I cried unto thee, O Lord - When there was no help; when I saw myself encompassed with dangers; when I looked on every hand and there was no “man” that would undertake for me.
I said, Thou art my refuge -
(a) My “only” refuge. I can go nowhere else.
(b) Thou art “in fact” my refuge. I can and do put my trust in thee. See the notes at Psalms 46:1.
And my portion - See the notes at Psalms 16:5.
In the land of the living - Among all those that live - all living beings. There is no one else among the living to whom I can come but to thee, the living God. My hope is not in human beings, for they are against me; not in angels, for they have not the power to rescue me. It is God only, the living God, whom I make my confidence and the ground of my hope.