God is eternally sufficient to support us in our weakness and be our lasting inheritance when all else fails.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (v.26) These words were written by Asaph, a Levite who served as a chief musician in Jerusalem during King David’s reign around 1000 BC. Twelve psalms are traditionally attributed to Asaph (Psalm 50, 73-83). In Psalm 73:26, he humbly admits that his earthly life and physical strength are fragile and transitory. Despite the certainty that human frailty and hardships will come, Asaph anchors his hope in the unfailing stability of God’s strength.
This verse highlights a stark contrast: the mortal failing of “flesh and heart” and the eternal sustaining presence of the LORD. The psalmist acknowledges that even the most dependable human resources—his own bodily health and emotional resolve—can give way. Yet he still proclaims, “God is the strength of my heart,” reminding believers that the LORD’s power triumphs over every limitation. God meets His people’s needs in ways that extend far beyond the physical, granting them endurance and comfort during trials.
Moreover, Asaph’s phrase “my portion forever” underscores the psalmist’s lasting inheritance in God’s presence. This language resonates with the New Testament’s promise that, through Christ, believers share in both present grace and an eternal future (Romans 8:17). What we lack in finite resources here on earth, we gain in the infinite sufficiency of the Almighty, a truth that is made certain by the sacrificial love and resurrection power of Jesus.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 73:26 meaning
“My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (v.26) These words were written by Asaph, a Levite who served as a chief musician in Jerusalem during King David’s reign around 1000 BC. Twelve psalms are traditionally attributed to Asaph (Psalm 50, 73-83). In Psalm 73:26, he humbly admits that his earthly life and physical strength are fragile and transitory. Despite the certainty that human frailty and hardships will come, Asaph anchors his hope in the unfailing stability of God’s strength.
This verse highlights a stark contrast: the mortal failing of “flesh and heart” and the eternal sustaining presence of the LORD. The psalmist acknowledges that even the most dependable human resources—his own bodily health and emotional resolve—can give way. Yet he still proclaims, “God is the strength of my heart,” reminding believers that the LORD’s power triumphs over every limitation. God meets His people’s needs in ways that extend far beyond the physical, granting them endurance and comfort during trials.
Moreover, Asaph’s phrase “my portion forever” underscores the psalmist’s lasting inheritance in God’s presence. This language resonates with the New Testament’s promise that, through Christ, believers share in both present grace and an eternal future (Romans 8:17). What we lack in finite resources here on earth, we gain in the infinite sufficiency of the Almighty, a truth that is made certain by the sacrificial love and resurrection power of Jesus.