Deuteronomy 32:9 For the LORD's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 1. The text teaches us that the Church of God is the Lord's own peculiar and special property. "The earth is the Lord s, and the fulness thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein." By creation, as well as by providence, Jehovah is the Sovereign possessor of the entire universe. Let none venture to dispute His claims, or say that He is not the great owner of all things, for thus saith the Lord, "Behold, all souls are Mine." But He has a special property in His Church. As a king may have ample possessions, to all of which he has undoubted right, but still he has royal crown-lands which are in a very special sense his own; so hath the Lord of all a peculiar interest in His saints. As Osborne, and Balmoral, and Windsor belong to our sovereign by a tenure which differs from his title and claim to the United Kingdom, so the Church is the peculiar heritage of the King of kings. "The Lord's portion is His people." How are they His? (1) We answer, first, by His own sovereign choice. He did so ordain to make His chosen and set His love upon them. (2) They are not only His by choice, but by purchase. (3) They are also His by conquest. Old Jacob, when he lay a-dying, gave to Joseph one portion above his brethren, which he had taken out of the hand of the Amorite with his sword and with his bow. The Lord Jesus can truly say of His people, that He hath taken them out of the hand of the Amorite with His sword and with His bow. Thy conquering hand, O Jesus, when nailed to the Cross, rent away Thy children's chains. We are indeed the conquered captives of His omnipotent love. 2. In the second place, the text shows that the saints are the objects of the Lord's especial care. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth," — with what object? — "to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." The wheels of providence are full of eyes; but in what direction are they gazing? Why, that all things may "work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." 3. The text includes the idea that the Church is the object of the Lord's special joy, for a man's portion is that in which he takes delight. See what terms He uses; He calls them His dwelling place. "In Jewry is God known, His name is great in Israel, in Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion." "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation." Where is a man most at ease? Why, at home. We are expressly told that the Church is the Lord's rest. "This is My rest forever, here will I dwell, for I have desired it." As if all the world beside were His workshop, and His Church His rest. In the boundless universe He is busy marshalling the stars, riding upon the wings of the wind, making the clouds His chariot; but in His Church He is at rest, in Zion the Everlasting One spends His Sabbaths. Yet further, there is an unrivalled picture in the Word where the Lord is even represented as singing with joy over His people. Who could have conceived of the Eternal One as bursting forth into a song. Yet it is written, He will rejoice over thee with joy, He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing. As He looked upon the world, He spoke and said, "It is very good," but He did not sing. And as He vieweth the works of providence, I hear not that He sings; but when He gazes on you, the purchase of Jesus blood, His own chosen ones, the great heart of the Infinite restrains itself no longer, but, wonder of wonders, God, the Eternal One, sings out of the joy of His soul. Truly, "the Lord's portion is His people." 4. Our text teaches us that God's people are His everlasting possession. He will never sell His children at a price; nor if He could have better people instead, would He change them. They are His, and they shall be His while time lasts; and when time ends, and eternity rolls on, He never can, He never will cast away His chosen people. Let us in this rejoice and be exceeding glad. "The Lord's portion is His people." ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.WEB: For Yahweh's portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. |
    |