Psalms 73:26

26 My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

Psalms 73:26 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 73:26

My flesh and my heart faileth
Either through vehement desires of communion with God deferred, see ( Psalms 84:2 ) or through afflictive dispensations of Providence, being smitten and chastened continually, ( Psalms 73:14 ) , or through inward trials and exercises, by reason of indwelling sin, temptations, and desertions: or rather the words are expressive of the body being emaciated by sickness and diseases; and the heart fainting through fear of death, or rather failing at it, being at the point of death; the heart being, as philosophers say, the first that lives, and the last that dies:

but God is the strength of my heart,
or "the rock of my heart" ^F8; when overwhelmed with distress through outward trouble, or in the lowest condition with respect to spiritual things; when grace is weak, corruptions strong, temptations prevail, and afflictions are many; then does the Lord support and sustain his people, and strengthens them with strength in their souls; and in the moment of death, by showing them that its sting is taken away, and its curse removed; that their souls are going to their Lord, and about to enter into his joy; and that their bodies will rise again glorious and incorruptible:

and my portion for ever;
both in life and at death, and to all eternity; this is a very large portion indeed; such who have it inherit all things; yea, it is immense and inconceivable; it is a soul satisfying one, and is safe and secure; it can never be taken away, nor can it be spent; it will last always; see ( Psalms 142:5 ) ( Lamentations 3:24 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (ybbl rww) "rupes cordis mei", Montanus, Musculus, Piscator, Cocceius, "petra cordis mei", Tigurine version, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth.

Psalms 73:26 In-Context

24 Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

27 For lo, they that are far from Thee shall perish; Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from Thee.

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Thy works.