Single lesson
Psalm 73: Surely God Is Good to Israel
Psalms 73:1–28
Psalm 73 is a prayer-poem that begins with a strong statement about God’s goodness, then shows the speaker’s struggle when wicked people seem to do well. It helps children notice the psalm’s images, turning point and ending trust.
Before you teach
In this psalm, the speaker says God is good to Israel, then admits he nearly slipped because he envied the prosperous wicked. He describes their pride, ease and words, then explains that understanding came when he entered God’s sanctuary and considered their end. The psalm finishes with renewed trust and closeness to God.
Students will identify the speaker’s problem, the turning point in God’s sanctuary, and the final message that coming close to God is good.
Welcome: Spot the opening and the problem
5 minRead Psalms 73:1-3 aloud together. Ask children to listen for two different ideas: the opening truth about God and the speaker’s personal struggle. Point out the words “Surely God is good” and then “But as for me”. Explain that this psalm is honest prayer, where the speaker admits he almost slipped because he envied arrogant people.
Psalms 73:1, Psalms 73:2, Psalms 73:3
Read and explain: What looked so unfair?
8 minRead Psalms 73:4-14. Help children list what the speaker noticed: ease, strength, pride, violence, arrogant speech and growing riches. Explain the images “pride is like a chain” and “violence covers them like a garment” as picture language showing sin worn openly. Then notice the speaker’s pain in verses 13-14, where he wonders if innocence was pointless.
Psalms 73:4, Psalms 73:6, Psalms 73:8, Psalms 73:12, Psalms 73:13, Psalms 73:14
Discuss: Where does the psalm turn?
6 minRead Psalms 73:15-20. Show that the turning point comes with the word “until”. The speaker says the problem was too painful to understand until he entered God’s sanctuary and considered the wicked person’s latter end. Discuss how the image of “slippery places” answers the earlier idea that his own feet had nearly slipped.
Psalms 73:15, Psalms 73:16, Psalms 73:17, Psalms 73:18, Psalms 73:19, Psalms 73:20
Make and respond: Illustrated prayer card
7 minChildren create a folded card with two sides. On one side, draw or write the struggle from the psalm, such as slipping feet or proud chains. On the other side, draw or write the ending trust, such as God holding the right hand, guiding, or being a refuge. Encourage them to include a short line from the psalm.
Psalms 73:2, Psalms 73:6, Psalms 73:23, Psalms 73:24, Psalms 73:28
Closing: End with the psalm’s trust
4 minRead Psalms 73:21-28 slowly. Point out the change from grief and ignorance to being with God, held by God, guided by God and coming close to God. Finish by having the group say verse 28 together. Remind them that the psalm ends with refuge and speaking of God’s works.
Psalms 73:21, Psalms 73:22, Psalms 73:23, Psalms 73:24, Psalms 73:25, Psalms 73:26, Psalms 73:28
Questions to explore
What nearly made the speaker slip at the start of the psalm?
Look at the contrast between God’s goodness and the speaker’s envy when he saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalms 73:1, Psalms 73:2, Psalms 73:3
Which word shows the big turning point, and what happened then?
Find the word “until” and notice that the speaker entered God’s sanctuary and considered the latter end of the wicked.
Psalms 73:16, Psalms 73:17
How does the ending show trust in God instead of envy?
Notice the words about God holding, guiding, strengthening and being a refuge, then compare them with the earlier complaints.
Psalms 73:23, Psalms 73:24, Psalms 73:26, Psalms 73:28
Make, think or respond
Psalm 73 Turning-Point Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- marker or pen
- Bible
Try it together
- Fold a piece of paper in half.
- On the front, draw or write one image from the struggle in the psalm, such as slipping feet or a proud chain.
- Inside, draw or write one image from the ending, such as God holding a hand, guiding, or being a refuge.
- Add a short line from the psalm beside each image.
- Share how the second image answers the first one.
This activity helps children see the movement of Psalm 73 from envy and confusion to trust and closeness to God.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two choices for each side of the card and let them copy only a few words such as “nearly slipped” or “my refuge”.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to include the turning point word “until” and explain in one sentence how verse 17 changes the whole psalm.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: Lord God, when things seem unfair, help us come close to you. Thank you that you hold, guide and strengthen your people. Help us trust you and tell of your works. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 73
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.