The hope of everlasting joy Text: Psalm 16

Transcription

1 1of5 The hope of everlasting joy Text: Psalm 16 Introduction Psalm 16 is a Psalm of David. It is called A Miktam of David A Miktam was probably a musical or liturgical term So it was probably a song or Poem of David The Psalm is not linked to one specific event, but uses imagery from Israel's allocation of the land of Israel, and goes on to look forward to everlasting life in God's presence. 1. The Lord is our refuge v.1-2 v.1-2 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you. David speaks as if in trouble, in distress, or danger He prays that God would preserve him He gains confidence in his prayer because God is a sure refuge Hear the words of Psalm 46, a song of the sons of Korah: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. David relies on the Lord for his well-being He says to the Lord, You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you. So personal is the Lord to him! So satisfying is the Lord to him! David finds that he has no good apart from the Lord How about you and I? Is the Lord a safe refuge to you? Have you found the Lord to be a safe-haven in the troubles of your life? Is He personal to you? Have you found all your satisfaction in Him? May this be our normal response when in trouble: v.1-2 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you. 2. The joy of fellowship v.3-4 v.3-4 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. 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. David takes great delight in those who love the Lord

2 He speaks of the saints in the land God had called His people to be holy Lev. 20:7-8 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you. All of the people of Israel were holy in the sense that they were consecrated to God as a nation. However, that was no guarantee that each person would live it out faithfully So, David delighted in those who lived out their faith before God But, there were some who were following after other gods, idols David cannot delight in their wickedness He says that for those who follow after other gods and idols, their sorrows will increase David refuses to participate in idolatrous practices This should speak greatly to us on a number of levels We should delight with those in the Church who seek to honor and serve the Lord with their lives We ourselves should live our lives in surrender to the Lord We should speak up against idolatrous practices and encourage those who participate in them to repent and turn to the Lord May our fellowship with one another be full of joy, to the glory of God. 3. Content in God's provision v.5-6 v.5-6 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. David found satisfaction in God's provision Note that the Lord was his chosen portion and cup Ie. David's satisfaction was not primarily in earthly provision, in land and riches No, his satisfaction was in God Himself David understood that his lot in life was in the hands of God As the lines of the allotment of land fell for him, he was satisfied David considered it a beautiful inheritance We must ask ourselves, Am I satisfied with the Lord? Is the Lord enough for you? Are you content with what you have in life? Are you content with the arrangements of your life seeing them as providentially ordered by the Lord? May we, like David, say, The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 4. Delight in God's constant presence v.7-8 v.7-8 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. David delighted in knowing God's presence He praised the Lord for His constant counsel God's presence and counsel was with David all through the day and night David delighted in God's providential care 2of5

3 3of5 He placed the Lord before him He knew that the Lord was always with him, and so he was not shaken So we ask ourselves, in what is our delight? Are we delighting in the presence of God? Are we praising God for His constant counsel? Remember the words of Jesus as He spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-27 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Do we love God by keeping His commandments? Are we placing the Lord before us to guide us and counsel us? May we, like David, say, I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 5. The hope of everlasting joy v.9-11 v.9-11 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. We come here to a very exciting portion of Old Testament Scripture We need to remember that all Scripture was written by men as they were enabled and led by God to do 2 Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Pet. 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Peter quoted Psalm 16:8-11 in Acts 2:25-28 to show that David was speaking about Jesus in Psalm 16. Acts 2:22-33 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of

4 lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. The Apostle Paul quoted Psalm 16:10 in Acts 13:35 to also show that David was referring to Jesus in Psalm 16. Acts 13:35-39 Therefore he says also in another psalm, You will not let your Holy One see corruption. For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Sheol and Hades are references to the eternal abode of the wicked Corruption describes being far from God So, Psalm 16:8-11 is saying that Jesus always set God the Father before Him, to do His will Jesus was willing to go all the way to the cross for the sin of the world Jesus knew that God would not abandon Him to the eternal home of the wicked, or away from His presence forever, but would raise Him to life in victory over sin and death, to enjoy the presence of God forever. Of this we can be sure, if we are trusting in Jesus for salvation, we will not be abandoned to hell, but will be raised to eternal life to be with God forever. God will make known to us the path of life As we come to Him to be saved, we are saved But He also leads us in this life to live for Him In His presence there is fullness of joy And from Him come pleasures forevermore That is the hope of everlasting joy! Conclusion This morning we have taken a closer look at Psalm 16. It speaks of the Lord being our refuge. It speaks of the joy of fellowship It speaks of contentment in God's provision It speaks of delighting in God's constant presence And it speaks of the hope of everlasting joy Do you know Jesus as your Savior? If you do, rejoice in Him 4of5

5 If you don't, I urge you to come to Him to be saved Amen! 5of5