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refuge when all help failed, but David adds that the Lord was
his portion in the land of the living. Cheleq, `portion', has
reference to `dividing spoil', or `dividing an inheritance'. David
used the word when he said :
` As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that
tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike' (1 Sam. 30:24).
He had also heard the words of the men of Belial who had
cried :
` We have no part in David' (2 Sam. 20:1).
` What portion have we in David?' (1 Kings 12:16).
No man `knew'; no man `cared'; refuge had perished, but God
remained, and while God abides, He is the refuge of His people,
and not only so, but He is their portion, He takes the place of the
victor's spoil, and He supplies the place of the lost inheritance.
David could, then, boast in his sorest need and direst distress,
that he was `more than conqueror' through the Lord. Let us
beware of the `refuge of lies' (Isa. 28:15); let us not be cast
down when we look to the right hand and find `no man'; let us
cast all our care upon Him `for He careth for us'.
8.
The `secret place' and the `shadow'.
` He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under
the shadow of the Almighty' (Psa. 91:1).
It is evident that we have here in this first verse the echo of
thought which is so characteristic of Hebrew poetry. Let us seek
a fuller understanding of these wonderful words.