“Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 73:12 Mean?
Asaph makes a blunt observation: "these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches." No theological spin. No qualifications. Just the raw observation: the ungodly prosper. They get richer. And there's nothing in the immediate evidence to suggest that will change.
This verse comes near the crisis point of Psalm 73, where Asaph admits that watching the wicked prosper nearly destroyed his faith (verse 2: "my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped"). The observation isn't casual — it's existentially threatening. If the ungodly prosper and the godly suffer, what's the point of faithfulness?
The word "prosper" (shalvah) means ease, security, peace — the same word used in Psalm 30:6 for the prosperity that made David say "I shall never be moved." The wicked have the very thing the godly often lack. They live in ease while the faithful struggle. Asaph stares at this reality without flinching.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you ever watched the wrong people prosper and questioned the point of your faithfulness?
- 2.What's the difference between thinking about the problem and entering the sanctuary to see it differently?
- 3.How does Asaph's raw honesty give you permission to name your own doubts?
- 4.What 'sanctuary' could you enter to gain God's perspective on an unresolved frustration?
Devotional
"Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world." Asaph says it flatly, without comfort, without explanation. They prosper. They increase in riches. They have what you don't. And they got it while ignoring God.
This is the observation that nearly killed Asaph's faith. Not doubt about God's existence — doubt about whether God's system works. If the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer, what exactly is the incentive to be righteous? What's the return on faithfulness?
This is one of the most honest spiritual crises in Scripture because it's not dramatic. There's no major catastrophe, no personal tragedy. Just the slow erosion of watching the wrong people win while you do the right thing and get nothing. It's the quietest kind of faith crisis, and maybe the most common.
Asaph resolves this crisis — but not until verse 17, when he enters the sanctuary and understands their end. The resolution requires worship, not just thinking. Thinking about the problem couldn't solve it. Only seeing from God's perspective — which required entering God's presence — could.
If you're watching the ungodly prosper right now and wondering what the point of faithfulness is, Asaph understands. Keep reading. The resolution is coming. But it won't come from more analysis. It'll come from entering the sanctuary.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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Cross References
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