PSALM 73:23-26 – Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
THEME OF THE DAY: HELPS FOR A FAILING HEART. The word “nevertheless” in today’s scripture is a significant word of transition. From verse 1 through 22, Asaph, the Psalmist, is not in a good way. He suffers from envy of the wicked (Psalm 73:2-3). He is plagued by a self-centered “woe is me” attitude (13-15). He starts to get his act together beginning in Psalm 73:17, but he resorts back to a bitter soul (Psalm 73:21). Then comes the “nevertheless” which brings him out of the spiritual darkness and into the marvelous light of the Lord but to really feel the force of God’s grace in his life, he summarizes where he is in verse 26 – My flesh and heart may fail. And every child of God knows such heartache. It is part of the journey. The Lord knows we need repeated help to lift up our weak flesh and failing hearts. The three He gives Asaph, the Psalmist, He gives to us.
First, to lift up our weak frames and fainting hearts the Lord reminds us of His constant presence in our lives – I am continually with You, You uphold my right hand. In failing times, it is easy to forget we are never alone. Asaph engages his mind, as we must, with the truth we are never alone. Jesus promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). The assurance of His constant Presence is a “life preserver” to our often-drowning hearts.
Then, the Lord comes to our help with His guiding hand – You guide me with Your counsel. Not only does the Lord promise us His companionship in life, but to be our guide in and through life. We experience the calming and strengthening power of His leadership as our Good Shepherd – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:1-3). An “added bonus” is the Good Shepherd not only leads us but cares for us; a very needed thing when our flesh and heart fail us.
Finally, the Lord ultimately brings our fainting flesh and heart to complete rest in the place of no more fainting and failing; in His glorious Presence literally – You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory. In those most painful of spiritual times as our hearts are tempted to give way to fear, anxiety, even despair, stop and look upward to heaven. We are heading there. Soon. Jesus promised and not only did He promise but desires our presence – Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). That will lift up every failing heart, every time it wants to fail!
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for not leaving me to myself in my fears and timidity of heart.”
QUOTE: “God will not only guide His people, but protect them, and ultimately present them to Himself in holy splendor.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim