Post by foxjj on Jan 5, 2024 8:56:42 GMT
Psalm 16 - NIV
Psalm 16 is referred to as a Miktam of David, which is commonly understood to mean a writing of David. The psalm is a wonderful expression of confidence in the faithfulness of The Almighty. Portions of this psalm point forward to the ministry of Jesus and are referred to in the New Testament. Verse one opens with a profound prayer from the heart. It is the expression of one with an experiential knowledge of the faithfulness of The Sovereign Lord. It is also a verse of which we can all take as our own prayer in this uncertain world:
“Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.”
Verse two expresses an assured confidence of a personal relationship with The Lord. A sure reliance upon the One who is ever in our lives:
“I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
David now speaks of his joy in associating with fellow believers in contrast to his distant of those who reject Yahweh and follow after false gods:
“3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.”
Verse’s 3 and 4 are important examples for believers in today’s world, especially when we remember the instructions of Leviticus 20:7-8:
“7 “‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. 8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”
The psalm continues with the Psalmist still sharing his prayer. A prayer of which we can make our own:
“5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
Content with the circumstances of our life, we know that we can call upon The Lord’s guidance in all situations because, He cares for each one:
“7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,”
Verse’s 10 and 11 state the assurance of the afterlife for all believers. For David and the people of his time, Yahweh had given them the Law as a path to life:
“10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
In his sermon at Pentecost, Peter proclaimed the reality of David’s faith in the afterlife:
“29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”- Acts 2:29-32.
Paul also wrote of the promised resurrection of believers through our Saviour Jesus Christ:
“20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”- 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.
Today,let us give thanks for our new life in Christ Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.
Psalm 16 is referred to as a Miktam of David, which is commonly understood to mean a writing of David. The psalm is a wonderful expression of confidence in the faithfulness of The Almighty. Portions of this psalm point forward to the ministry of Jesus and are referred to in the New Testament. Verse one opens with a profound prayer from the heart. It is the expression of one with an experiential knowledge of the faithfulness of The Sovereign Lord. It is also a verse of which we can all take as our own prayer in this uncertain world:
“Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.”
Verse two expresses an assured confidence of a personal relationship with The Lord. A sure reliance upon the One who is ever in our lives:
“I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
David now speaks of his joy in associating with fellow believers in contrast to his distant of those who reject Yahweh and follow after false gods:
“3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.”
Verse’s 3 and 4 are important examples for believers in today’s world, especially when we remember the instructions of Leviticus 20:7-8:
“7 “‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. 8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”
The psalm continues with the Psalmist still sharing his prayer. A prayer of which we can make our own:
“5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
Content with the circumstances of our life, we know that we can call upon The Lord’s guidance in all situations because, He cares for each one:
“7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,”
Verse’s 10 and 11 state the assurance of the afterlife for all believers. For David and the people of his time, Yahweh had given them the Law as a path to life:
“10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
In his sermon at Pentecost, Peter proclaimed the reality of David’s faith in the afterlife:
“29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”- Acts 2:29-32.
Paul also wrote of the promised resurrection of believers through our Saviour Jesus Christ:
“20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”- 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.
Today,let us give thanks for our new life in Christ Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.