Division 8 (Cheth)
Blessing through having the Lord for the portion of the soul.
(vv. 57-58) The godly man acknowledges that the Lord is the portion of his heart. The immediate result being that he desires to do the will of the One who is his portion— “I have said that I would keep Thy words.” Moreover he desires to be in the favor of the One whose Word he obeys, “I entreated thy favor with my whole heart.”
(vv. 59-60) The desire to obey the Word, and enjoy the favor of the Lord, of necessity leads to exercise of heart as to his ways. Are they suited to one who has the Lord for his portion? Therefore, he says. “I thought on my ways;” with the practical result that he turned his feet unto the testimonies of the Lord, not reluctantly, but with diligent haste.
(vv. 61-62) The one who is set to obey the Lord will at once find that the wicked are against him; but having the Lord for his portion, he is steadfast and unmoved. However much evil presses upon him he does not forget the Word. At midnight―the darkest―he can rise to praise the Lord.
(vv. 63-64) Freed from the bands of the wicked he finds that having the Lord for his portion brings him into fellowship with others that fear the Lord and keep His Word. Thus in the midst of evil he discerns the mercy of the Lord, to find that it is greater than man’s evil, “The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy.”