the 16th Psalm : Daily in the Psalms Morning Devotional
Daily in the Psalms : Psalm 16
FAITH IN GOD
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
Psalms 16:1-2
These words personalize the Psalmist’s faith. Our greatest need is to know that we are personally in the sight and care of our God. Many times we readily acknowledge that He is the Creator of the world, but we also need to know that He also made us. We are more to Him than a drop in an ocean of humanity; we are the result of His individual love and care. He is the King of Kings and He rules the universe, but we must also always be aware that He is the ruler of our individual life. He is MY ruler and MY king! The Gospel is not merely as sign along life’s highway; it is a personal message from God to us. Jesus knew our name when He went to the cross to pay for our sin. He knocked on our heart’s door, waiting for that personal invitation to come in. When we say we trust God, we are forsaking and denouncing all other gods. Our expectation is in Him alone!
The Psalmist is saying that he has no good beyond the Lord. He is saying that the Lord is his help, his portion, his joy, and his all in all. What every pagan seeks in their many gods, the Psalmist found much more in the one true God. This was not a new or sudden experience for the Psalmist; this is something that he was accustomed to doing. He was not only trusting God at that moment, but he had been trusting Him in the past. This is not a momentary act; it was the habitual practice of his heart and mind. Many will readily cry out to God in their times of trouble, but spend most of their days neglecting Him. But He said in verse eight, “I have set the LORD always before me.”
IN OUR TIMES OF TROUBLE AND TRIAL GOD WILL HONOR OUR HABITUAL FAITH
The world’s refuges will fail when they are most needed, but the one that puts his trust in God will find Him always faithful. The world may look like it is ready and willing to help, but that help will soon fade in the face of trouble and danger. In the burning heat of trials, God is our best hiding place. May we rest in that place often.
WHEN WE REACH THE END, GOD WILL HONOR OUR HABITUAL FAITH
David trusted God all of his life and when he considered death, he had no fear:
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalms 16:9-11
When we make faith our habit, we make victory our future.
OUR CONNECTION TO HEAVEN
But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
Psalms 16:3
David says that those on the earth that trust God have companions in Heaven. They share some of the same qualities. How can we have the same excellence as those in Heaven? What right do we have to be called noble? Both are children of the King, we have been begotten again to a Divine and eternal inheritance. Christians are to show the result of the lofty (Heavenly) birth by the purity of their character and their conduct. We are not seeking earthly riches, but moral quality. The actions of the Christian are to be controlled by the principles of God. The stamp of God is to be on all we do. The faithful are spoken of in the Bible as “Men of whom the world was not worthy.” Some may see the rich, the educated, or the powerful as noble, but it is the grace of God that makes nobility. Those that live the highest life are those that live in the will of God. To believe in Jesus is to be lifted to a higher plane. The honor that the world gives its stars is a poor substitute for what the grace of God can do in a person’s life.
O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord…
Psalms 16:2
As a servant would swear fidelity to a king, the Christian vows his fidelity to the Lord.
IN THE HOUR OF DANGER, WE ARE STILL TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE LORD
IN THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION, WE ARE STILL TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE LORD
When our enemy comes against us and the world holds out its hand, we are to always remember, “My soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord.” The vow of fidelity is upon every child of God! In the most serious and important moments of our life, we must remember that we have pledged ourselves to God. In a time of excitement or weakness, we must not forget our glorious oath.
One day in Heaven my vow was heard
That day my life was bound to my word
Every day that renewed vow they hear
In blessing and in trial I hold it dear
To forsake it would be an awful shame
For it would mar Christ’s Holy Name
I want to reach the end holding my sword
With a record that was faithful to my Lord
The faithfulness of David to the Lord was not a quality given to him alone, it is the testimony of the whole body of Heaven. It is also the goal of every true believer, which is why those that love God will also love others that love God. This is what bonds God’s people together. The moment two souls trust Christ, the wall of separation of broken down and they are bound together by the cords of their love for the Lord.
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
Psalms 16:4
The Psalmist declares that not only will he not join those that seek after other gods; he will not even speak their names with his lips. He may be in exile, but he will still be loyal to His God. This is a clear lesson for Christians today. We live is a world filled with false gods and we must constantly check our loyalty, we must not show even the smallest approval to them. Great care must be taken that we always indicate to whom our loyalty belongs.
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Psalms 16:5-6
The simple message here is that the Psalmist knows that in the Lord he has all he could ever wish or hope for. His portion is enough and it is secure and everlasting. As Christians we carry a great Name, we have a great service, we serve a great King, and we have a great future. The motivation of every Christian is to depart from all iniquity!
THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Psalms 16:5-6
“The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup.” The Lord is our everlasting reward. There is nothing more or greater that we could ask. We have everything in Him! When we have the Giver; we have all the gifts.
“Thou maintainest my lot.” All our earthly possessions may be taken away, but in God we have an inheritance that cannot be moved.
“I have a goodly heritage.” David is saying that what God had given him was exactly what he wanted. Most today are seeking and doing all they can to obtain wealth, popularity, power, and worldly success, but even if they attain it, they are usually disappointed and unfulfilled. The knowledge, love, and service of God is a treasure and a joy that satisfies the soul. Our life is hid with Christ in God and is eternal. The man that falls in love with earthly things is wasting his affection. But rich and happy is the man who gives his devotion to God:
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalms 16:9-11
What a blessing it is to be altogether saved from the power of death and the grave. God’s people are never forsaken, not even in the tomb. We also have the exciting hope of another world. Passing from this life is only to pass into the glorious light of God’s face. The path of this life may lead down a winding road, through the valley of the shadow of death, but it leads right into His golden light. We are headed for a place where there is fulness of joy and pleasures forever more. We have this blessed hope based on our faith in Christ. Our victory is assured in Him.
psalms 16
So Glad To Be So Saved
Danny "Preacher" Bezet
Victory Baptist Church
1800 East Archer Rd
Baytown, TX 77521
Baytown's Home Of Old Time Religion