Psalm 16
Sunday 22 January 2023
“Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.” -Psalm 16:1
This Psalm was penned by David when he was running from King Saul who was attempting to kill him. David is hiding on one side of the mountain and King Saul is on the other side. While reading the whole Psalm we can see that though danger was as near as an arm’s length, David had great confidence in his God. Even in such crucial situation David has set his Lord always before him (V8).
If we look back in our lives when the days were dark and we couldn’t see a single ray of hope, were we able to put our trust in our Lord as David did? It may have been a breakdown, a deadly disease, a broken relationship, a false accusation. Jeremiah 32:27 says, “Is there anything too difficult for the Lord” but still didn’t we use all our power and resources to get things in our own way? Let this Psalm help each of us to learn how David put his confidence in God.
David’s confident declaration about the Lord
- V1 - in You I put my trust; Though David was almost about to be killed by Saul, he chose to trust in Lord rather than trusting in his soldiers or weapons. Psalm 33:17 says that horse is a vain help for deliverance. Whatever may be the situation, cast you cares onto the Lord and He will sustain you (Psalm 55:22)
- V2 – my goodness is nothing apart from You; David knew that at his very best – all of his goodness – was nothing apart from God. All our righteous deeds are like filthy garments (Isaiah 64:6); we have no good in ourselves except that which is given to us in Christ.
- V5 – you are the portion of my inheritance; God said to the priests in the days of Moses, ‘I am your portion and your inheritance’ (Numbers 18:20). David understood that this was a promise given not only to the priests, but also to all who would trust God.
Benefits of David’s confidence
- V9 – my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; He experienced great joy within himself. In John 15:11 Jesus reminds us that we will not have fullness of joy unless we abide in Him, and that involves keeping His commands and putting our full trust and confidence in Him.
- V9 – my flesh will rest in hope, You will not allow my soul in Sheol; David was confident about God’s care and blessing in the life beyond. Bible clearly teaches us that all those who believe in Lord Jesus will live even after dying (John 11:25). David was sure that God loves him and will not let him go to Sheol. God loves each one of us and so He gave His only Son so that we may not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
- V11 – You will show me the path of life; only God can show us the correct path of life which extends till eternity. John 14:6, Jesus says, ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’. Jesus says He is the only Way and He said it so affirmatively because He is the Creator, God himself. ‘I and the Father are one’ (John10:30). ‘He who has seen Me has seen the Father’ (John 14:9).
Let us be confident in our Lord irrespective of our situation. Can all our answered prayers be an evidence that Lord is on our side and our unanswered prayers an evidence that God knows what is best for us? Can we look forward to the eternal blessing promised to us? If we can, we will find the same gladness in our heart which David had.
Let us declare, ‘I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.’ Psalm 27:13-14