130. LAM 3:24. THE CHRISTIAN’S PORTION AND HOPE
Lam_3:24. The Christian’s Portion and Hope
"The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."’97Lam_3:24.
Refer to the original occasion of the text. Captivity of God’s people’97Jerusalem in a state of desolation’97the extreme sorrow of the prophet’97his retrospect, ver. 1 to 21. He refers to God’s goodness and sparing mercies in the midst of all his troubles, ver. 22, 23. And then he expresses himself in the language of the text: "The Lord is my portion," &c.
Let us consider the text as the experience of every Christian; and in doing so notice,
1. The good man’s Portion.
"The Lord is my portion, saith my soul."
The word portion signifies lot or inheritance, in reference to the division of the land of Canaan to the various tribes of Israel. The same expression is adopted by David, Psa_16:5; Psa_119:57; Psa_142:5. Now God is the portion or inheritance of his saints; and as such, is vastly superior to all other portions.
1 God is a spiritual portion.
It is true, he confers all real and necessary temporal good. But above and besides all this, he is such a portion as is suited to man’s spiritual capacities and exigencies. Nothing of a material nature can satisfy man’s vast desires. But God meets all his wishes, and fills up the whole void. The understanding is filled with light’97judgment’97with truth’97affections, with love’97conscience, with purity.
2. God is a present portion.
A portion now. He says, "I am thy God." How different to the experience of the poor backslider, who says, "O that it were with me as in months past!" How different to those who are satisfying themselves, by cultivating mere desires as to the future! The religion that resembles that of the prophet must be in the present tense: "The Lord is my portion," &c. "The Spirit of God heareth witness," &c.
3. God is an all-sufficient portion.
So he spake to Abraham, and said, "I am God Almighty, or God All-sufficiency walk before me, and be thou perfect;" Gen_17:1. Every good is in God, and every good is in God perfectly, and for the happiness of his people. His wisdom, power goodness, are each and all sufficient. He can banish every pain, fill every desire, and remove every want. The worldling’s portion is always insufficient.
4. God is an unmixed portion.
In respect of all earthly good, roses grow on thorns’97the honey is mixed with gall’97light with darkness’97the bitter with the sweet. But in God all is pure; no alloy, no darkness, no bitterness.
5. God is a sure portion.
Immutability is engraven on it. Riches are not sure. Health, friends, life, are all associated with uncertainty. But God is beyond the possibility of change; "without variableness, or shadow of turning." Mal_3:6; Jam_1:17.
6. God is an incomprehensible portion.
None by searching can find him out, or know him to perfection; beyond all description; neither can man’s loftiest stretch of imagination conceive of him aright. The Christian will never be able to fathom the depths of infinite love, for it passeth under standing; and eternity will be too short to exhaust his munificence, or to utter all his praise.
7. God is an eternal portion.
Eternity is an attribute of Deity, and of Deity only. He is from everlasting and to everlasting, God. He inhabiteth eternity, and will be the portion of his people forever.
8. God is the common portion of all his people.
All believers, however dissimilar in belief, or however varied in experience, can claim him as their Lord and their God Each and all of his family can say, "Abba, Father." He loves all his saints, and views them all with infinite complacency and delight.
Then let us consider,
II. The good man’s Hope.
"Therefore will I hope in him."
Not for exemption from trouble, afflictions, trials, or temptations; these all Christians must feel; these are truly necessary. There is a needs-be for suffering and tribulation. But the good man hopes in God,
1. For strength for every duty.
"As thy day is," Isa_41:10; 2Co_12:9.
2. For comfort in every trial.
He has said, "Unto the upright ariseth light in darkness;" Isa_51:3; Isa_66:13.
3. For deliverance from every danger.
"When thou passest through the waters," &c.; Psa_1:15; Job_5:19.
4. For victory over every enemy.
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors," &c. "Who shall harm as," &c. "We shall triumph, even over the last enemy, death."
5. For an abundant entrance into eternal life.
2Pe_1:11.
6. For a blessed resurrection, and the glorification of body and soul forever.
Php_3:21; 1Co_15:40, &c.; 1Jn_3:2.
Application
1. How sacredly precious the Christian’s portion! How we should prize it, love it, rejoice in it, extol it, and recommend it to others!
2. How blissful and glorious the good man’s hope! May we abound in this, as well as every other grace, to our own happiness, and to the honor and glory of God!
Autor: JABEZ BURNS