Vicinanza di Dio (Sal 73)

The levitical Psalm 73, like any other poem, must be divided in strophes and (if possible) stanzas. In this paper the following outline is proposed: 1st stanza (vv. 2-12), exposition of the problem (the prosperity of the wicked) which seems to contradict the goodness of God; 2nd stanza (vv. 13-20), a sudden change in the spiritual experience of the psalmist which takes place in the “sanctuaries” (miqdāšîm) of God; 3rd stanza (vv. 21-28), a description of this change of the inner self or of the “heart” (lĕḇāḇ) as a “nearness to God” (qirḇat ’ĕlōhîm), or a being “with you” (‘immākh). This religious experience is supposed to be the true “good” (ṭôḇ) for the believer; it overcomes the wisdom problem, as is previously posed in the Psalter (e.g. Ps 1; 37). For that reason, we agree with Walter Brueggemann that Ps 73 is a turning point in the book of Psalms.