Read Psalm 16
A miktam of David.
1 Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
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.
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.
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,
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.
Go Deeper
We are made for life with God. Without God’s presence in our lives, we have an insatiable desire in our hearts for more. It might be more money, more pleasure, or more comfort; whatever it is, we think it will satisfy but it never does. We’ll always need more apart from God because our needs aren’t met apart from Him. But in this psalm we get to see what life lived with God looks like. Since David was a king, he could get whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it. All he had to do was snap his fingers and he would be given anything he desired. But in this moment, as he surveyed all he had, he realized that he truly didn’t want anything other than God. Indeed apart from God, he had no good thing (v. 2).
David isn’t the only one who felt this way. In John 6 after a hard teaching, many of Jesus’ disciples turned back and stopped following Him. Jesus then turned to His closest friends and asked if they were going to leave Him too. Peter replied to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68). Peter couldn’t fathom leaving Jesus for anything else because in Jesus was life itself. Apart from Jesus, Peter had no good thing.
This is the story of following God. The more you live with Him, the more you realize He is all you need. You don’t need all that this world is trying to throw at you. All of those things are just temporary pleasures– they won’t ever satisfy. The deepest joys and the greatest comforts will only be found in God. Your heart will only find rest when you give it to the One it was made for.
Questions
- What stood out to you about how David speaks about God in this chapter?
- Which verse in this passage do you most connect with?
- What distracts you from God on a daily basis?
By the way
This psalm is often called a Messianic psalm because it is quoted in the New Testament as referring to the resurrection of Jesus. Both Peter and Paul quoted Psalm 16 when speaking of the resurrection (Acts 2:25-28; 13:35-37).
4 responses to “Psalm 16”
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.
In skiing, driving, etc., where I fix my eyes is where I go! When I set my eyes on the Lord, that is where I will go!
Helpful song to memorize this passage:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2g3x4PpvoKY3jjS8vwdXwk?si=6y5z6hMvRI6IerFRFYemaA
I was curious what a “miktam” was as referenced in the subtitle of Psalm 16. According to Google, a miktam is a deeply personal, “golden” hymn of praise. David has experienced God’s deliverance in times of distress and showcases God’s guidance and protection. David understands who God is and how deeply flawed the human heart is apart from him. V5-11 are timeless truths to imprint on our hearts of grateful praise for our God.
I have to draw a circle around myself. That is what I can control. Outside of that, I can pray, discuss with God.
BUT GOD will, can and is directing my path. I lay it at His feet. I search His word. I know I have a joy that no one, and no thing, can ever take from me. I have been to the “other side” and there is for certain, without a doubt more to come. I am going from death to forever life that is more than you can imagine and I am so ready for that, when God is ready for me. On that “other side” God let me feel the peace that passes understanding. It was only a zeptosecond (is among the shortest time intervals measured). I want more!! I know that God gave me that due to the anxiety I feel about all things. Peace, all of eternity there will be peace. My eternity has already begun, I have that peace now, yet I somehow let the world steal it and that is where I have to get back into my circle. That is where God is “You have made known to me the path of life, You will fill me with joy in Your presence with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”
God thank You beyond thank You’s for that zeptosecond. Thank You for helping me to remember, always remember that You are what matters. You are my all eternity that has already begun. God I have joy in You, but I am struggling to keep the grief of life from stealing my joy. God I am thankful for Your word. Searching it, reading it, letting it comfort me. God let the scales of unbelief fall from my eyes. Show me from Your word, Your will. Thank You that Your word is lamp unto my feet and light unto my path that I am currently navigating. Thank You for wisdom, knowledge and understanding to walk into the minutes of this day. Thank You for me serving You with gladness through my job, my home life and my circle that is You. God help my words be edifying as I leave this holy moment with You in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!
Portion control is the root of most successful nutrition plans. That is why it is interesting what David states is V5: “Lord, you alone are my portion, and my cup, you make my lot secure.”
When the Lord is our portion we are satisfied. I pray that I practice some God inspired portion control today.