i See the marginal reading of the text.
GOD HIMSELF HIS PEOPLE's PORTION.
Ps. xvi. 5 — 7. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Loi'd, who hath given me counsel : my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
THIS psahn is called " Michtam," that is, A golden psalm. And a golden psalm it is, whether we interpret it of David, or of Christ. To both it is apphcable; to David, as a type of Christ; and to Christ, as so typified. In all the word of God there is not a passage on which greater stress is laid, as estabhshing beyond a doubt the Messiahship of Jesus ; to whom alone the latter part of the psalm
can with any truth be Uterally appUed"^. The former part of it, on the contrary, is much more apphcable to David himself. The truth is, I apprehend, that David began to write respecting himself; but was overruled and inspired to speak things which he himself did not fully comprehend, and to declare literally respecting the Messiah, what was only m a very lax sense true in relation to himself. This we know to have been the case with the prophets gene- rally : they were inspired to predict the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow, whilst they themselves understood not their own prophecies ''. They spoke of one point which was uppermost in their own minds ; and God overruled them to speak in language that was applicable rather to another point, which he had ordained them to foretell. Thus did Caiaphas the high priest, when advising that Jesus should be put to death ""r and thus did David, in this and several other of his psalms'^. We con- sider the words of our text, together with all that precedes it, as spoken by David respecting himself: and in them we see,
I. The blessed portion of God's people —
They have " God himself for their portion and their inheritance" —
[There seems, in this expression, some reference to the custom which obtained of sending to different guests, when assembled at a feast, such a portion as the Master of the feast judged expedient^. But the principal allusion evidently is to the division of the land of Canaan by lot, and the assigning to all the different tribes the portion prepared for them. On that occasion the tribe of Levi was distinguished from all tlie other tribes in this, that whereas all the rest had a distinct and separate inheritance allotted to them, they had none ; the Lord himself vouchsafing to be their inheritance^. The sacrifices which from time to time were offered to the Lord were ajD- pointed for their support. Now, in allusion to this, David says, " The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." He was not of the tribe of Levi, but of Judah : and
^ Actsii. 25 — 31. and xiii. 35—37. ^ 1 Pet. i. 10—12.
<= John xi. 49 — 52. <* Ps. xxii. xl. and Ixix.
e Gen.xliii.34. ] Sam.i.4,5. 'Numb.xviii. 20. Deut.xviii. 1, 2.
513.] GOD HIMSELF HIS PEOPLE's PORTION. 75
therefore respecting him it could be true only in a spiritual and mystical sense : and in that sense it is equally true respect- ing every believer at this day. We are all "a kingdom of priests:" and we live altogether upon the great sacrifice, even the flesh of Christ, and the blood of Christ, which were oflfered for the sins of the whole world. By the very terms of the New Covenant, God, wliilst he takes us for his people, gives himself to us as our God^: so that all who believe in Jesus may claim him as their God." This, I say, is not the privilege of Prophets and Apostles only, but of every the weakest believer in the Church of God : for we are expressly told, that " ^o as many as received him Jesus gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his name''." The very instant they believed in Christ, the relation between God and them was formed, and God became their Father, their Friend, their Por- tion, " their eternal great Reward'." To us then belongs this privilege as well as to David ; and with him we may say, " O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord'*^."]