Why Do The Wicked Prosper? (Psalm 73)

Hello beloved child of God, I hope you’re fine by God’s grace.

Today we’re going to talk about a topic which is quite rampant amongst Christians.

If you’re a Christian (and even if you’re not), you’ve probably wondered about this.

• Why do wicked people prosper?
• Why do people who do evil, choose to live in sin and rebellion against God succeed in their evil ways? (Theft, cheating, sexual abuse, corruption, sexual immorality etc.)

In fact, it’s even a hard to swallow pill for a Christian when they notice that the person who’s doing exactly everything that they avoid to do out of fear of The Lord, succeeds in everything they do.

• Why does he have better grades in school than me whilst he’s spending his weekends in nightclubs drinking and having sex with everyone?
• Why was she given the promotion over me while I manage money honestly at the job compared to her who keeps embezzling funds and encouraging corruption?
• Why did she choose him and not me while I’m a nice guy? I respected her but she preferred choosing the man who keeps cheating on every girl he dates.
• Why is she getting married first, even though she lives in prostitution, while I’m waking in purity and desperately waiting for a spouse?
• Why does she keep getting pregnant if she aborts twice every year? While we’re married, doing things God’s way and still expecting to have a baby but not having one yet?

Did you relate to any of those questions?It’s quite normal that you feel this way and that you ask questions.

In fact, I know about a Psalm in The Bible which translates all these emotions of frustration with regards to the prosperity of the wicked one. That Psalm is Psalm 73.

Psalms 73:1‭-‬16 NLT

Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?” Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

You see, you’re not the only child of God who wondered about this.

Now, let’s study this deeply.

1. Is It Harder On Christians?

2 Timothy 3:12‭-‬13 NLT

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

Psalms 73:13‭-‬14 NLT

Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

You see, Asaph in Psalm 73 describes a deep frustration he felt, and perhaps you feel this too.

Have you noticed that for those who live in rebellion to God’s Word, it seems at times to be so easy?

In fact Asaph thought life seemed so easy for the wicked such that he wondered if he was keeping his heart pure for nothing, walking in God’s ways for nothing, because he was having pain and trouble.

The right path isn’t always the “sweetest” path. For people who decide to live in rebellion to God, for the children of the devil, he doesn’t oppose them, he doesn’t really attack them. He makes it easy for them to keep walking in sin.

However, the moment someone steps up for God and decides to be a child of God and to walk in God’s ways, he faces opposition not just from his own flesh but also from the devil and his demons. He’s attacked at many different levels, and persecuted.

At times the devil and his demons will persecute him directly (spiritual warfare, nightmares, negative thoughts, immoral thoughts etc) and at times they’ll do it even indirectly (through other human beings) or both.

Such that the person who lives in sin is so comfortable in their sin, but the person who’s walking in God’s ways faces resistance trying to walk in purity and righteousness.

For example, some people, just because they are posting Bible verses on social media, people are sending them pornographic images to tempt them. This is obviously a demonic attack, and I mean it. I am a witness of this.

I post Bible verses and blog posts on Instagram, and I have noticed that the more I post, the more I receive messages from people I don’t even know who are sending pornographic images and links to me, they are even adding me to pornographic groups, when I delete the group and block them, they find another account and add me to the same group once more. If this is not demonic attack what is it?

I know I’m not the only one having to block these people every week. I don’t know if you’ve heard about the Vigilant Christian. A Christian YouTuber who used to share about God’s Word and to expose evil. His ministry got completely destroyed because of this Instagram pornography. He too was posting Bible verses and Bible-centered messages on Instagram and unfortunately he fell in the trap of one of those numerous Pornographic accounts which specialize in attacking Christians to seduce them. This is just a little example of how much Christians are being persecuted out there.

The good news is that we have been given authority in The Name of Jesus Christ. This means that those things have no power to harm us (unless we let them harm us).

Luke 10:19‭-‬20 NLT

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

We have to speak with authority in The Name of Jesus Christ and fight this war so that whatever the devil attacks us with, he will regret ever attacking us. Every fiery dart of the devil, we must quench it.We shouldn’t let those attacks from the devil discourage us or make us think that living in sin will be easier.We have to fight.

2. Do The Wicked Really Prosper That Much?

Psalms 73:16‭-‬21 NLT

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, You put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, You will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.

Don’t let the devil fool you. It is just an impression. The wicked does not prosper that much. What you see is just apparent and temporary.

These people who walk in evil may look prosperous from outside but that’s not really the case. They may prosper financially, but because they are not in Christ Jesus, they do not prosper spiritually. Their soul doesn’t prosper, they don’t have life in abundance.

In fact they would definitely need your prayers and they would definitely need to finally receive real prosperity, which is having Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Also, the devil is just using them. They may prosper for some time but afterwards, once the devil is done using them, he takes back from them everything which he gave. They end up crushed and abandoned. Then the devil comes to kill them and destroy them.

Thanks to God, some of them listen to the people who come to preach The Gospel to them and they are able to repent and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, but some others don’t repent and end up in hell suffering from more torments from the devil.

The prosperity of the wicked is short-lived and it’s just an illusion. They may even die while still looking prosperous but they’ll suffer horrible torment for eternity in the hands of their master the devil if they don’t repent and turn to Jesus Christ before dying.

As you see, the psalmist finally understood that he didn’t have the right perspective and he wasn’t taking everything into account.

He came to the conclusion that what matters most is not how apparently prosperous the wicked is, but that the only thing which mattered was the fact that he served God and that God would always be for him and not against him.

Psalms 73:22‭-‬28 NLT

I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Those who desert Him will perish, for You destroy those who abandon You. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.

If you are walking in purity, honesty and righteousness, keep walking in purity, honesty and righteousness.

Revelation 22:11‭-‬13 NLT

Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.” “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Don’t be focused on people who disobey God and how much they seem to be having fun, because it’s not real fun and it’s only short lived.

Instead of envying them, pray for them so that they may be saved before it’s too late and before they experience the judgement of God because they had refused the free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus.

If the devil attacks you, don’t let him win. Resist the devil in The Name of Jesus Christ and fight the good fight. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus Christ, He is your true prosperity and your reward and He will provide everything you need, just keep believing His Word and confessing Scriptures over your life.

Psalms 37:1‭-‬11 NLT

Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord , and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord . Trust Him, and He will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord , and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.

Prayer

Father Lord God Almighty help me focus us on You and on Your Word. I pray for all the people around me who are living in sin, may my heart not get bitter about them nor envious, I pray that you may save them. That they may receive The Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.

It’s Now Your Turn

Do you relate to Psalm 73? Have you ever wondered why the wicked prosper?Please let us know in the comments section.

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God bless you

Victoria Eyog