Psalms 73:2
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Psalms 73:2
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
Chapter Context
Psalms 73 is a poetic and liturgical chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of obedience, mercy, love. Written during various periods (c. 1000-400 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Temple worship utilized these compositions across various periods of Israel's history.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-28: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it offers practical wisdom for godly living in a fallen world. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Psalms and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Psalms 73:2
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
Analysis
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. Having stated the truth in verse 1, Asaph now confesses how close he came to abandoning it. The Hebrew construction va'ani (וַאֲנִי, "but as for me") creates a sharp contrast with the theological affirmation just made. The emphatic personal pronoun highlights the tension between objective truth and subjective experience.
"My feet were almost gone" (kim'at natyu raglai, כִּמְעַט נָטָיוּ רַגְלָי) uses the verb natah, meaning to stretch out, extend, or turn aside. His feet nearly deviated from the path of faith. "My steps had well nigh slipped" (k'ayin shuppeku ashurai, כְּאַיִן שֻׁפְּכוּ אֲשֻׁרָי) employs shaphak, meaning to pour out or spill—his steps were nearly poured out like water, losing all stability and direction.
The imagery of slipping feet appears throughout the Psalter (Psalms 17:5, 38:16, 66:9, 94:18, 121:3). Walking represents the whole course of life, and slipping signifies moral or spiritual failure. Asaph's confession is strikingly honest: he nearly fell. The "almost" and "well nigh" indicate how close he came to complete spiritual collapse. This vulnerability establishes credibility and invites readers who have experienced similar struggles to continue with the psalm.
Historical Context
The metaphor of walking and slipping was particularly vivid in ancient Palestine's rocky, uneven terrain. Travelers on mountain paths faced genuine danger from loose stones and steep drops. The image would have resonated with pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem on treacherous roads.
Wisdom literature frequently employs the "two ways" motif—the path of righteousness versus the path of wickedness (Psalm 1, Proverbs 4:18-19). Asaph's near-slipping represents potential departure from the righteous path toward the way of the wicked whose prosperity he envied. The confession anticipates similar language in Proverbs 4:19: "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble."
Reflection
- What circumstances in your life have brought you to the point where your spiritual footing felt unstable?
- Why is Asaph's honest confession of near-failure important for the psalm's message?
- How does the imagery of slipping feet capture the gradual nature of spiritual drift?
- What kept Asaph from completely falling, and what might keep us from falling in similar circumstances?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Psalms 17:5, 17:15, 38:16, 94:18, 116:8, 1 Samuel 2:9