1 A Psalme of Asaph. Truely God is good to Israel, euen to such as are of a cleane heart.
2 But as for mee, my feete were almost gone: my steps had well-nigh slipt.
3 For I was enuious at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firme.
5 They are not in trouble as other men: neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chaine: violence couereth them as a garment.
7 Their eies stand out with fatnes: they haue more then heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speake wickedly concerning oppression: they speake loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heauens; and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people returne hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the vngodly: who prosper in the world, they increase in riches.
13 Uerily I haue cleansed my heart in vaine, and washed my hands in innocencie.
14 For all the day long haue I bene plagued, and chastened euery morning.
15 If I say, I will speake thus: behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painfull for me,
17 Untill I went into the Sanctuarie of God; then vnderstood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them downe into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation as in a moment? they are vtterly consumed with terrours.
20 As a dreame when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was greeued, and I was pricked in my reines.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Neuerthelesse I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell; and afterward receiue me to glory.
25 Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and there is none vpon earth that I desire besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for euer.
27 For loe, they that are farre from thee, shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that goe awhoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me, to drawe neere to God: I haue put my trust in the Lord God, that I maydeclare all thy workes.
The psalmist's temptation. (1-14) How he gained a victory over it. (15-20) How he profited by it. (21-28)
1-14 The psalmist was strongly tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked; a common temptation, which has tried the graces of many saints. But he lays down the great principle by which he resolved to abide. It is the goodness of God. This is a truth which cannot be shaken. Good thoughts of God will fortify against Satan's temptations. The faith even of strong believers may be sorely shaken, and ready to fail. There are storms that will try the firmest anchors. Foolish and wicked people have sometimes a great share of outward prosperity. They seem to have the least share of the troubles of this life; and they seem to have the greatest share of its comforts. They live without the fear of God, yet they prosper, and get on in the world. Wicked men often spend their lives without much sickness, and end them without great pain; while many godly persons scarcely know what health is, and die with great sufferings. Often the wicked are not frightened, either by the remembrance of their sins, or the prospect of their misery, but they die without terror. We cannot judge men's state beyond death, by what passes at their death. He looked abroad, and saw many of God's people greatly at a loss. Because the wicked are so very daring, therefore his people return hither; they know not what to say to it, and the rather, because they drink deep of the bitter cup of affliction. He spoke feelingly when he spoke of his own troubles; there is no disputing against sense, except by faith. From all this arose a strong temptation to cast off religion. But let us learn that the true course of sanctification consists in cleansing a man from all pollution both of soul and body. The heart is cleansed by the blood of Christ laid hold upon by faith; and by the begun works of the Lord's Spirit, manifested in the hearty resolution, purpose, and study of holiness, and a blameless course of life and actions, the hands are cleansed. It is not in vain to serve God and keep his ordinances.
15-20 The psalmist having shown the progress of his temptation, shows how faith and grace prevailed. He kept up respect for God's people, and with that he restrained himself from speaking what he had thought amiss. It is a sign that we repent of the evil thoughts of the heart, if we suppress them. Nothing gives more offence to God's children, than to say it is vain to serve God; for there is nothing more contrary to their universal experience. He prayed to God to make this matter plain to him; and he understood the wretched end of wicked people; even in the height of their prosperity they were but ripening for ruin. The sanctuary must be the resort of a tempted soul. The righteous man's afflictions end in peace, therefore he is happy; the wicked man's enjoyments end in destruction, therefore he is miserable. The prosperity of the wicked is short and uncertain, slippery places. See what their prosperity is; it is but a vain show, it is only a corrupt imagination, not substance, but a mere shadow; it is as a dream, which may please us a little while we are slumbering, yet even then it disturbs our repose.
21-28 God would not suffer his people to be tempted, if his grace were not sufficient, not only to save them from harm, but to make them gainers by it. This temptation, the working of envy and discontent, is very painful. In reflecting upon it, the psalmist owns it was his folly and ignorance thus to vex himself. If good men, at any time, through the surprise and strength of temptation, think, or speak, or act amiss, they will reflect upon it with sorrow and shame. We must ascribe our safety in temptation, and our victory, not to our own wisdom, but to the gracious presence of God with us, and Christ's intercession for us. All who commit themselves to God, shall be guided with the counsel both of his word and of his Spirit, the best counsellors here, and shall be received to his glory in another world; the believing hopes and prospects of which will reconcile us to all dark providences. And the psalmist was hereby quickened to cleave the closer to God. Heaven itself could not make us happy without the presence and love of our God. The world and all its glory vanishes. The body will fail by sickness, age, and death; when the flesh fails, the conduct, courage, and comfort fail. But Christ Jesus, our Lord, offers to be all in all to every poor sinner, who renounces all other portions and confidences. By sin we are all far from God. And a profession Christ, if we go on in sin, will increase our condemnation. May we draw near, and keep near, to our God, by faith and prayer, and find it good to do so. Those that with an upright heart put their trust in God, shall never want matter for thanksgiving to him. Blessed Lord, who hast so graciously promised to become our portion in the next world, prevent us from choosing any other in this.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.