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Answer
David says, “LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure” «The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. », (Psalm 16:5). Other passages that refer to God as “my portion” include Psalm 73:26, Psalm 142:5, and Lamentations 3:24.
The Hebrew word for “portion” relates to a ration or a divided part of something. The New Living Translation translates the Hebrew word for “portion” as “inheritance” in Psalm 16:5. The New American Standard associates the word portion with inheritance: “The LORD is the portion of my inheritance.” The term “inheritance” refers to the land allotment given to Israel upon entering the Promised Land (Numbers 26:52-56;Joshua 14:1-5).
A family inheritance held significant importance in Hebrew society. The land was bestowed by God to His children, the people of Israel, and the Mosaic Law stipulated that a family’s land portion must remain within the family «So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. », (Numbers 36:7). The law also decreed that only the sons of a legal wife had inheritance rights. In the absence of sons, the property passed to the daughters «And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. », (Numbers 27:8), provided they did not marry outside their tribe «This is the thing which th
The LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, “Let them marry whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry.” (Numbers 36:6ff). If a widow was left without children, the nearest of kin on her husband’s side had the right to marry her, and if he refused, the next of kin could marry her (see Ruth 3:12-13). If no one married the widow, the inheritance remained with her until her death and then reverted to the next of kin (Numbers 27:9-11).
All the tribes of Israel, except for one, received a portion of the Promised Land. The priestly tribe of Levi did not receive a land inheritance: “Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, just as the LORD your God promised him” “Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.”, (Deuteronomy 10:9, NKJV). The Levites had no portion of the land, but God promised to be their portion. He would take care of their needs.
Inheritance, as used in Scripture, can refer to more than inherited property. It also has theological significance. The Israelites came to learn that God Himself was the portion or inheritance of His people “The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.”, (Jeremiah 10:16). In the New Testament, the concept of inheritance is prominent as well, being connected with the person and work of Christ. Christ is the heir by virtue of being.God the Son (Mark 12:7; Hebrews 1:2). Through Christ’s redemptive work, believers become children of God by adoption and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7). As a pledge of this “eternal inheritance” – “And for this reason, he is the mediator of the new covenant, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15), Christ has given us the Holy Spirit – “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:14).
The portion or inheritance is bestowed upon all believers, whether Jews or Gentiles – “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:6). The inheritance encompasses the kingdom of God with all its blessings – “Then the King will say to those on his right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'” (Matthew 25:34), both now and in the future (Romans 8:17-23; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Hebrews 11:23; 1 Peter 1:3-4). It is entirely a gift of God’s sovereign grace. “Our sufficiency comes from God” – “not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves.”
Themselves; but our sufficiency is from God; », (2 Corinthians 3:5, ESV). The Son of God says, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is perfected in weakness” «And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. », (2 Corinthians 12:9). In essence, God is our share.
When a biblical writer declares, “God is my share,” he implies that God is the origin of his joy and favor. He is satisfied with all that the Lord is and provides. He possesses the finest inheritance conceivable and does not pursue any possession or comfort beyond God. Wealth, prestige, companionship, and renown—nothing compares to the assurances of God. “My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my share forever” «My flesh and my heart may fail: But God is the strength of my heart, and my share forever. », (Psalm 73:26, NASB). If God is our share, we lack nothing.
