Psalms 73 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

A clean heart — To all true Israelites, who love God, and serve him in spirit and truth.

My feet — My faith in God's providence, was almost overthrown.

No bands — They are not dragged to death, by the sentence of the magistrate, which they deserve.

As other men — As good men frequently are.

And speak — Boasting of their oppressions.

Against — Against God, blaspheming his name, and deriding his providence. Walketh — Using all manner of liberty, reproaching all sorts of persons.

Turn — To this wicked company. Waters — And partake of the same prosperity with their leaders. God seems to give them a full cup of consolation, as if he would wring out all his blessings upon them.

Behold — These seem to be the words of the psalmist, summing up the matter.

In vain — Hence I was sometimes tempted, to think that religion was a vain, unprofitable thing. True religion is here described by its two principal parts, the cleansing of the heart, and the hands.

Offend — By grieving, discouraging and tempting them to revolt from God.

To know — To find out the reason of this providence.

Until — 'Till I consulted the word of God. He alludes to the practice of those times, which was, in difficult cases to resort to God's sanctuary, and the oracle therein. Their end — There I learned that their prosperity was short.

Terrors — With God's dreadful judgements unexpectedly seizing upon them.

They awake — Out of the pleasant dream of this vain life. Despise — Thou shalt make them despicable both to themselves and to all others; raise them to shame, and everlasting contempt. Image — All their felicity and glory, which shall be evidently discerned to be, no real or substantial thing, but a mere image or shadow.

Pricked — I was deeply wounded with disquieting thoughts.

Nevertheless — Although I gave thee just cause to cast me off, yet thou didst continue thy care and kindness to me. Hast held — That my faith might not fail.

Go a whoring — Those who revolt from thee, to work wickedness; which is called whoredom in scripture.