“A New Year” Part 2
Lamentations 3: 22 – 24 “It is of The Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion’s fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”
What does it mean ” The Lord is my portion?” The word “portion” is defined from the Hebrew as a parcel, a part of something, a portion and normally land is in mind. The easiest understanding would be that of an inheritance. This is my portion or inheritance given to me by my father or mother, is another way to understand the word. However in context the word is much more personal. To say that the “Lord is my portion” is to say that out of all the “desires and lust” that rival for my soul’s attention, I give to it The Lord. As a bride gives herself to her husband at the exclusion of all others, so is this word in context. He will be my portion, my chief joy and desire. It is a very strong and intimate statement…and ” therefore will I hope in him” is the natural conclusion of what you give your soul too. As a wife chooses her husband, she will naturally “hope” in him.
Hope, is a complex emotion. Implied with hope is a sense of waiting. I am hoping for this job promotion, or I’m waiting for this package to arrive. It is a waiting combined with a positive expectancy. Hope is one of the deepest human emotions we have. It comes from the very core of who we are. Therefore it is critical that who or what becomes our portion is able to come through, or what happens? I think we all know, disappointment, heartache, and at times even feeling betrayed. ” But I hoped in you,” is the same as ” but I trusted in you.” For that which becomes our portion, becomes our hope, our trust and our confidence. It becomes quite an intricate maze of emotions, but the bottom line is our sense of well being and security is placed in that person, or desire that we have made our portion.
“The Lord is my portion” is what Jeremiah concluded. And he concluded that in the face of great difficulty. Who or what is your portion? If it is not the Lord, are you sure that another human being, a future hope or desire can carry such a load? How can I presume that another human being, who is just like me, can be my hope? Will not he or she, or any other thing fail me? Of course, for they are “only human.” Therefore if we fail to meet each others needs, how can we make each other our portion and hope? That is a lot of emotional responsibility to regulate to another human being, or to a future hope, or desire for that matter.
Should not the Creator, the Author of Life and the lover of our soul, not be the only one that we principality give ourselves too? Our husbands, wives, children, friends and all other desires should play a secondary role in our lives. “To love The Lord thy God” is the first commandment, and “to love your neighbor as yourself” is the second. When these get reversed, is when we start having relational problems. By making others fulfill the longings in our heart that God can only fulfil, not only is it not wise, but it causes expectations that can’t be met. “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore I will hope in him,” is the right order.
Let’s start the New Year out right, giving to people and desires that which is there’s, but giving to God that which is His; our deepest trust and hope. And be wise in trusting God. He is fitting us for eternity, not for our pleasures here. We want to root in and build castles, but He wants our hope and life to be in Him. So if He allows adversity in our lives, it is so we let go of this life, and learn to value that which is eternal and put our life where it is safe, in Him.
Father God,
Such a hard lesson. It is so easy to allow people, desires and earthly hopes to steal my focus and the attention that should be with you. I understand that as I am faulty, others also are faulty. And to make them my hope is not only hard for them, but it adds undue expectancy to the relationship. Help me to learn of You, so as to transfer these hopes, desires and needs over to you. Thank you and Amen
Dios lo Bendiga
Arthur