Devotion for Saturday 29/03/2025

Psalm 16:5-8 (NKJV)

5 O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot.

6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.

7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;

My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the Lord always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

In the ancient agricultural setting, the land allotted to each family was central to one’s livelihood, future and destiny.

The twelve tribes of Israel were each destined to inherit a certain part of the Promised Land. The exception was made for the Levites, whose "portion" was to perform their priesthood duty under God and their provision was supplied by the tithes and offerings from the other tribes.

These inheritances were each a "portion" of Canaan. David celebrates God's grace, which has resulted in his kingdom and his relationship with the Lord. In these verses, David was expressing his gratitude and trust in God, the Giver of all things.

V6 – The “lines” would have referred to the boundaries drawn on the land as allocated to each tribe. David, of the tribe of Judah, was allocated land in the southern region of Canaan, encompassing the Negev desert, the Hebron Hills, and areas around Jerusalem. David was grateful for the land allocated to Judah, and perhaps the whole land of Israel after he subdued all his enemies.

V7-8 speak of David’s dependency on God’s guidance and his daily communion with God and the “counsel” he received even in the night seasons. And “night seasons” means the various challenging times in his life.

To relate David’s experience prophetically to the Lord Jesus, we are reminded of the fact that while no other was ever so thoroughly acquainted with grief as Jesus (See Isaiah 53:3), no other ever experienced so much joy and delight in service! Jesus served faithfully and received the ultimate rewards in being seated at the right hand of the Father. He is the soon returning Messiah who has won the ultimate victory.

We read in Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God “

Let us also learn to “set the Lord always before us”, and be assured that one day, we will be at the right hand of God.

Have a blessed Saturday!