Psalm 73:23-26

Listen to Psalm 73:23-26
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you 1hold my right hand.
24 You 2guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will 3receive me to glory.
25 4Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 5My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is 6the strength[a] of my heart and my 7portion 8forever.

Psalm 73:23-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 73

\\<>\\. It seems by the title that Asaph was the penman of this psalm, as it is certain that he was a composer of psalms and hymns; see 2Ch 29:30, though it may be rendered, "a psalm for Asaph", or "unto Asaph" {a}; and might have David for its author, as some think, who, having penned it, sent it to Asaph, to be made use of by him in public service; see 1Ch 16:7, and so the Targum paraphrases it, ``a song by the hands of Asaph;'' the occasion of it was a temptation the psalmist fell into, through the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous, to think there was nothing in religion, that it was a vain and useless thing; under which he continued until he went into the house of God, and was taught better; when he acknowledged his stupidity and folly, and penned this psalm, to prevent others falling into the same snare, and to set forth the goodness of God to his people, with which it begins.

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Cross References 8

  • 1. 73:23 Ps. 63:8; [Ps. 41:12]
  • 2. 73:24 Ps. 32:8
  • 3. 73:24 See Ps. 49:15
  • 4. 73:25 Ps. 16:2; [Phil. 3:8]
  • 5. 73:26 Ps. 40:12; See Ps. 84:2
  • 6. 73:26 Ps. 18:2
  • 7. 73:26 See Ps. 16:5
  • 8. 73:26 [Dan. 12:3]

Footnotes 1

  • [a] 73:26 Hebrew 'rock'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025