Psalm 73 Verse Mapping Study (verses 18 -20)

 

"Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.  

How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!

Like a dream when one awakes, O LORD when you rouse yourself, 

you despise them as phantoms."

Psalm 73:18-20

DESIGN:

"Surely You set the wicked-minded and immoral on slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.  How they are destroyed in a moment! They are completely swept away by sudden terrors! Like a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, O LORD, when stirred, [You observe the wicked], You will despise their image." (AMP)

"Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.  How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O LORD when aroused, You will despise their form." (NASB)

DEVELOPMENT:

Verse 18:

makar = to sell (literally as merchandise into slavery), destruction.

Verse 20:

tselem = an image, illusion, phantom, idol, vain shew

FIND:

Jeremiah 23:12 - "Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, declares the LORD."

Proverbs 28:1 - "The wicked flee when no one pursues but the righteous are bold as a lion."

Psalm 78:65 - "Then the LORD awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine."

Job 20:8 - "He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night." 

MANKIND:

Man will reap what he sows.  Sin does not go unpunished.

GOD:

God must punish sin; He is long-suffering but His perfect justice and holiness demand that sin cannot be tolerated or excused. God hates idolatry and every false god will be destroyed. 

ASK/APPLICATION:

When we choose to turn away from God and set up our own gods/idols we are on a slippery slope that will lead to destruction.  In this verse the word makar means that we sell ourselves into slavery to our idols.  Just as Proverbs 14:12 reminds us; "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."  Galatians 6:7 also is a strong warning "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." The word for mocked in this verse is mukterizo and means "to sneer or to turn up the nose".  You cannot turn your nose up at God and His ways and not reap His just punishment.  We must be careful to check our hearts often so we do not start down a slippery slope of choosing slavery to sin.  Heed this truth from Romans 6:16 "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?"

PRAYER:

Dear Father, I praise you for the truth and wisdom found in Your Word.  Please help me to be extremely aware anytime I start to turn from that truth and wisdom to follow my own ways.  Lord may I be quick to repent and turn back so that I don't slip further away.  I pray for those who are walking their own path; not following You.  May they see the error and danger of their thinking before it destroys them.  Lord show me any areas where I am trusting in my own understanding and turn my heart back to Your truth and ways.  Thank You for the forgiveness provided in Jesus' death and resurrection.  May I never take for granted or minimize the cost of sin and the price paid so that I could have a right relationship with You.  Amen.