| | What a welcome change of pace in the Psalms. Agony, anguish, sorrow and heartache dominate many of the psalms we have seen so far. But here David is sitting at the feet of his Lord, encompassed in his gracious love. His delight is in his God.
“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (vs 9-11).
David reaped the benefits and blessings of God’s right hand (“sure I have a delightful inheritance” and “with eternal pleasures at your right hand”). He treasured those blessings, but they are not the psalmist’s obsession. It is the One who gives those blessings. Listen to these phrases throughout the psalm.
“Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge” (16:1) - he honors God for keeping him safe.
“You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing” (16:2) - he knows all the good things he has received are intended to point him to the gift-giver.
“You have made my lot secure” (16:5) - his safety and security are from God.
“I will praise the Lord who counsels me” (16:7) - even his wisdom comes from the Lord and for that he praises YHWH.
“I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (16:8) - again, he knows he is safe and his foundation is sure because the Lord is with him.
David knows that in YHWH is his safety. In YHWH is the path that leads to life (16:11). In YHWH he trusts that he will not be abandoned to the grave (16:10). The blessings go on and on and on. He has received the blessings of God’s right hand. But all of those blessings are intended for one end: to point to the Giver of those blessings.
I wonder in my own life, how many of the good things I have received have I attributed to my own hard work or that I deserved it or earned it or even to dumb luck? When there, right before me, is the Lord, with his arms of grace open before me. Though I take the gifts, do I ever lift my eyes to the see the face of him who gives them?
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| | Posted 1/19/2007 9:18 AM - 68 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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