Psalm 119:57
The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words. Psalm 119:57
This stanza of eight verses in Psalm 119 implies “devotion to the Law of God,” according to author Rabbin Deborah Brandt. And we see that devotion is rooted in two very distinct things. First, in the Lord being the Psalmist’s “portion” which can mean his delight or contentment. And secondly, in the Psalmist’s promise to keep the Words of God as his guide.
Below is an expanded definition of what is being implied by “a portion,” by Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, the chair of Ligonier Ministries and one of their teaching fellows. A link to the short podcast is included.
What Does “The Lord Is My Portion” Mean? | Ligonier Ministries
DR. W. ROBERT GODFREY: That's good. That's a phrase that occurs frequently in the Psalter and is often an expression of the piety of the heart of the psalmist and of the people of God. I think its roots are in Israel entering the promised land. And each tribe was promised a portion of the land. So, "portion" originally, I think, meant the land of Israel. But when they got to Levi, as it's recorded in Numbers 18, the Lord said, "Levi will not have a portion of the land," but Moses said to Levi, "The Lord will be your portion."
And the idea is that the Lord would provide directly for Levi through the temple and through the tithes and offerings of Israel, rather than land, which the people would have to work and cultivate to derive their sustenance. So, it's originally an idea about the Lord providing intimately and directly for a part of His people. And I think that phrase so appealed to Israel, and should so appeal to us, that the pious just took it up and said: "I want the Lord to be my portion. It's not so much that I care about my portion in the land. What I care about is that the Lord should be my portion."
And so, it's great for us, I think, as the people of God to look at the world, to be thankful for whatever the Lord gives us in this world, but to have our fundamental faith rest in the conviction that the Lord is enough and that the Lord is our portion.
The “promise to keep your words” phase is the Psalmist response to “The LORD is my portion.” Let us be clear, the Psalmist is not saying, “The LORD is my portion when and if I keep your promises.” Nor is he saying, “I will keep your promises so that the LORD will be my portion.”
The Psalmist is saying, “Because the LORD is my portion, I will keep your promises.” It is important to see that it is the LORD that pursues us first. Jesus came down to save us from ourselves before we knew we needed saving. Jesus forgave our sins while we were still His enemy.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. —Romans 5:10 ESV
Because of Genesis 3 (the Fall) we are a “broken hallelujah” in process of being sanctified. We will not be able to “keep your words” in a 100% perfectionistic way. We will fail. But that is why Jesus is our portion. He died to fulfill the law so that grace may abound.
So, hold tight to the LORD being your portion, promise to keep His words, and allow the grace of Jesus to save you from your sins. And while that is the Christian life, be content that “The LORD is my portion.”
Burke Care would love to talk more about how walking with Jesus as your portion is enough to get you through today. Consider calling a Burke Care Team member today just to talk.
Father, thank you for saving me from me. Thank you for caring about my sin before I cared about my sin. Thank you for loving me when I was unlovable, unlovely, and unloving. You are my portion; you are my inheritance. Make me walk in your ways today to Your glory, honor, and praise. Amen!
Application Questions:
Where do I look like a “broken hallelujah” today?
In what ways do I want to clean myself up before receiving contentment from Christ?
Where am I pursuing other “portions” that are not from God?
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