1 Chronicles 6:77-81: a reflection

77To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its pasture lands, and Tabor with its pasture lands; 78and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands, 79Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands; 80and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture lands, 81Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.

In the list of the towns given to the Levites, we glimpse a distinctive feature of their portion: they were given towns scattered among all the tribes, rather than a single territory of their own, because the LORD himself was their inheritance. Cities with their pasture lands were given to the Levites out of the various tribes, the list runs, Rimmono, Tabor, Bezer, Ramoth in Gilead, and more, scattered among the tribes. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites received no large territory of their own; they were given towns among all the others, for God himself was their portion and inheritance. Their inheritance was not land, but the LORD. This shows that God himself is the true inheritance and portion of those set apart for him. God himself was the Levites' inheritance, not land. Those set apart for God have him as their portion. God himself is our true inheritance and portion. Our portion is not what we own, but the LORD.

Notice the distinctive nature of the Levites' inheritance. The other tribes received large territories of their own, blocks of land as their inheritance; but the Levites did not. They were given towns scattered among all the tribes, but no territory of their own, because, as Scripture says elsewhere, the LORD himself was their inheritance and portion. Their inheritance was not land, but God. This reflects a beautiful and important truth. The Levites, set apart for God's service, had God himself as their portion, their inheritance, their treasure; and in this they had the greatest inheritance of all, greater than any land. This points to a truth for all God's people. Our truest inheritance, our real portion and treasure, is not the things we own, the land or possessions we hold, but God himself. To have God as our portion is to have the greatest inheritance, greater than any earthly possession, one that cannot be taken away or lost. We can seek our portion and treasure in what we own, in land and possessions; but the Levites remind us that God himself is the true inheritance, and to have him is to be truly rich, whatever else we do or do not have. We do well to seek our portion in God himself, our truest and greatest inheritance. God himself is our truest and greatest inheritance. Our real portion is not what we own, but the LORD. To have God as our portion is to be truly rich. Seek your treasure in God himself, not only in what you own.

That is worth resting in, for God himself is the true inheritance and portion of his people, greater than any earthly possession, as the Levites had the LORD himself as their inheritance rather than land. We can seek our portion and treasure in what we own; but the Levites received no territory of their own, because God himself was their inheritance, the greatest portion of all. God is our true treasure. When you are tempted to seek your portion only in possessions, remember that God himself is your truest inheritance, greater than any land. Rest in the truth that God himself is the true inheritance and portion of those set apart for him, greater than any earthly possession, as the Levites, unlike the other tribes, received no large territory of their own but were given towns scattered among all the tribes, because the LORD himself was their inheritance and portion; for their inheritance was not land but God, which reflects a beautiful truth, that the Levites, set apart for God's service, had God himself as their portion, treasure, and inheritance, and in this had the greatest inheritance of all, greater than any land, which points to a truth for all God's people, that our truest inheritance and real portion and treasure is not the things we own, the land or possessions we hold, but God himself, so that to have God as our portion is to have the greatest inheritance, greater than any earthly possession and one that cannot be taken away or lost, and we can seek our portion and treasure in what we own, but the Levites remind us that God himself is the true inheritance, and to have him is to be truly rich whatever else we do or do not have, so that we do well to seek our portion in God himself, our truest and greatest inheritance.

Lord, in the list of the towns given to the Levites, I glimpse a distinctive feature of their portion: they were given towns scattered among all the tribes, rather than a single territory of their own, because you yourself were their inheritance. Cities with their pasture lands were given to the Levites out of the various tribes, scattered among them. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites received no large territory of their own; they were given towns among all the others, for you yourself were their portion and inheritance. Their inheritance was not land, but the LORD. Show me the distinctive nature of the Levites' inheritance. The other tribes received large territories of their own; but the Levites did not. They were given towns scattered among all the tribes, but no territory of their own, because you yourself were their inheritance and portion. Their inheritance was not land, but you. This reflects a beautiful and important truth. The Levites, set apart for your service, had you yourself as their portion, their treasure; and in this they had the greatest inheritance of all, greater than any land. This points to a truth for all your people. My truest inheritance, my real portion and treasure, is not the things I own, but you yourself. To have you as my portion is to have the greatest inheritance, greater than any earthly possession, one that cannot be taken away or lost. I can seek my portion and treasure in what I own; but the Levites remind me that you yourself are the true inheritance, and to have you is to be truly rich, whatever else I do or do not have. Take that to my heart, for you yourself are my truest and greatest inheritance, greater than any earthly possession. When I am tempted to seek my portion only in possessions, help me remember that you yourself are my truest inheritance, Lord, greater than any land, and seek my treasure in you, my real portion, rather than only in what I own.