see this.  Initially Asaph looked around and all he could see was the prosperity of the rich and ungodly (vs. 1-9).  They seem to go through life with few problems, with good health and good jobs, and then they die a peaceful death. People seem to drink in every wicked thing they say (vs. 8-10). They live and act as if God doesn’t see their behavior and life.  Sometimes we feel as if He doesn’t, either (vs. 11).

Sometimes, when we see how easy the wicked have it, we wonder if it’s worth it to live righteously.  Asaph was beginning to feel this way (vs. 13). However, as Asaph came to God in prayer and meditation, when he came to worship Him, it was then that he began to understand God’s perspective on the fate of the wicked (vs. 17).  Our obedience to God is never in vain. We will reap a harvest in eternity. Do not grow weary of trying to do good for the Lord. He will provide a harvest. We reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow (Galatians 6:9).

While he pondered this distressing dilemma Asaph knew that he would always remain with the Lord, and that the Lord would be there by him, holding his hand (vs. 23).  If we are a believer, we are always with God. He is never far from us. If we give our hand to God, He will reach out and take it. His eye is always on us, and we are continually on His mind.

The rich may have their thick bank accounts, fine houses, and shiny cars, but Asaph knew he had the Lord (vs. 25-26).  The Lord is our portion (Lamentations 3:24). He is not just a part of our portion, but He is all of it, our all-sufficient portion.  He, alone, can truly satisfy our needs and desires.  When everything in life is falling apart, God is our strength and our portion.  When we find our strength in God, His power is perfected in our weakness (II Corinthians 12:9-10).

Asaph made several observations in this psalm he wrote.  He saw how the wicked prospered, and that the godly wonder why that would be.  The wealth of wicked seems so inviting that the godly might want to change places.  But the Lord let Asaph know that the smooth life and wealth of the wicked will suddenly come to an end. The rewards of the godly will come.  Their wealth was a waste, and the life of the godly will get eternal rewards.  Those who abandon God to live like they choose, and worship who and what they choose, will face eternal death and damnation.

When things confuse us, like they did Asaph, we need to look at life from God’s perspective.  Unbelief is a sin, but honest questioning, like Asaph had, is accepted by God. Sometimes when we don’t get an answer to our “whys” it is because we don’t have the capacity to understand the answer.  Let us be reassured by the Lord, as Asaph was, to keep sowing seeds of righteousness, because one day the harvest will come.