559_Lord our true and eternal inheritance (Psalm 119:57-64)

Psalm 119:57-64 The Lord is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes!

Many years ago, a young missionary named Jim Elliot wrote in his journal, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Those words became famous long after his death because they so powerfully summarized a life wholly given to God. Jim Elliot and four of his friends gave their lives taking the gospel to a remote tribe in Ecuador. To many, their deaths seemed tragic and unnecessary. But to those who understood the eternal perspective, Jim’s words became a window into something far deeper: that the greatest reward in life is not comfort, not possessions, not even earthly success—but God Himself.

That is the heartbeat of Psalm 119:57–64. The psalmist begins by saying, “You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to keep Your words.” In the ancient world, when Israel entered the Promised Land, each tribe was given its portion of land—a tangible inheritance that would sustain generations. But there was one tribe that received no such inheritance. The Levites, those who served in the tabernacle, were told something remarkable by God Himself: “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites” (Numbers 18:20).

Imagine that—no land, no fields, no cities to call their own. Instead, God said, “I will be your inheritance.” To most, that might sound like a loss. But to the heart that knows God, it is the richest gift of all. The Levites were called to live out a profound truth: that the Lord Himself is enough.

Centuries earlier, Abraham had already understood this. When the king of Sodom offered him the spoils of war after a great victory, Abraham refused. He said, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’” (Genesis 14:22–23). Abraham’s treasure was not in Sodom’s wealth but in God’s promise. And right after that act of faith, God appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

What a breathtaking declaration! God Himself—our protector, our reward, our inheritance. Imagine the Creator of the universe saying to you, “I am your reward.” There is no safer place to rest your heart than in that truth.

The 17th-century theologian Thomas Le Blanc captured this beautifully when he wrote, “He is an exceedingly covetous fellow to whom God is not sufficient; and he is an exceeding fool to whom the world is sufficient. For God is an inexhaustible treasury of all riches, sufficing innumerable men; while the world has mere trifles and fascinations to offer, and leads the soul into deep and sorrowful poverty.”

The psalmist echoes this same truth: “You are my portion, O Lord.” He is content, not because he owns much, but because he belongs to the One who owns all things. His satisfaction flows into obedience—he promises to keep God’s words. That’s an important connection. We cannot truly say that God is our portion if we refuse to walk in His ways. To belong to Him is to trust Him; to trust Him is to obey Him.

Then, the psalmist prays, “I entreat Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise.” He seeks God earnestly, not half-heartedly. When he reflects on his life, he recognizes his need to turn back: “When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to Your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments.”

That’s a picture of repentance—not just feeling sorry for sin, but changing direction immediately. He doesn’t wait for a more convenient time. The Word of God has shown him where he’s been wrong, and he acts on it right away. This is what happens when we let Scripture read us instead of merely reading Scripture. The Word becomes a mirror, revealing not just what we are, but what we need to become.

Even when the psalmist faces pressure from every side, he remains steadfast: “Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget Your law.” His circumstances may be difficult, but his heart is anchored in God’s Word. He refuses to respond to evil with evil. Instead, he allows God’s law to shape his reactions, to steady his emotions, to guide his actions. That’s the secret of a life that walks in peace even when the world rages around it.

There’s something deeply beautiful about verse 62: “At midnight I rise to praise You because of Your righteous rules.” Think about that for a moment. In the middle of the night, when most people are fast asleep, the psalmist is awake—not worrying, not complaining, but praising. His heart is so full of gratitude that it overflows even in the darkest hour. When God becomes our inheritance, our lives become a continuous hymn of praise. We stop needing circumstances to be perfect in order to rejoice. Our joy flows from who He is, not from what we have.

Then he says, “I am a companion of all who fear You, of those who keep Your precepts.” The psalmist chooses his company wisely. His friends are those who love and obey the Lord. That’s a practical lesson for us today. Our companionships shape our values, our habits, even our spiritual appetite. If we surround ourselves with people who chase the world, we will find ourselves pulled in that direction. But if we walk with those who revere God, their example will encourage us to live faithfully.

The psalmist closes this section with a final reflection: “The earth, O Lord, is full of Your steadfast love; teach me Your statutes.” Having experienced God’s goodness personally, he now sees it everywhere. The whole earth declares the glory and faithfulness of God. And yet, even after tasting this goodness, he remains humble. He doesn’t boast of how much he knows; he asks God to teach him more. The more we grow in our walk with God, the more we realize how much we still need to learn.

When the Lord becomes our inheritance, contentment begins to grow in our hearts. Discontentment fades when we truly believe that God Himself is enough. Psalm 17:15 captures this beautifully: “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing Your likeness.” What a hope to live by! There is a satisfaction that only comes from seeing God’s face—both now, in moments of communion with Him, and one day, when we see Him as He is.

That eternal satisfaction changes how we live today. It keeps us from selfishness and greed. It frees us from the endless pursuit of more. When God is our portion, generosity becomes natural, because we know we cannot outgive Him. We give because we have received something far greater—Himself. And as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:10, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”

To say “The Lord is my portion” is not just a statement of faith—it’s a declaration of freedom. It means we no longer measure our worth by possessions, success, or approval. We measure it by His love. It means we can lose everything and still have everything that truly matters. Corrie Ten Boom wisely said, “You may never know that Jesus is all that you need until Jesus is all that you have.”

Perhaps you’re going through a season where things feel uncertain—your finances are stretched, your plans have fallen apart, or you feel unseen and forgotten. Remember this: your true inheritance cannot be touched by circumstance. The same God who said to Abraham, “I am your shield, your very great reward,” says that to you as well.

Let that truth settle into your heart today. Let it quiet your anxieties and reshape your desires. Say with the psalmist, “You are my portion, O Lord.” And then, live as one who truly believes it—turning your feet toward His ways, delighting in His Word, praising Him even at midnight, walking with those who fear Him, and learning from Him each day.

When God Himself becomes your inheritance, life no longer feels like a chase for fleeting things. You begin to live from a place of deep satisfaction, knowing that your portion is eternal, your reward secure, and your heart at rest in Him.