Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 73:17
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God – The word sanctuary we now apply to a place of public worship; and, thus understood, the passage here would mean that he learned the truth on the subject only by the statements and disclosures made there in regard to the divine plans and dealings, and the results of human conduct. This interpretation makes good sense, and is in itself true, but it is not the idea in the original. The word sanctuary in the Old Testament, in the singular number, is applied to the tabernacle, or the temple, or, more especially to the most holy place in the tabernacle or the temple; the place of the unique dwelling of God. Thus understood the idea would be that he learned the solution of the mystery there. But these were not places of instruction, and it cannot be supposed that the reference is to either of them. The word in the original is in the plural number – sanctuaries – things that God regarded as holy; and the meaning seems to be, that the only solution of the case was to be learned from those things which pertained to Gods most holy and secret places; or in those places which were nearest to him, and where he most clearly manifested himself. The difficulty was not to be solved by any mere human reasoning – by the powers of man, away from God; it was to be learned in the presence of God himself, and in the disclosures which He made about his divine plans and purposes. The psalmist had tried his own powers of reason, and the subject was above his reach. The only solution of the difficulty was to be obtained by a near approach to God himself. There the mystery could be solved, and there it was solved. The end of all this, as disclosed by God, would determine why, it was permitted, and would remove the perplexity of the mind.
Then understood I their end – literally, their after things; that is, the things which will occur to them hereafter. That solves all the difficulty. There will be a judgment hereafter, and dark as things may now appear, it will be seen in the end, or in the result, that exact and equal justice will be done to all.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Until I went into the sanctuary] Until, in the use of thy ordinances, I entered into a deep consideration of thy secret counsels, and considered the future state of the righteous and the wicked; that the unequal distribution of temporal good and evil argued a future judgment; that the present is a state of trial; and that God exercises his followers according to his godly wisdom and tender mercy. Then light sprang up in my mind, and I was assured that all these exercises were for our benefit, and that the prosperity of the wicked here was a prelude to their destruction. And this I saw to be their end.
That this Psalm was written during the captivity, there is little room to doubt. How then can the psalmist speak of the sanctuary? There was none at Babylon; and at Jerusalem it had been long since destroyed? There is no way to solve this difficulty but by considering that mikdeshey may be taken in the sense of holy places-places set apart for prayer and meditation. And that the captives had such places in their captivity, there can be no doubt; and the place that is set apart to meet God in, for prayer, supplication, confession of sin, and meditation, is holy unto the Lord; and is, therefore, his sanctuary, whether a house or the open field. Calmet thinks by holy meditations a view of the Divine secrets, to which he refers, Ps 73:24, is here meant.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Till I consulted with the oracle, or word of God. He alludes to the practice of those times, which was, in dark and difficult cases, to resort to Gods sanctuary, and the oracle in it, for satisfaction.
Then understood I their end; there I learned that their posterity was short, and would quickly have an end, and that a most dismal and terrible one; that their fair morn would be followed with a black and dreadful evening, and an everlasting night.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. went into the sanctuarytoenquire (compare Exo 25:22;Psa 5:7; Psa 27:4).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Until I went into the sanctuary of God,…. The tabernacle or house of God, where the Word of God was read and explained, prayer was made, and sacrifices offered up, and where fellowship was had with the saints, and communion with God himself; which for one hour or moment is preferable to all the prosperity of the wicked, during their whole life. This shows that though the psalmist was beset with the temptation, yet not overcome; it did not so far prevail as to cause him to neglect public worship, and relinquish the house of God, and the ordinances of it; and it is right, under temptations, doubts, and difficulties, to attend the public ministrations, which is the way and means to have relief under temptations, to have doubts resolved, and difficulties removed: some by “the sanctuary of God” understand the Scriptures, which are holy and of God, and are profitable for instruction, and are to be consulted and entered into by a serious reading of and deep meditation on them; whereby may be known the happiness that is prepared for the saints in the other world, and the misery of the wicked, and hereby judgment may be made of the present case and condition of each: others interpret it of the world of spirits, which may be entered into by contemplation; when it may be observed that the spirits of just men upon their dissolution possess unspeakable joys and glories, and the souls of the wicked are in inconceivable torments:
then understood I their end; both of the godly and of the wicked; that the end of the righteous is peace, rest, salvation, and eternal life, and the end of the wicked is ruin, destruction, and death; see
Ps 37:35.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
By the sanctuaries of God some, even among the Hebrews, understand the celestial mansions in which the spirits of the just and angels dwell; as if David had said, This was a painful thing in my sight, until I came to acknowledge in good earnest that men are not created to flourish for a short time in this world, and to luxuriate in pleasures while in it, but that their condition here is that of pilgrims, whose aspirations, during their earthly pilgrimage, should be towards heaven. I readily admit that no man can form a right judgment of the providence of God; but he who elevates his mind above the earth; but it is more simple and natural to understand the word sanctuary as denoting celestial doctrine. As the book of the law was laid up in the sanctuary, from which the oracles of heaven were to be obtained, that is to say, the declaration of the will of God, (190) and as this was the true way of acquiring profitable instruction, David very properly puts entering into the sanctuaries, (191) for coming to the school of God, as if his meaning were this, Until God become my schoolmaster, and until I learn by his word what otherwise my mind, when I come to consider the government of the world, cannot comprehend, I stop short all at once, and understand nothing about the subject. When, therefore, we are here told that men are unfit for contemplating the arrangements of Divine Providence until they obtain wisdom elsewhere than from themselves, how can we attain to wisdom but by submissively receiving what God teaches us both by his Word and by his Holy Spirit? David by the word sanctuary alludes to the external manner of teaching, which God had appointed among his ancient people; but along with the Word he comprehends the secret illumination of the Holy Spirit.
By the end of the wicked is not meant their exit from the world, or their departure from the present life, which is seen of all men — for what need was there to enter into the sanctuaries of God to understand that? — but the word end is to be regarded as referring to the judgments of God, by which he makes it manifest that, even when he is commonly thought to be asleep, he only delays to a convenient time the execution of the punishment which the wicked deserve. This must be explained at greater length. If we would learn from God what is the condition of the ungodly, he teaches us, that after having flourished for some short time, they suddenly decay; and that although they may happen to enjoy a continued course of prosperity until death, yet all that is nothing, since their life itself is nothing. As, then, God declares that all the wicked shall miserably perish, if we behold him executing manifest vengeance upon them in this life, let us remember that it is the judgment of God. If, on the contrary, we do not perceive any punishment inflicted on them in this world, let us beware of thinking that they have escaped, or that they are the objects of the Divine favor and approbation; (192) but let us rather suspend our judgment, since the end or the last day has not yet arrived. In short, if we would profit aright, when we address ourselves to the consideration of the works of God, we must first beseech him to open our eyes, (for these are sheer fools who would of themselves be clear-sighted, and of a penetrating judgment;) and, secondly, we must also give all due respect to his word, by assigning to it that authority to which it is entitled.
(190) “ C’est a dire, la declaration de la volonte de Dieu.” — Fr.
(191) “It is remarkable,” observes Horsley, “that the original word for ‘sanctuary,’ in this place, is plural, which is unexampled when the sanctuary is literally meant.” He considers the expression, “Until I went into the sanctuary of God,” as meaning, “Till I entered into the secret grounds of God’s dealings with mankind.” Cresswell explains it — “Until I entered into the grounds of God’s dealings with men, as explained by the sacred writings, which are laid up in the place dedicated to his worship.”
(192) “ Gardons-nous de penser qu’ils soyent eschappez, ou que Dieu leur favorise.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) Then understood I . . .Rather, I considered their end. The Temple service, with its blessings on righteousness, and stern warnings against wickedness, as they were read from the Book of the Law or from one of the prophets, or were chanted from some ancient song, gave the needed turn to the psalmists speculations. He began to think not of the present, but the future; not of the advantages of sin, but its consequencesbut still consequences in this world, the thought of a hereafter not having established itself sufficiently to have an ethical force.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. I went into the sanctuary of God The word “sanctuary” is in the plural in Hebrew, which indicates that there were holy places where the word of God was read and taught. It may signify the total collection of the temple buildings, or other sacred places in the land for synagogue services. But the age of synagogues dates later than the occasion we have assigned to this psalm. If Psalms 74 belongs to the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Judea, as is quite probable, then Psa 73:8 proves that synagogues were earlier than the captivity. But the holy places of the text were probably the places within the temple buildings assigned for public teaching. It was here, in the sanctuaries, that the psalmist obtained the explanation of God’s equal ways with men.
Then understood I their end The “end,” here, is the period following the termination of life, that future where the results of this life are reached. The Hebrew word is clearly marked with this eschatological signification. See Psa 37:37-38; Pro 16:25; Pro 19:20; Pro 5:4-11, (English version, at the last.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 73:17. Then understood I their end This certainly cannot mean their destruction by death; for he had before expressly taken notice of their felicity or ease in this respect. Nor is it easy to say how the sanctuary, or any thing there, could inform him of the manner of the death of wicked men. This must be learned from observation. Nor can what follows in the next verse be understood consistently with the rest of the psalm, of a temporal destruction, but of their future wretched state in another world; which is often represented in Scripture by death and destruction; and so, indeed, the following verses explain it. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! Psa 73:19 i.e. The moment that they pass from this life to another, they are utterly consumed with terrors. Psa 73:20. As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, in arousing or awakening them, for so it should be rendered, Thou wilt despise or debase their image. This, obscurely as it is expressed, evidently points at something after death; for it is then alone that the finally impenitent can be thoroughly awakened to see their misery. If, therefore, the word rendered their image, means the , as Homer calls it, the separated soul; methinks there is an exquisite propriety in the word here used, and rendered despise or debase: “Thou shalt debase, spurn, and render contemptible, the separate spirits of those haughty wretches, whose pride had raised them in their own conceit above all other men, and even led them to despise their Maker and his laws. Their condition in the region of departed souls shall be as low and despicable, as here it was in appearance high and happy.” The Chaldee paraphrast understands the passage of the day of judgment; and Dr. Hammond compares it with that of Dan 12:2 that some shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt. See Peters, and more on the 24th verse.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.
Ver. 17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God ] And there consulted with the Scriptures, heard the lectures of the law, prayed, went through all the exercises of God’s school.
Then understood I their end
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the sanctuary. This is the book of the Sanctuary, and nearly every Psalm in it contains some reference to it, or to the congregation who worship in it. Then. Supply “Until” by the Figure of speech Anaphora.
end = latter end, or hereafter.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Until: Psa 27:4, Psa 63:2, Psa 77:13, Psa 119:24, Psa 119:130
then: Psa 37:37, Psa 37:38, Job 27:8, Ecc 8:12, Ecc 8:13, Jer 5:31, Luk 12:20, Luk 16:22, Luk 16:23
Reciprocal: Deu 32:35 – their foot 2Ch 30:8 – enter into Est 7:6 – was afraid Job 37:19 – we Psa 20:2 – from Psa 37:2 – General Eze 35:11 – and I Dan 11:4 – he shall stand Hab 2:1 – stand Act 8:31 – How Rom 6:21 – for the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 73:17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God Till I consulted with the oracle, or word of God. He alludes to the practice of those times, which was in dark and difficult cases to resort to Gods sanctuary, and the oracle in it, for satisfaction. Then understood I their end There I learned that their prosperity was short, and would quickly have an end, and that a most terrible one; that their fair morning would be followed with a black and dreadful evening, and an everlasting night. This is the third argument, with which we may repress the spirit of murmuring and distrust, so apt to be excited by the prosperity of the wicked; and it is one communicated to us by the word of God, which alone can acquaint us with what shall be the end, the final portion of sinners. This is an arrow from the heavenly quiver, which brings down our enemy at once, and lays Dagon prostrate before the ark.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
73:17 Until I went into the {h} sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.
(h) Until I entered into your school and learned by your word and Holy Spirit that you order all things most wisely and justly.