The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;This phrase reflects the psalmist's deep personal relationship with God, indicating that God Himself is the source of sustenance and satisfaction. In ancient Israel, the "portion" often referred to the division of land among the tribes (
Joshua 18:10). However, the psalmist, likely David, emphasizes that his true inheritance is not land or material wealth, but the LORD Himself. The "cup" symbolizes one's fate or destiny, often used in Scripture to denote what God has allotted to an individual (
Psalm 23:5,
Matthew 26:39). This imagery suggests a voluntary and joyful acceptance of God's will and provision, contrasting with the pagan practices of seeking fulfillment in idols or earthly possessions.
You have made my lot secure.
The term "lot" refers to one's life circumstances or destiny, often determined by casting lots in biblical times (Proverbs 16:33). This practice was used to discern God's will, as seen in the division of the Promised Land (Numbers 26:55-56). The assurance of a "secure" lot indicates divine protection and stability, reflecting a trust in God's sovereign control over one's life. This security is not based on human effort but on God's faithfulness, echoing themes of divine providence found throughout Scripture (Romans 8:28). The psalmist's confidence in God's provision and protection foreshadows the ultimate security found in Jesus Christ, who offers eternal life and an unshakeable inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of
Psalm 16, David is expressing his trust and satisfaction in God as his portion and inheritance.
2.
The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with His people and His role as the provider and sustainer.
3.
Portion and CupMetaphors used to describe God's provision and sustenance, reflecting the inheritance and blessings that come from a relationship with Him.
Teaching Points
God as Our InheritanceJust as the Levites had no land inheritance but God Himself, believers today find their true inheritance in a relationship with God.
Contentment in GodIn a world that often seeks satisfaction in material possessions, this verse calls us to find our contentment and security in God alone.
Security in God's ProvisionThe phrase "You have made my lot secure" assures us of God's faithful provision and protection, encouraging trust in His plans for our lives.
Metaphors of Portion and CupThese metaphors invite us to reflect on how God sustains us spiritually, emotionally, and physically, much like food and drink sustain the body.
Trust in God's SovereigntyRecognizing God as our portion leads to a deeper trust in His sovereignty over our lives, knowing that He holds our future securely.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Psalm 16:5?
2. How does Psalm 16:5 encourage trust in God's provision and sovereignty?
3. What does "portion of my inheritance" reveal about God's role in our lives?
4. How can Psalm 16:5 deepen our understanding of contentment in God's plan?
5. Which other scriptures emphasize God as our "cup" and "inheritance"?
6. How can you apply Psalm 16:5 to your daily decision-making process?
7. What does Psalm 16:5 reveal about God's role in our lives?
8. How does Psalm 16:5 challenge our understanding of personal ownership and possessions?
9. In what ways does Psalm 16:5 influence our trust in divine providence?
10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 16?
11. (Psalm 16:5–6) In light of historical changes in territory and borders, how can the “pleasant places” and “heritage” still be taken literally or reliably?
12. What does 'God is my portion' mean?
13. What does "God is my portion" mean?
14. What does "God is our great reward" mean?What Does Psalm 16:5 Mean
The LORD– The focus is immediately placed on the covenant God, not an abstract force.
– “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1) echoes the same personal trust.
– David is speaking directly to the One who revealed Himself as “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), underscoring that every promise flows from God’s unchanging character.
– Relationship, not ritual, is at the heart of the verse.
is my chosen portion– In Israel, “portion” pointed to an allotted inheritance (cf. Numbers 18:20, where the Levites receive the LORD as their inheritance).
– By choice, David claims God Himself as the treasure of his life, mirroring “The LORD is my portion, says my soul” (Lamentations 3:24).
– Practical implications:
• Contentment that outlasts material gain (1 Timothy 6:6).
• Freedom from envy because the best has already been secured in God (Psalm 73:26).
• Confidence that God’s resources can never be exhausted.
and my cup– In Scripture a “cup” often pictures one’s assigned experience—either blessing or judgment. Here it brims with blessing.
– “You prepare a table before me… my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5) parallels the thought of abundant satisfaction.
– The imagery suggests:
• Sustenance for daily living (Isaiah 55:1).
• Joy that God Himself pours (John 15:11).
• Salvation personally received: “I will lift up the cup of salvation” (Psalm 116:13).
You have made my lot secure– “Lot” recalls the casting of lots to assign land (Joshua 18:10). God personally fixes David’s destiny.
– Stability flows from divine sovereignty: “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” (Psalm 16:6).
– Outcomes of this security:
• Protection that cannot be overturned (John 10:28).
• An inheritance “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4).
• Peace in the present journey, knowing each circumstance fits within God’s ordained plan (Romans 8:28).
summaryPsalm 16:5 celebrates a believer’s fullest confidence: the living LORD Himself is possession, provision, and protection. Because God is David’s chosen treasure, his life’s cup overflows and his future is safely staked in divine hands. Such assurance frees the heart to rest, rejoice, and follow God with undivided devotion.
(5)
The portion.--There is allusion here to the Levitical portion (
Numbers 18:20): "I am thy portion and thine inheritance." The poet, whom we must imagine exiled from his actual inheritance in Canaan, consoles, and more than consoles himself, with the sublime thought that this "better part" could not be taken away from him. Perowne quotes Savonarola's fine saying, "What must not he possess who possesses the possessor of all!" and St. Paul's, "All things are yours; for ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's;" which rather recalls
Deuteronomy 32:9, where the correlative truth to
Numbers 18:20 occurs.
For the figure of the cup, see Psalm 11:6. It had already become a synonym for "condition in life."
Thou maintainest.--The Hebrew word is peculiar, and causes grammatical difficulties; but the sense is clear. God does not only dispose (cast) the lot of the man in covenant relation to Him--He does that even for unbelievers--but holds it fast in His hand. (See this use of the verb, Amos 1:5; Amos 1:8; Proverbs 5:5.) At the same time Hitzig's conjecture (tomid for tomikh), is very plausible, "Thou art ever my lot." . . .
Verse 5. -
The Lord is the Portion of mine inheritance. God had said to Aaron, when he gave him no special inheritance in Canaan, "I am thy Part and thine Inherit-ante among the children of Israel" (
Numbers 18:20). David claims the same privilege. God is his "Portion," and he needs no other.
And of my cup. A man's "cup" is, in Scripture, his lot or condition in life (
Psalm 11:6;
Psalm 23:5) - that which is given him to drink. David will have God only for his cup. Thou maintainest my lot;
i.e. thou makest it firm and sure (comp.
Psalm 30:6, "In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved").
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
The LORDיְֽהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel[is] my chosen portionמְנָת־ (mə·nāṯ-)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4490: Something weighed out, a division, a ration, a lotand my cup;וְכוֹסִ֑י (wə·ḵō·w·sî)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3563: A cup, a lot, some unclean bird, an owlYouאַ֝תָּ֗ה (’at·tāh)Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and youhave madeתּוֹמִ֥יךְ (tō·w·mîḵ)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8551: To sustain, to obtain, keep fast, to help, follow closemy lot {secure}.גּוֹרָלִֽי׃ (gō·w·rā·lî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1486: Lot -- a lot (for casting)
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OT Poetry: Psalm 16:5 Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup (Psalm Ps Psa.) 
