Why do the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer? Psalm 73 wrestles with one of life’s hardest questions—and finds its answer not in wealth, success, or envy, but in the presence of God Himself. In this sermon, we trace Asaph’s journey in Psalm 73 from doubt and despair to hope and worship, and we see how it points us forward to Jesus Christ: The truly Righteous Sufferer who bore injustice on the cross. The true Temple, God’s presence with us. The coming Judge, who will set all things right. Our eternal Portion and Treasure forever. 📖 If you’ve ever felt frustrated by injustice in the world or discouraged by your own struggles, this psalm speaks directly to you—and in Christ, it offers unshakable hope.
For more bible resources, please visit www.calvarysoton.co.uk
The pastor begins by challenging our natural tendency to approach Scripture asking, “Where am I?” Instead, he argues that the Psalms are primarily about Jesus, not us. While we often read individual Psalms devotionally or see them on mugs and fridge magnets, the pastor suggests this misses how the Psalms were designed to be read – as an intentionally ordered collection telling a story about Christ.
Using the analogy of playing cards, the pastor demonstrates that the Psalms aren’t randomly shuffled but purposefully arranged. They’re organized into five books mirroring the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), with Psalms 1-2 functioning as an “overture” introducing the book’s key themes. These opening Psalms establish two ways to live: the way of the righteous who prosper and the way of the wicked who perish. Crucially, the blessed person isn’t one who earns blessing through righteousness, but one who has “kissed the Son” and “taken refuge in Him” (Psalm 2:12).
The pastor provides several examples of how adjacent Psalms connect to tell a story. Psalms 7-9 are linked through repeated phrases about God’s name. Psalms 15-24 form a chiastic structure (like a mountain) asking and answering who can ascend God’s holy hill. This isn’t coincidental but reveals the Psalms’ intentional arrangement pointing to Jesus as the only truly righteous one who can dwell with God.
Focusing on Psalms 72-73, the pastor shows how these Psalms address our deepest longings and disappointments. Psalm 72, closing Book Two, is David’s prayer for “the King we all long for” – a ruler bringing justice, defending the poor, and crushing oppressors. This Psalm points to Jesus, who proclaimed in Luke 4 that He came to bring good news to the poor and freedom to the oppressed.
Yet immediately following in Psalm 73, opening Book Three, Asaph struggles with the reality that the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. This jarring transition mirrors our own experience when life doesn’t match our expectations. The solution isn’t found in circumstances changing but in entering “the sanctuary of God” (Psalm 73:17) where reality is reframed. As Asaph concludes, “Whom have I in heaven but you? There is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).
The pastor concludes that Jesus fulfills both Psalms – He is both the righteous King we long for and the God who is enough in our disappointment. Our security isn’t in the visible state of the world but in taking refuge in Christ. The pastor encourages us to read the Psalms not looking for ourselves, but looking for Jesus, finding hope in His coming reign and comfort in His present presence.