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Day 6

Psalm 73:4b "But their strength is firm."

Day 6 – Psalm 73

“But their strength is firm.” Psalm 73:4b

AN IMPORTANT UNDERSTANDING

It is important that we must not equate wealth with evil. Wealth is essentially “neutral”. It is neither good or bad. It is a fact that God can grant wealth to those who walk in righteousness. However it is also a fact that the wicked can also acquire wealth through their own efforts, not necessarily through honest hard work. This was what troubled Asaph!

MORE OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE WICKED RICH

Asaph probably had in mind certain people he knew who were both wicked and wealthy. However he did not name them. His observations are very generalised but painfully true.

“For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.”
Psalm 73:4

1. “For there are no pangs in their death”

a) Pangs literally means “pain”.
b) Common pain:-
i) Distress
ii) Fear

2. But their strength was firm

a) Strength
i) A reference to health (in this context).
ii) A reference to the physical dimension of life.
b) Strength seen in life
i) Ability to cope with the stress and strain of life.
ii) Ability to overcome problems fairly easily.

THE PUZZLING QUESTION

Why were the wicked not only enjoying wealth, they were also enjoying great health and strength in life? This puzzled and distressed Asaph significantly.