The LORD is Our Portion—We Have Hope

The Scripture writer in the Old Testament book of Lamentations, describes GOD as his “portion” in whom he has hope. In modern day language we use the term “portion” most often to describe food quantities, especially when we are on a diet and restricting food intake. But in Biblical terms “portion” is used frequently in the Old Testament in the context of sacrificial offerings, the share of a soldier’s bounty, or as someone’s inheritance. However, the term is also a powerful metaphor for GOD the Father who initially gave the name to Himself.

When GOD allocated parcels of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel, He made an exception with the Priesthood, the tribe of Levi, to whom He said, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.” Numbers 18:20. GOD’s command that the priesthood of Levi relinquish all claim to their inheritance is recorded on other occasions in the Old Testament by Moses regarding the giving of the Law to Israel:

•  “Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord your God promised him.”  Deuteronomy 10:9
• “Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He said to them.” Deuteronomy 18:2

The Priesthood of the Old Testament was to remain for all time as sanctified unto GOD; without worldly entanglements to entice and distract them from holiness and dedicated service to GOD on behalf of GOD’s people.  

Is GOD our Portion today?

All believers are the Lord’s CLERGY; and as they are His portion, so He is theirs.” Bishop Robert Leighton (1611-1684)

Children of GOD are the new priesthood – “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God,.” 1 Peter 2:9-10.

As the Levitical priesthood was to remain unencumbered by worldly goods to focus on giving their all to the Father, so too are we to relinquish the world’s pleasures and be satisfied with the LORD alone as our Portion, and heaven only as our inheritance. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 1 John 2:16.

GOD who made, upholds and governs the world alone is our PORTION when we become His through CHRIST. The world can no longer satisfy us when all that GOD is and all of His fullness become ours. Every attribute of GOD’s is forever at our disposal – His holiness, power, faithfulness, goodness, patience, grace, mercy, and His loving kindness, to name a few. If all that isn’t enough, GOD gave us Himself in the person of His SON, JESUS CHRIST who redeemed us to bring us into the Father’s righteousness.

GOD as our Portion is all-sufficient for all our needs. To exchange the things of this world for a Kingdom inheritance and all the glory of that promise puts GOD’s children ahead of the rest of the world by unfathomable lengths. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:26

Psalmists and the Prophet Jeremiah cried out to GOD their “Portion” in the midst of their hardships – war, sickness, persecution, oppression: 

• Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon 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. Psalm 73:26
• The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. Psalm 16:9
• I cried out to You, O LORD; I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Psalm 142:5
• The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. Psalm 119:57
• "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him." Lamentations 3:24

These are our reminders that no matter how dire our circumstances are, we possess something that is bigger and more powerful than our difficulties every day of our natural lives and beyond.

GOD, who is our PORTION.

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, YOUR goodness, loving kindness and mercy never runs out. We thank YOU for being our PORTION and our inheritance and for all that comes with that promise. As YOU remind us, we have no one else in heaven but YOU and we should desire nothing in this world other than YOU, our all-sufficiency. Thank you that even when our hearts and our flesh fail, even in our old age, YOU are our strength and our portion forever. Thank you for making it so easy for us to give up earthly portions for we receive YOUR faithful promise of a Heavenly one with all its glory. You are forever our all-sufficient, all-satisfying, and everlasting PORTION to WHOM we give all honor, dominion and power forever and ever.  We pray and ask all things in the matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile