Psalms 73:2
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
Psalm 73:2
The psalmist’s confession deepens: “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped.” This admission comes after an initial statement of God’s goodness, signaling a personal crisis of faith. The Hebrew syntax conveys a strong sense of nearly stumbling, a near collapse under the weight of perceived injustice and the seeming prosperity of the wicked. The context is a public lament embedded in a broader meditation on divine justice: the righteous suffer while the wicked thrive. By naming his near-fall, the writer models vulnerability and honesty, inviting the community to bring their own doubts into God’s presence. The culture of the ancient world prized steadfastness; admitting weakness could be seen as a fault. Here, vulnerability is a pathway to deeper trust: honest wrestling can lead to a more resilient faith.
This verse highlights the reality that faith involves struggle. The language of slipping signals human fragility and dependence on God’s steadfastness. It also anticipates the psalm’s turning point: a movement from despair to understanding that God’s presence and justice are not absent amid apparent chaos. The verse reframes hardship as a pilgrimage moment rather than a moral failing. It teaches that honest doubt can lead to deeper trust when joined to a seeking heart. Theologically, it aligns with the biblical pattern that God meets the faithful in their weakness, not in their self-sufficiency.
We all encounter moments when life looks unfair or confusing. This verse normalizes the experience while pointing toward a hopeful direction: bring your slipping feet to God. Practical steps: name your doubt to God in prayer, seek trusted counsel, and re-center on God’s character and promises. In daily life, this could mean confessing frustration before you react, journaling questions you have about suffering, and choosing faithful actions even when feelings shout otherwise. For families, model honest dialogue about hardship with children, showing that faith doesn’t require denying pain but seeking God amid it. The verse invites perseverance: when you feel unstable, pause, pray, and re-anchor your steps in God’s faithfulness.
Cross-References: Psalm 37:24; Psalm 42:5; Proverbs 3:5-6; Habakkuk 3:17-19; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9