Scripture: Psalm 16

Key verses: (5-6)
5   The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6   The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.

Reflection: Choosing portions and lots can take careful discussion and negotiation. In seminary, I lived a year with three women from different countries in an intentional multicultural living community. We chose this environment to learn from each other as well as live into the inevitable challenges the different backgrounds and personalities would bring. In an early discussion about which room each person would occupy, one friend said, “We could just draw lots.” This was the first time I had heard someone actually use what I considered an ancient term in day-to-day language. What is a “lot”?

A “lot” in the ancient world was a portion of the land of Israel. Each family was given a portion, or “lot.” The Levites, however; were not given a lot, and served in the temple instead. The Levites were told their inheritance was God. The psalmist sees us like the Levites; as Christians, we have all the possessions and inheritance we could ever hope for in God. The psalmist says this lot we have been given is a like having land in pleasant places (16:6); it is a delightful inheritance. It is an inheritance we chose. Thank God for giving us the wisdom to choose our Creator as all we need.

Prayer: God, we are so grateful for our lots – for our land, for our homes, and for how you reside with us everywhere. Allow us to see you in the pleasant places, and how you are all we need. Be with us as we share your delight in our days. Amen.

Author: Amy Speas

[Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved].