“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, snd afterward
receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. Psalm 73:23-27
Asaph now breaks out into praise of who God is/
Nevertheless I am continually with You Asaph gives us further insight into what he learned when he spent time with God. He realizes despite the little he has, God is always with Him. The Hebrew word for continual “tamid” indicates something that is ongoing, continuous, or perpetual. It describes actions or states that are meant to be maintained without interruption. “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
You hold me by my right hand Hold means to seize and grasp
tightly. It indicates ownership. Asaph is saying he knows he does not need to trust in riches, God owns him and will take care of him.
You will guide me with Your counsel Asaph praises God for leading
him, directing him through His word to his current situation.
And afterward receive me to glory Unlike the wicked who are on a
path to destruction, Asaph’s eyes are on eternity. He knows God will
receive him (used of taking a bride in marriage). Asaph admits that this end is one of glory. Strong’s Concordance says The word is “used to describe the weightiness or significance of something or someone, often in terms of reputation, wealth, or splendor. In the context of God, “kabowd” refers to His majestic presence and the manifestation of His divine attributes. Asaph is thinking of the riches to be in the presence of God for eternity.
Whom have I in heaven but You? Asaph realizes what true riches are – not in wealth on this earth but in having a relationship with the Almighty God of the Universe.
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You Spending time with God changed Asaph’s desires. There is nothing this earth could offer him that is of higher value than knowing God.
My flesh and my heart fail Asaph’s life and body on this earth will pass away. This life is temporary. Nothing from this life will be taken into eternity except for faith in God.
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever Asaph reaches the pinnacle of his praise to God. Strength shows stability and protection. Portion is an inheritance – a share of something. Never forget what Asaph is saying. Our riches await us in heaven. They are first found in the glory of having a personal relationship with Almighty God. Second we have a share in in the glory of what Christ is preparing for us. “Eye had not seen what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish Asaph looks back at what he was close to envying and likely shudders. How
could he have been so foolish as to want what it temporary and will be burned up rather than the eternal glory with God? The word perish
describes the loss of life, the destruction of objects, or the disappearance of something. There will be no gold in hell.
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry Finally Asaph acknowledges “the judge of the earth does right”. What Asaph stated in verse 1, the wicked are to be punished, will happen but it in God’s way and in God’s time. Asaph knew God said that in verse 1, now He knows it is true.
What can we learn? Nothing surrounding Asaph has changed. The wicked are still prospering and still mock God. What has changed is internal – Asaph’s heart. Once he remembers who God is and that God is in control, Asaph (and we) can quit worrying about striving to make our circumstance turn out right and just trust God and enjoy the ride of the plan He has for our lives.