Lord, be my Portion (Ps. 119:57)

God is a satisfying portion. This world may fill a man, but can enver satsify him. Most have too much, but no one has enough. They are like ships that carry a burden heavy enough to sink it, but with room to hold more. The world cannot satsify the senes, much less the soul. Where can true contentment be found? The earth says, 'It is not in me'; no, heaven itself is not enough if God is not in it. If you long for the things of the world, you will find them nothing when you receive them. The sun and the moon seem bigger at first rising. If you believe that rest grows in the furrows of the field, and happiness is found in the gold mine, and that earthly treasures can produce happiness, listen to the preacher: 'Vanity of vanities! All is vanity' (Eccles. 1:2) He spoke by personal experience; the utmost of earthly pleasures fall short of satsifying. Men in great poverty think that if they could rise to a mountain of riches and delights they could reach true happiness, but Solomon found the hill far from satsifying. The world has been weighed in the balance and found wanting. David tells us that if the Lord is your portion, this fountain runs freely to full contentment. This portion is the best possible. It affords full contentment and happiness; 'I have enough, and crave no more.' If a man were crowned king of the world to enjoy the treasures, honours, and pleasures that all its kingdoms can yield; if he had the society of angels and glorified saints as friends, and could enjoy all this for the duration of the world, yet without God, he would be unsatsified. These like the dew might wet the branches and please the flesh, but would leave the roots dry. However, once let God possess his heart, and then, and not before, his infinite desires are satisfied in the bosom of his Maker. God fully satifies....

...If you can see God in creation, the plants, birds, minerals, and beasts, what thoughts might you have, if God were your portion. Look at the ocean, the storms and tempests, the innumerable fish, both small and great, what would you think of having the author and commander of the earth and ocean for you portion? What would you give to enjoy him who have them being, and who appoints and knows the number of the stars, and who calls them by name? If it were possible for you to look into the holy of holies, to mount up to heaven and see the royal palace of this great King, and if you could know the satsifying joy, the ravsihing delight, the inconceivable pleasure which the spirits of just men made perfect have, and if you could see him as he is, there visible in the glorified Redeemer, and really know him as you are known, then reader, what would you think of this God for your portion? What a poor view you would now have of the beggarly portion that you now admire! What dung, what dog's meat would the world be to you in comparison with God! You would leave the swine of earthly comforts, and the foolish children of disobedience who are paddling in the gutter of sensual waters, that you might have your portion among God's children and your heritage among his chosen ones. All your love would be too little, and no labour too great for such an inestimable portion. Lord, let me partake of your special mercy. Though others feed on husks, give me this bread of life. May you be the portion of my cup. Whatsoever you deny me, or howsoever you deal with me, give me yourself, and it shall be nough. You are the true paradise of all pleasure, a living founatin of happiness, and the original and exact pattern of all perfections. 

-George Swinnock