Psalm 73

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:26

My flesh and my heart faileth. The meaning is, "Though my flesh and my heart fail utterly, though my whole corporeal and animal nature fade away and come to nothing, yet something in the nature of a heart—the true 'I,' consciousness, will remain, and will be upheld by God." God is the Strength of my heart, and my Portion forever. "A strong assertion of personal immortality" (Cook). "This is the mysticism of faith; we are on the verge of St. Paul's conception of the πνεῦμα , the organ of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:26

Strength in weakness. "My flesh …forever." Asaph's psalms bear no less the stamp of Divine inspiration than David's; yet their character is widely different. The Holy Spirit employs different instruments for different ends. Reading David's psalms and David's life, one is ready to say we have an epitome of all human experience. Yet Asaph shows us depths of experience into which probably David never penetrated. This psalm opens abruptly: "surely"—or, as in the margin, "yet,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:26

The failing flesh and the strengthening God. Here is a vivid and blessed contrast. Consider— I. THE FAILING OF HEART AND FLESH here told of. 1 . Some understand this as the result of his foolish conflict with God; and here, as all who contend with God are, he was worsted and brought low. 2 . Others, as telling of his passionate desire after God, how he was "sick of love," broken down with his longing for God. 3 . Others, as telling of his heavy load of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:27

For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish. As God is the source of all life, to be "far from him" is to perish—to have this life depart from us, even if existence of any kind remains. The psalmist is vague with respect to the ultimate fate of the wicked, confident only of the continued existence, in a condition which he declares to be "good," of the righteous. Thou hast destroyed all them that go a-whoring from thee. The strong phrase here used is rare in the Psalms, occurring only... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:28

But it is good for me to draw near to God; or, "but as for me, nearness to God is my good" (Kay). Compare the well known hymn— "Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee; Even though it be a cross That raiseth me; Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee." I have put my trust in the Lord God; literally, in the Lord Jehovah ( Adonai Jehovah )—an unusual combination. That I may declare all thy works. With the intention of ever hereafter... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:28

Drawing near to God, a good thing. The psalmist is very emphatic about it. His words imply that he is quite sure of it. Let us ask, then—Why is it so good to draw near to God? Many are the answers. I. IT IS SO BY WAY OF CONTRAST WITH WHAT HE HAD BEEN DOING —wearying himself to understand the hidden ways of God, the labyrinth of his providence. No good had come of that, but only evil. Gotthold, in his 'Emblems,' tells us of the freaks of his child. The father... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 73

This psalm (with the ten succeeding psalms, together with Psalms 50:0 - twelve in all) is ascribed to Asaph, unless the reading in the margin, “for Asaph” be correct. The most natural sense of the expression in the title, however, is that they are psalms of Asaph; that is, that they were composed by him. See Introduction to Psalms 50:0. It has been maintained that a part of these psalms, particularly Psalms 74:0; Psalms 79:1-13; Psalms 80:0; could not be his, for it is alleged that they refer... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 73:1

Truly God is good to Israel - That is, to his people; to the righteous; to those who serve him. That is, God is the “real” friend of the righteous. He has not forgotten them. He does not abandon them. He is not indifferent to them. He is not the friend of wicked people; and the administration of his government is not in favor of wickedness. After all that seems to indicate this, after all that troubles the mind in regard to his dealings, it is a truth that God is the friend of righteousness,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 73:2

But as for me - literally, “And I.” The meaning is, “And I, who so confidently now trust in God, and believe that he is good, was formerly in a far different state of mind; I was so hesitating, so troubled, and so doubtful, that I had almost entirely lost confidence in him as a wise and just moral governor.”My feet were almost gone - I was just ready to fall. Of course, this refers to his state of mind. In regard to his faith or confidence in God, he was like a man standing in a slippery place,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 73:3

For I was envious at the foolish - The word “foolish” here refers to sinners. It may either refer to them as foolish, or as proud, insolent, vain - for so the word is elsewhere used. See Psalms 14:1.When I saw the prosperity of the wicked - More literally, “the peace of the wicked.” The reference is not so much to their prosperity in general as to their peace; their conscious safety; their freedom from trouble; and especially their calmness, and their freedom from suffering, in death. From all... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:27

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:28

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 73:28

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 73

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 73:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 73:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 73:3

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