Psalms 73:26

26 (72-26) For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is 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 (72-24) Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.

25 (72-25) For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?

26 (72-26) For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.

27 (72-27) For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.

28 (72-28) But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.