Psalm 73 (72):2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Indeed, many were then enticed, even among those who seemed vigilant, and succumbed to fear when witnessing the thriving of the unrighteous. Thus, the prophet expresses in another passage, ‘My feet almost slipped; I envied the foolish.’ Additionally, another author questions, ‘Why does the way of the wicked prosper?’ (Jer. 12:1). Job, too, pondered numerous similar queries. However, those who voiced such inquiries did so out of their incompleteness; whereas now, the individual distressed by these matters stands undeserving of any mercy, having been instructed in the lessons of discipline, having received profound teachings concerning eternity, as well as the clearest revelations about both Hell and the Kingdom, where each will receive recompense according to their deeds.

For the Lord is gracious to Israel and to those with pure hearts. Yet the psalmist confesses, “But my feet had almost stumbled” (cf. Psalm 72:1-2). Why is this so? “For I was envious of the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked” (cf. Ps. 72:3). To whom does God extend His goodness if not to those who are upright in heart? In my distorted heart, I found myself unsettled by the Lord's actions. Why was I troubled? Because He bestowed joy upon the unrighteous, causing my feet to shake: did I labor for the Lord in vain? It was precisely due to this discontent in my heart that I felt unsteady. What does it mean to be "upright in heart"? It signifies aligning oneself with God's will.

Yet my footsteps remained steadfast. I was perilously close to deviating from my course. In a moment, my steps could have faltered. Simmachus interprets it this way: I was on the brink of forsaking my sound and sustaining beliefs, at the mercy of the strongest temptations; this idea is conveyed through the term "spilled," suggesting they were poured out, disintegrated, or washed away. The Prophet metaphorically refers to thoughts as legs and feet. He then provides the rationale.

In this passage, David refers to the feet as the reflections of the soul, which, as noted by Origen and Theodoret, uphold righteousness. He asserts that he has not been misled into the depths of disbelief regarding God's Sovereignty over the world, and thus, the feet—signifying the essence of my soul—have not been cast away or allowed to stray into the most dire state, for that which is cast aside is ultimately lost and perishes. Isychius remarks that the feet and legs symbolize the pathways of action and the movement of thought. He remained steadfast, meaning he did not allow his life to devolve into degradation, nor did he let his feet lead him astray, as he did not surrender the aspirations of his soul to recklessness.

Saint Athanasius, the Archbishop of Alexandria, recounts an event involving Saint Anthony the Great in the writings about his life. Two monks set out to seek Saint Anthony in the arid desert. As they traversed the scorching, waterless landscape, they succumbed to extreme thirst, resulting in one monk dying while the other faced imminent death. Far away, several miles distant, Saint Anthony was at his monastery seated upon a stone when he called two of his monks with urgency, instructing them: ‘Hurry to that location in the desert and take a container of water; for one of our brothers has succumbed to thirst and the other is barely alive, enduring great suffering and weakness.

The significance of these statements is heightened by the fact that the temptations mentioned by the Prophet are not limited to ordinary individuals or those who struggle with their devotion; rather, they are universal challenges, even affecting those who are advanced in their spiritual journey. By presenting Himself as a model, He encourages us to exercise vigilance in the face of temptation. Although He Himself did not completely succumb, He acknowledges with honesty how close He came to falling, reminding us that we too face the risk of stumbling, unless we are upheld by God's powerful hand. Furthermore, He reveals the root of this temptation, admitting that he was troubled by envy when he assessed the fortune of the wicked based solely on their current prosperity. He expressed, “I envied the lawless, the world of sinners seeing,” indicating his envy toward those who, despite their unrighteousness, appeared to thrive in wealth and tranquility they did not earn.

The Psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit and given to David, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, so that he might perform it for the comfort of all the gathered faithful. This message reassures them not to fear the wicked, who seem to thrive in this life, enjoying abundant pleasures and every form of satisfaction. In contrast, the righteous endure hardship and various trials during their time on earth, which is brief for both groups: the wicked revel in their riches, while the faithful endure a life marked by sorrow. However, the ultimate fate of the wicked is eternal destruction, while the righteous will experience everlasting joy. Those faltering in sin should seek to avoid their downfall through repentance, maintaining hope in the humanity of the One who restores the fallen.