Psalm 16:1-5
Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing." I say of the holy people who are in the land, "They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight." Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
David was enthroned in Jerusalem when he wrote this psalm. But he did not say Jerusalem or Judea is his portion, he only said that the Lord is his portion. We are all good at managing our portion or property, and we would feel secured when everything seems to be in order. But since I live in California, I understand that no portions are unshakeable. In the big earthquake happened in LA years ago, I saw from television that many were deeply troubled in their heart, and someone said that "Why are we deeply troubled at heart? It is because we once have everything." We are often too used to the material world and hence it is difficult for us to understand that there is a spiritual world that is more real than the material world.
Verse 4 says "Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more." We think that we only run after the Lord, but many times we use what we have to substitute god, using the way of the world to substitute the way of God. We substitute the priority that God suppose to have with other people and things, seeking after ourselves and our satisfaction and become incapable of sacrificing for others. Not only that, we use God's grace to substitute God and think that it is how it ought to be, neglecting all of these come from God.
The fact is that all things will pass. David said "The Lord is my portion" because he knew clearly that only God is whom he can rely on, for God will never change. Circumstances in life will change and storms in life will always want to devour you, but the Lord is like the anchor that is unmovable. May the Lord once again open our eyes to recognize that the portion of our lives is the Lord and Him alone!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Dear Lord, may You forgive us. Our hearts are deeply troubled because we do not know that You along is our portion. May You open our eyes to know that the world and all things in it will pass away but You live forever, so our faith and hope are in You. I thank you and I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.