All earthly glory for the unrighteous is fleeting.
The psalmist Asaph, who lived during the reign of King David around 1010-970 BC, continues his insightful reflection in Psalm 73 by describing the fate of those who seem to prosper in their wickedness. He exclaims, “How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!” (v.19). Through these words, Asaph contrasts the fleeting nature of earthly success with the reality that God’s judgment can come swiftly. The psalm up to this point focuses on the tension between envy toward the arrogant and the realization that such prosperity is temporary (Psalm 73:3-5). It is only when Asaph seeks the presence of the LORD that he discerns the end of the wicked and recognizes that their apparent success vanishes in an instant, much like a dream evaporating at dawn.
As Asaph marvels over “how they are destroyed in a moment” (v.19), he underscores the suddenness of divine justice. In the New Testament, Jesus also teaches that worldly treasures and unrepented misdeeds ultimately fail to bring lasting security (Matthew 6:19-21). While the wicked seem to flourish for a time, their moral foundation is weak, and they risk a swift downfall. The psalmist uses words like “sudden terrors” (v.19) to illustrate that no earthly power can shield a person from an abrupt reckoning. This startling reversal assures believers that God remains the ultimate arbiter of moral order, turning short-lived arrogance into ruin.
This verse further comforts those who might struggle with seeing blatant injustice in the world. Just as Asaph wrestled with the wrongdoers’ prosperity in his own day, modern readers can relate when evildoers appear to evade consequences. Yet the moment of destruction comes unexpectedly, re-establishing that God’s timing is perfect. For Asaph, the abrupt nature of the wicked being “swept away” (v.19) reaffirms the security of trusting in God rather than worldly success. Beyond the context of Psalm 73, the swift demise of the ungodly also foreshadows Jesus’ teaching on final judgment (Matthew 25:46), reinforcing that human pride and oppression cannot stand forever under divine scrutiny.
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Psalms 73:19 meaning
The psalmist Asaph, who lived during the reign of King David around 1010-970 BC, continues his insightful reflection in Psalm 73 by describing the fate of those who seem to prosper in their wickedness. He exclaims, “How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!” (v.19). Through these words, Asaph contrasts the fleeting nature of earthly success with the reality that God’s judgment can come swiftly. The psalm up to this point focuses on the tension between envy toward the arrogant and the realization that such prosperity is temporary (Psalm 73:3-5). It is only when Asaph seeks the presence of the LORD that he discerns the end of the wicked and recognizes that their apparent success vanishes in an instant, much like a dream evaporating at dawn.
As Asaph marvels over “how they are destroyed in a moment” (v.19), he underscores the suddenness of divine justice. In the New Testament, Jesus also teaches that worldly treasures and unrepented misdeeds ultimately fail to bring lasting security (Matthew 6:19-21). While the wicked seem to flourish for a time, their moral foundation is weak, and they risk a swift downfall. The psalmist uses words like “sudden terrors” (v.19) to illustrate that no earthly power can shield a person from an abrupt reckoning. This startling reversal assures believers that God remains the ultimate arbiter of moral order, turning short-lived arrogance into ruin.
This verse further comforts those who might struggle with seeing blatant injustice in the world. Just as Asaph wrestled with the wrongdoers’ prosperity in his own day, modern readers can relate when evildoers appear to evade consequences. Yet the moment of destruction comes unexpectedly, re-establishing that God’s timing is perfect. For Asaph, the abrupt nature of the wicked being “swept away” (v.19) reaffirms the security of trusting in God rather than worldly success. Beyond the context of Psalm 73, the swift demise of the ungodly also foreshadows Jesus’ teaching on final judgment (Matthew 25:46), reinforcing that human pride and oppression cannot stand forever under divine scrutiny.