TEXT: Psalm 119:57-64
READING: Psalm 17:1-15
SUBJ: Claiming the Lord as our Possession, or desire and our only resource.
AIM: That we might indeed know the Lord in this way.
INTR:
1. Men have a desire to possess – He wants something to claim as his own.
2. How unusual to think that the Lord is to be owned?
3. Seeing Him as Lord is essential; to see Him as our portion is precious.
THESIS: We are the heritage that the Lord has purchased to Himself. As such we must be so identified with Him as to claim Him as our own inheritance.
I. The manner of acknowledging the Lord our Portion (vv. 57-60)
1. We would here consider the case of the Levites who had no inheritance of land, but their ministry was their inheritance.
2. Consider some other references: Psalms 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. AND Psalms 116:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. AND Psalms 16:5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. AND Lamentations 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
3. In the second part of the verse, David acknowledges Lordship – “I have said…”
4. The prayer:
1) It was heartfelt
2) Mercy was sought
3) Promises were claimed
5. Contemplating the ways of the Lord brings us to:
1) Thought
2) Turning of the feet
3) And the making of haste in the matter
II. The bands of the wicked (v. 61)
1. That which would destroy faith comes from within and without.
2. Regardless of circumstance His Law cannot be forgotten.
1) Cannot leave that which is written on the heart.
2) Neither can you leave being who you are or whose you are. “I know whom I have believed…”
III. Reflections on our Portion brings an instant cause to give thanks. (v. 62)
1. Midnight is seen as an unlikely time to praise or Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
2. We cannot be indifferent as we consider His righteous judgments
IV. The realization of mercy to be known in the Lord our Portion (vv. 63-64)
1. Consider earthly companionships
1) 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2) 1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
2. These are they,
1) That fear thee
2) And keep thy precepts
3) And with whom we shall spend eternity.
3. In the end result we find not mere benefits, but such mercy as brings the blessedness of knowing the Lord as our Portion.
