The Struggle is Real, but So is the Promise.

Psalm 16

1 A Miktam of David.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out

or take their names on my lips.

5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.fn

8 I have set the LORD always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole beingfn rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Thoughts on Psalm 16

- looking for protection? Run to GOD.

- David recognized that GOD is the source of any good that we have. What's good in your life? Thank him now, in this moment.

 

- A few psalms back we've gone from no one in the land seeking the LORD to David now singing about the saints, the excellent ones in the land. This reminded me of Elijah's statement that there was no one left, but him in 1 kings 18:22 and again on the Mt. top in 1 kings 19:10.

GOD corrects his thinking in 1 kings 19:18. GOD has 7,000 in Israel. Obadiah was used of GOD in 1 kings 18:4. Elijah was exhausted, depressed and wanting to die. It leaves you feeling alone and isolated, defeated. GOD gently reminds Elijah and us too that we are never alone. He is always there, the saints and excellent ones are also in the land. Hang on to GOD, go fellowship with some saints, be as the Psalm puts it delighted! Your not alone.

- the warning in verse 4, those who run after other gods, lesser elohim, will not be refreshed or delighted.

- you have a beautiful inheritance, a child of the KING, eternal life, part of the family of GOD. No eye has seen - 1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV — But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”

Beyond your / my wildest imagination.

- the LORD counseled David in the night. David also mentions his heart too. How do you know then? GOD's counsel will never contradict his word, they are one and the same. If your heart doesn't agree with the other two then your heart is wrong. 

- David reminds himself that the LORD is always going before him, giving him reason to rejoice, your not alone. See what David penned, he will never be shakened. I think this implies that the shaking will come. Jesus never said things would be easy, but he did say he will never leave us. The shaking will happen, but your not alone.

- verse 10 inspired by the Holy Spirit David penned that GOD would not leave his soul in Sheol or allow his Holy one (Jesus) to see corruption. Do you suppose when Jesus saw king David and all the old testament saints he sung this Psalm back to him/them, similar to what he did in Luke 4:21 - “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled (sung) in your hearing.”

- verse 11 reminds us what is to come - 

1 Corinthians 2:9. Why do we need reminding over and over again? Do not fear, your never alone, be of good courage, GOD has an amazing future for you. Why? because life is hard and all of us including Elijah, you, and I have short memories and this life is indeed hard, but GOD is right there beside you all the way.

My prayer is that we don't beat ourselves up, Elijah struggled and doubted, a man full of the spirit. John the Baptist struggled and doubted in prison, a man full of the Spirit. You, me, them, are never alone because he promised and his word is true. I pray that you find delight today.