Psalms 73:23

Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.

The Christian’s portion

Four privileges of God’s servants are mentioned in the text.

I. His presence with them--His constant presence. “I am continually with Thee.” It is another way of saying, ‘“Thou art continually with me.” The Lord is ever side by side with His people.

II. Support. “Thou hast holden me”--“holden me by my right hand.” Two men may be travelling together the same road in company, and yet separate one from the other. “But” (says the psalmist) “not so the Lord and I His afflicted servant; He takes hold of my hand, as He walks by my side, and lets me feel His presence, and I am content.” With Him the wilderness becomes (as it were) a paradise; and without Him the fairest earthly paradise--oh, how soon does it become a desert to our souls!

III. Guidance. “Thou shalt guide me”--“guide me with Thy counsel.” “Thou” shalt do it. Hitherto we have looked on the Lord, as simply the companion and upholder of the believer on his way; here, you perceive, another character is given Him. He points out that way to him--the way to glory--leads him to it, and directs him along it.

IV. Glory. Thou shalt “afterward receive me to glory.” The Lord’s guidance of us is ultimately to end in this. Thither all His dealings with us tend. And now I would say to you two things.

1. Aim to get the psalmist’s faith and confidence, He saw and felt and rejoiced in his own personal interest in God’s care and love. And--

2. Aim to get the psalmist’s submissive spirit. (C. Bradley, M. A.)

God’s abiding presence

Here was a man who lived with an abiding sense of the Divine nearness. To him God was not an occasional visitor, but an abiding guest. “I am continually with Thee.” Now, is this a common experience with religious people? I fear not. “Lo, I am with you always,” said Jesus, and if we do not realize His presence the fault must be our own. Well, now, let us see what effect this abiding consciousness of God would have upon our daily life and experience.

I. Our life would be much holier. It is related that a certain shoemaker kept by his side a portrait of that famous Brighton preacher, the Rev. F.W. Robertson, and that whenever he was tempted to do anything wrong he took a look at the portrait, the very sight of which made it practically impossible for him to yield. Now, if the sight of that good man’s portrait could have such a restraining effect upon that shoemaker, what would be the effect upon your life and mine did we daily live with the holy God before our eyes? “I have set the Lord always before me,” said the psalmist; and did we live with a constant consciousness of the Divine nearness I am sure we should be restrained from many things to which we are so apt to yield, and in which we sometimes perhaps indulge. But in a more positive way, and in a much larger sense, our whole life would be wondrously hallowed if we only carried into it all an abiding sense of the Divine presence. Professor Drummond has said that “there are men and women in whose company we are always at our best. While with them we cannot think mean thoughts or speak ungenerous words. Their mere presence is elevation, purification, sanctity. All the best stops of our nature are drawn out by their intercourse, and we find a music in our souls that was never there before.” And if the society of good people can exert such a hallowing influence upon us, what must be the sanctifying effect of daily companionship and fellowship with God? “Ten minutes,” said Professor Drummond, “spent in His society every day, aye! two minutes, if it be face to face, and heart to heart, will make the whole day different.” And if our whole life were pervaded with the consciousness of the Divine, as, thank God, some lives have been, then the whole life would be different.

II. Such a consciousness of God would make our life much stronger and safer. Life is full of difficulty and danger, and if we would be valiant and victorious we must seek a fuller and more constant realization of the Divine presence. I remember that on one occasion I had a very lonely road to travel, and had often felt exceedingly nervous. But I had an old friend who frequently accompanied me on that part of the journey, and in his companionship I had no sense of danger, but felt equal to any emergency. And amidst life’s thickest difficulties and dangers we may have the companionship of God, and that shall be our defence. The strongest and bravest man may well fear to face life’s stern duties and- difficulties in his own strength; for in that case defeat is inevitable. But with the assurance of God’s presence there comes power to face life’s sternest forces and foes. “Our sufficiency is not of ourselves; our sufficiency is of God.”

III. This abiding consciousness of God would make our life much happier. In ordinary life there is certainly much to sadden and sour the human heart, and the one great antidote to that is a more vivid realization of the Divine presence. “In Thy presence is fulness of joy.” Those words have a present significance. “In Thy presence is fulness of joy;” not then and yonder only, but here and now. “Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.” The unexpected appearance of Jesus in their midst chased away those men’s disappointment and doubt and sadness, and inspired them with a new hope and gladness. I have a little girl who repeatedly awoke in the night, and was terribly frightened with the darkness; and she always insisted on coming into her mother’s room and bed. Nothing else would satisfy or soothe her. One night her mother said to her, “You should not do so, Olive, for there is nothing to be afraid of; and it is just as dark in this room as in your own.” Then, nestling up beside her mother, the little one replied, “Yes, mother, but you are in this dark room.” Ah, her mother’s nearness made all the difference to the child’s feelings. And there is nothing that can disarm the soul’s fears and soothe its sorrows like the realization of our Father’s presence. (B. Haddon.)

Influence of the Divine presence on a good man

I. His internal moral state.

1. The belief of the Divine presence acts upon them here, first, as an incitement to virtue. The presence of one whom we highly esteem and revere, of a sovereign, for instance, a father, or a friend, whose approbation we are solicitous to gain, is always found to exalt the powers of men, to refine and improve their behaviour. Hence, it has been given as a rule by ancient moralists, that, in order to excel in virtue, we should propound to ourselves some person of eminent worth; and should accustom ourselves to act as if he were standing by and beholding us. But what is the observation of the greatest or wisest men on earth to that presence of the Divinity which constantly surrounds us? The man who realizes to his mind this august presence, feels a constant incentive for acquitting himself with dignity.

2. Supposing, however, his virtuous endeavours to be faithful, many imperfections will attend them. Passions will sometimes overcome him; and ambition or interest, in an unguarded hour, will turn him aside into evil. Hence he will be ashamed of himself, and disquieted by a sense of guilt and folly. In this state, to which we are often reduced by the weakness of human nature, the belief of God’s continual presence brings relief to the heart. He can appeal to Him who knows his frame, that, in the general train of his conduct it is his study to keep the law of God.

II. His external circumstances.

1. It not only preserves the virtue of a good man amidst the temptations of pleasure, but it gives to his prosperity a security, and a peculiar relish, which to others is unknown. He dwells as with a friend and protector, from whom he conceives his blessings to proceed. He can appeal to him for the thankfulness with which he receives them; and for his endeavours to employ them well. He trusts that the God whom he serves will not forsake him; that the goodness which he has already experienced will continue to bless him; and though he believes himself not exempted from the changes of the world, yet, in the midst of these, he has ground to hope that sources of comfort and happiness shall always he left open to him. Moreover, the pleasures of life, while they last, are unspeakably heightened by the presence of that Benefactor who bestows them. The pleasing emotion of gratitude to the giver, mingles with the enjoyment of the gift.

2. From the prosperous, let us next turn to the afflicted condition of a good man. For as prosperity may, affliction certainly will, at one time or other, be his lot. It enters into the appointed trial of his virtue; and, in one degree or other, is the doom of all. Here we shall find various situations occur, in which no relief is equal to what a virtuous and holy man derives from a sense of the perpetual presence of God.

(1) Is he, for instance, thrown into an obscure condition in the world, without friends to assist him, or any to regard and consider his estate? He enjoys the satisfaction of thinking, that though he may be neglected by men, he is not forgotten of God.

(2) But though raised above obscurity or poverty, yet, in any situation of fortune, calumny and reproach may be the lot of the servant of God. His good intentions may be misconstrued; his character unjustly traduced; and, to the open reviling of enemies, the more bitter unkindness of friends may sometimes be joined. In this situation, when wounded in spirit, and, perhaps, unable to make his innocence appear, to whom shall he have recourse for defence, to whom make his last appeal, but to that God who is ever present with him, and who knoweth his heart?

(3) Supposing the character of a good man to be untainted by reproach, supposing also his external situation to be opulent or distinguished; many, notwithstanding, and severe, are the distresses to which he may be exposed. Secret griefs may be preying upon him; and his heart left to feed in silence on his own bitterness. He may labour under sore disease, and discern his earthly frame gradually moulder into dust. He may be deprived of those friends and relatives who had been the chief comforts of his state; or may be obliged to prepare himself for taking farewell of them for ever. In the midst of these various afflicting scenes of human life, no consolation can be more powerful than what arises from the presence of a Divine protector and guardian, to whom our case, with all its sorrows, is perfectly known. (Hugh Blair, D. D.)

The Christian with God, supported by Him

I. What is implied in being continually with God.

1. As a duty, it implies, that this is peculiar to real Christians; as they alone are prepared for it, and disposed to it, as being acquainted with Him, reconciled to Him, and in a state of the most intimate friendship with Him (Amos 3:3).

(1) It is God’s express command (Genesis 17:1).

(2) Their covenant-consent strengthens the obligation (Jeremiah 1:5), and having opened their mouths they cannot go back.

(3) The honour of God, which of all things is the dearest to them, obliges them to it. To forsake Him would be a reflection on God and His ways.

(4) To this they feel the constraints of love (Psalms 73:25).

(5) The blessedness arising from it, and the misery resulting from a contrary conduct, is a further obligation to this.

(6) The sincerity of their love and attachment to God is thereby to be evidenced.

(7) And they feel themselves deeply concerned thus to act, as they would not lose their work and their crown, and expose themselves to greater wrath (2 John 1:8.; Hebrews 10:38).

2. As a privilege, it implies that they are with God,

(1) As members of His Son (1 Corinthians 12:27).

(2) As His children (Romans 8:14).

(3) As His heirs (Romans 8:17).

(4) As His portion (Deuteronomy 32:9).

(5) As His living temple (Ephesians 2:21).

II. The happiness resulting therefrom. The Lord holds them by their right hand. This is necessary--

1. On account of the weakness of their graces (1 Corinthians 3:1).

2. The remains of the carnal mind (1 Corinthians 3:3).

3. The prevalence of evil example (1 Corinthians 5:8).

4. The opposition of the world (John 15:19).

5. The unwearied diligence of Satan (1 Peter 5:8).

6. And in all these circumstances God will uphold them, according to His word and promise (Hebrews 13:6; Isaiah 54:17).

Improvement:--

1. How happy is the state of those who walk with God! Let us cultivate a greater intimacy than ever.

2. How dreadful is the state of those who are at a distance from God! (Psalms 73:27). (T. Hannam.)

Constant enjoyment of the Divine presence consistent with variable experiences

Our abiding frame is the index of character, said Garfield. “I have seen the sea lashed into fury and tossed into spray, and its grandeur moves the soul of the dullest man. But I remember that it is not the billows, but the calm level of the sea from which all heights and depths are measured. When the storm has passed and the hour of calm settles upon the ocean, when the sunlight bathes its smooth surface, then the astronomer and surveyor takes the level from which he measures all terrestrial heights and depths.” And it is thus with the saint in his spiritual enjoyments. They may be as variable as the surface of the ocean, but he does not judge of his state by their fluetuations, but by the fact that deep down in his heart, in yearning and desire, if not in actual experience, he is able to say, “I am continually with Thee.” (The Quiver.)