You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words. I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word. I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments. The cords of the wicked have bound me, but I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments. I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; teach me Your statutes. (Psalm 119:57-64)

You Are My Portion

The world is filled with the desires of wealth, appeals of honor, enjoyments for pleasure, and recognition of fame. Life can be governed by seeking the greatest amounts of wealth in every form. Men will seek to accomplish a noble act of significance to be honored with awards, prestige, and recognition. Pleasures drive the heart to seek after everything carnal in the pursuits of the lust of the flesh. The greatest reward many seek is to be remembered in history as a person of note. To know a man’s character, find out what his life goals are and what he hopes to accomplish in life. Living in large homes with every finery of life in the glitzy world of the “jet-set” crowd of flash is all many men seek. Lives are devoted to honing a craft to be the best in the field of sports, science, entertainment, or politics. For the majority of humanity, living one day at a time with the gusto of a passionate desire to enjoy every part of life is all they desire. Fame is all some men seek, and then they are remembered by two generations and forgotten as quickly.

Goals define a man. What is important to a man is how he will spend his life. Some men achieve all aspects of life that bring them wealth, honor, pleasure, and fame. But then an incredible irony takes place. They die. Their wealth goes to another, the honor they had will be remembered for a short time and forgotten, and all the pleasure they enjoyed dies with them in the grave. Fame is fleeting. A few generations will remember, but quickly the fame they earnestly craved is lost in the cobwebs of history found only in museums that few visit. The portion of life achieved is lost in the grave.

The psalmist had a goal in life, and he had a desire. His portion or inheritance was what he could know about God. Nothing else was as important and special to him as the knowledge of God’s word. The words of the Lord were his desire. Following the commandments of God was his only need. All he wanted in life was to learn the statutes of the heavenly Shepherd. His portion was singular. The inheritance of the Lord filled his cup. As the author of Psalm 119, the appeal to the power of the Old Testament gospel was all he wanted to know, experience, understand and share with others. His portion was the knowledge of God in every aspect. The beauty of this desire was it would never be taken away from him.

Wealth for the psalmist was the rich treasures of God’s word. The honor he sought was the blessing of a benevolent Father who would acknowledge a humble spirit. Pleasure came from hearing and obeying the word of the Lord. The fame the psalmist desired was only to hear his Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” All the trappings of the world were of no significance to the heart of the man had not forgotten the law of the Lord. At midnight, he rose to give thanks to the Father. His companions were those who feared the Lord. Defining the life of the psalmist was explained by the word of God. None of these blessings would be taken away from him. Death would not end his pleasure but increase his joy. He had the right priorities in life, and God rewarded him for it.