Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. Summary: Following on what I have pictured as Asaph’s leading of the congregation in repentance for jealousy of the wellbeing of the wicked – they are led to realize that God’s judgement is real and that jealousy of the wicked’s situation is foolishness. The end of their assumed advantages will be ‘poofed’ away as phantoms. They will experience the justice of God.
When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Summary: It is foolish to long after evil! Dependence on God makes much, much more sense!
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Summary: After all since God is the lasting and faithful Reality, a God who perfectly combines steadfast love and justice. Surely ‘for me it is good to be near God‘
Prayer: My heart cries out ‘Amen!’
As I read it! 