Psalm 73 (72):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe these individuals, arrogant and unruly; take notice of the bull, dedicated to sacrifice, permitted to roam freely and to inflict harm until the day of its slaughter. Beloved, it is fitting for us to hear directly from the words of the prophet regarding this bull I reference. For Scripture speaks of it elsewhere, noting that they are, as if, made ready for a sacrifice, and are spared to indulge in wicked freedom (Proverbs 7:22). Thus, it states that their pride restrains them. What does it mean that pride restrains them? They are enveloped in their own sinfulness and evil. The text does not merely say they are covered, but rather that they are clothed, entirely surrounded by their wrongdoing.

For this reason, I have restrained my arrogance until now. They partake in every blessing and are free from wrongdoing, which has led them to surrender entirely to pride, resulting in their becoming unjust and sinful, as their iniquities grow increasingly abundant.

This led them to pride and hubris, as they disregarded the consequences of their past transgressions and became ensnared in even greater wickedness. By using the phrase "clothed themselves," the prophet illustrates the vast array of unrighteousness that appeared to envelop them at every turn.

For this reason, I have kept their arrogance in check until the very end. He explains that their actions flow abundantly like a river, resulting in their overwhelming pride. This pride envelops them because they believe they are favored by God due to their unpunished transgressions, leading them to think they deserve good outcomes as a reward for their sinful ways. Alternatively, they may even deny God's existence, which furthers their arrogance. As Athanasius remarked, since they experience no misfortunes but enjoy many blessings, their pride swells significantly. They have adorned themselves with injustice and wickedness. Thus, he asserts that when the wicked revel in their fortune, they become cloaked in unrighteousness and iniquity, much like a garment enveloping them completely.

The prophet illustrates the outcome of prosperity among the unrighteous, specifically, the emergence of arrogance and a rise in wickedness. They take satisfaction in earthly pleasures to indulge their desires and provide comfort to the feeble. It is crucial to pay attention to the phrase: their pride has held them back. Those filled with pride do not manage their arrogance; instead, they are ensnared by it, much like a form of bondage, for every individual who engages in wrongdoing is enslaved by sin (John 8:34).

The Psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit and composed by David, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, so that he might vocalize it with heartfelt emotion for the encouragement of all the gathered faithful. This message reassures them not to fear those who seem to prosper in this life, enjoying various forms of worldly satisfaction, while the believers endure hardship and distress. It reminds us that both groups experience a brief period here: the wicked revel in their luxuries, and the righteous live in trials (2 Pet. 2:13). However, the fate of the wicked is eternal doom, whereas the destiny of the righteous is everlasting joy (Theodoret, Athanasius, Chrysostom). When one stumbles into sin, let them restore their footing through repentance, holding fast to hope in the mercy of the One who redeems the fallen (Theodoret, Chrysostom).