Psalms 73:26

26 My ¹flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my ²portion forever.

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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 ) .

FOOTNOTES:

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

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Psalms 73:26 In-Context

24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

Cross References 2

1. Psalms 38:10; Psalms 40:12; Psalms 84:2; Psalms 119:81
2. Psalms 16:5

Footnotes 1

[a]. Lit "rock"