Psalm 73 – Pure of Heart

April 29, 2025

While Psalm 73 – pure of heart, begins by mentioning the pure of heart, the psalm says more about the wicked. Why? What do we learn about the pure of heart from the wicked?

Psalm 73

Psalm 73 – pure of heart, is attributed to Asaph, a musician. He struggles with the question why the wicked prosper. It begins with the affirmation that God is good to Israel and to the pure of heart.

“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” (1)

Asaph acknowledges his failing in envying the wicked:

“But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (2-3)

He envied the wicked because they appeared to be care-free and wealthy.

“They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.” (4-5)

The wicked wear their pride like a necklace: “Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.” (6)

As they are inside, so they speak, words of spite and arrogance.

“From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.” (7-8)

They even dare to taunt God:

“Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?” (9-11)

This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth,” (12) he concludes.

Struggles to be Pure of Heart

The writer struggled to keep his heart pure. He struggled to understand why the wicked appear to prosper.

“Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.” (13-14)

Finally, in prayer he came to an understanding.

“If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.” (15-17)

He enters the Lord’s sanctuary, thereby drawing closer to God.

The Fate of the Wicked

We then hear the fate of the wicked, how they were quickly destroyed:

“Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.” (18-20)

He recognizes that when he focused on his grievances, he was ignorant:

“When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.” (21-22)

When he focused on God his spirit lifted:

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (23-26)

He concludes with these words of wisdom that he had learned:

“Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” (27-28)

And so, he recognizes that God rewards the pure of heart, those who are near to God.

Who are the Pure of Heart?

In Matthew’s gospel, the beatitudes, we hear, “blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” The pure of heart are both near God and will see God. Their reward for staying close to God is to come even closer, to see God.

Who are the people who are close to God? Babies and small children. Having so recently come from God, they truly are the pure of heart. Small children, before the age of reason, have yet to learn how to dissemble and lie. They say what they think and feel without regard to what others may think. They are brutally honest, which is endearing. Small children don’t try to manipulate with words to get their way but are open about what they want and let everyone know when they are unhappy.

However, such honesty doesn’t, can’t, last. As children mature, they learn the skills needed to survive in the world, including lying.

And so, are there many who are pure of heart in the world? Living in this world naturally draws us away from God. Then we need to find our way back. To be born again and rediscover our true place in this world. Easy? No, but worth the challenge. Such has been the journey of the psalmist, Asaph. He struggled to understand the ways of this world. When he entered the Lord’s sanctuary in prayer, he came closer to God and thus purer of heart.