Psalms 73:11
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Psalms 73:11
This verse continues the psalmist’s core question: do the wicked truly know anything about God, or is God unaware of their knowledge or actions? The rhetorical question exposes the human impulse to test God’s accessibility by measuring divine knowledge against observed prosperity of the wicked. In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, the gods’ knowledge and involvement in human affairs were assumed; to say, “Is there knowledge in the Most High?” is to wonder if God is truly aware of, and responsive to, human life. The psalmist’s struggle is not merely philosophical; it’s existential. If God is all-knowing, why does it seem like God misses or tolerates the disordered flourishing of evil? This verse sets up the turn toward trusting God’s justice, even when it feels hidden. The surrounding imagery (the “cup” of life, the prosperity of the wicked) emphasizes how disbelief can masquerade as wisdom, yet faith calls for a deeper confidence in God’s character.
Theologically, this verse probes divine omniscience and benevolence. If God truly knows all things and loves justice, then the problem is not a lack of knowledge but the hiddenness of God’s timing. It reframes doubt as a call to mature faith: knowledge of God’s nature and promises—his justice, mercy, and faithfulness—should shape our response to seeming contradictions. It also invites humility: human beings alone cannot grasp the full measure of God’s governance. The question becomes a doorway to reliance on divine sovereignty rather than on human conclusions about what is fair. This is a turning point in the psalm, pushing the speaker toward the sanctuary (as we’ll see) where truth about God’s oversight becomes clearer.
Many people today wrestle with the idea, “If God knows everything, why is there so much suffering and seeming inequality?” This verse invites honest questions without surrendering faith. When you doubt God’s awareness, bring it to God in prayer rather than bottling it up. Pair your questions with a vow to live faithfully in the meantime: pursue integrity, care for the vulnerable, and resist cynicism. Encourage others around you to do the same—doubts are not a license for despair but a prompt to seek a more robust trust. This verse also invites us to study Scripture and observe God’s actions in history (like deliverance, judgment, mercy) to gain a richer sense of God’s knowledge in the grand arc of salvation.
Cross-References: Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 40:28; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Job 28:23; Romans 11:33