But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalms 73:26 (a psalm of Asaph)
Two children were arguing with each other about which one got the biggest piece of pie served to them by their mother. Their dad suddenly lifted his empty plate and with a twinkle in his eyes, he said to his wife, “Just give me the portion that is the size of your heart.” And he was served the biggest piece of all!
It is so easy to feel like God’s has dished out bigger portions to others than He has to us, but actually– the piece He serves us is exactly the size of His heart! IT’S BIG!!
When the children of Israel came into the Promised Land, all of the 12 tribes were told exactly what their portion or “inheritance” in the land would be. Nine chapters in Joshua (chaps 13–21) are devoted to this. The portions were distributed by God, but some got more land and some got less.
There was actually one tribe that received NO portion of land at all. The tribe of Levi. God says many times:
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 (See also: Num 18:20-23; Num 26:62.)
I wonder if the Levites ever complained, saying, “Wow! Our brothers get such nice pieces of this land that flows with milk and honey. And what do we get? No land at all! All we get is the Lord! How unfair!”
If so… SHAME ON THEM!
Having God as our portion – How awesomely gigantic is that?!
The Psalmist David was not from the tribe of Levi. He was from Judah, a very nice portion of land on the south border of the Promised Land. Nevertheless, David had a revelation! He declared many times: “The Lord is my portion!” –
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
Psalms 16:5-6
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
You are my portion, O Lord;
Psalms 119:57
I have said that I would keep Your words.
I cried out to You, O Lord:
Psalms 142:5
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
David actually begged God to deliver him from those who only have their portion in the temporary stuff of this world:
…Deliver my life … from men of the world who have their portion in this life…
Psalms 17:13-15
As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
Asaph, one of David’s singers, wrote Psalm 73. He tells his struggle when he compared himself to others who have a bigger portion in life than he did. He found himself grumbling and even thinking that living for God is just not worth all the trouble.
But then Asaph received a fresh revelation about his portion in life when he finally “went into the sanctuary of God”
Whom have I in heaven but You?
Psalms 73:25-26
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.
I wonder what revelation we have as God’s children today? Are we whining and bitter about wanting a bigger and better portion? Do we often struggle with being judgmental and jealous as we look at others? Are we pouting about the portion on our plate?
Let’s come back into the “sanctuary of God,” sit down in His presence, and just consider how blessed we are when we let God serve us our portion – a portion as big as His heart! And surely we’ll echo the words of Asaph: “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Amen.
