Why do the Wicked Prosper

I suppose man has always wondered: why do the wicked prosper? No doubt, God with his infinite wisdom would know the hearts of all mankind. Thousands of years ago. He answered this ancient proverbial saying. We can find the answer to this question in the wonderful words of God’s holy book of wisdom and instructions. Flip through the golden pages of the bible to (Psalms chapter 73).

Here we look down upon a man who is beside himself. He watches people like we do and wonders why the wicked prosper. They seem to have the “Midas” touch everything they endeavored to do turns to gold or prospers in some way. But the righteous seem to have the up hill, hard rocky road of life and suffer so much more then the wicked. Asaph, in (Psalm 73
would ask, “why aren’t the faithful blessed like the wicked?” Let us look at God’s answer.

In verse 1. He says, “Truly God is good to Israel.” Even though he is confused about the situation, he knows God is a just, kind and fair to all men.

In vs. 2. He says, “ my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.” He realizes that this is a real test of his faith. He has been righteous and holy, doing all the commandments of God. And yet it is difficult for him to make a living. It seems like God would pour out his blessings on him, more then he does the wicked. He is thinking, “maybe I should be a crook like the rest of them and have all the things I want.”

In vs. 3. He says, “I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” He was envious “jealous” of the wicked. You know, it would be nice to have a yacht, a Lamborghini car, a 20 million dollar home and live like the rich and famous. What would that be worth to you?

In vs. 4. He says, “ there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.” He is suggesting that many wealthy people live to be very old and die in a subtle way. They don’t really suffer in their death. They die in their sleep so to speak. They have no bands “chains or bondage,” The righteous are sometimes beaten or martyred for their convictions.

In vs. 5. He says, “They are not in trouble as other men." The rich seem to be able to buy themselves out of trouble. They know all the right people, they have the right connections. But let something happen to a poor man, he will go to prison or the gallows for sure. The rich seem to be able to sit back and enjoy life under the shade trees and drink their beverages with joy, and have no cares or concerns.

In vs. 6. He says, “pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them.” He implies that, “these people prance around like peacocks, strutting themselves before men and especially the poor and down trodden. And they are violent, rude, shrewd business men. They have no compassion on others.

In vs. 7. He says, “they have more than heart could wish”. He knows they could lend a helping hand to the poor and hungry, but they want to save their money. They are like the rich man in (Luke chap. 16), he watched the poor beggar Lazarus starve to death of disease and hunger.

In vs. 8-12. He notes that they “speak wickedly” and curse God. They even doubt God’s holiness and power. And yet God does not strike them down.

In vs. 13. Poor Asaph is really distraught. He says, “I have cleansed my heart in vain.” He is ready to hang his religion on a tree. He has done everything God has asked him to do, and he has suffered and done without to be righteous. All the while the rich prosper while doing nothing in the name of God.

Then Asaph finds the answer to his question in vs. 17; “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” In vs. 17-28; we would see Asaph finds understanding. He learns that all wicked men will one day die and then the wrath of God shall fall on them. They shall suffer for an eternity. But the righteous shall ever be with the Lord. This is the eternal “prosperity” of the righteous.