Psalm 16
At the table of God
Introduction
Contrary to how I've titled this Psalm, there's nothing about tables here. Instead, David makes a lot of references to the seating arrangement at God's table. I'll elaborate a little later. Psalm 16 is written as a testimonial Psalm to God's goodness.
A traditional royal table would often have its' seats assigned in a way so that the king seats at the end of the table, with his most-valued man on his right. This man is often also a counselor to the king.
_________________________________
king |________________________________|
counselor
^ That was my horrendous description.
Summary
v1 Prayer by David for God to keep him safe
v2-4 God as the only source of all goodness
v5-6 God's blessing
v7-8 God's counsel
v9-11 Rejoice in God's eternal plan
Keep me safe, O God for in you I take refuge
David speaks this prayer in full confidence in God to keep His promise - to protect those who take refuge in Him. God does not reject those who turn to Him wholeheartedly.
David, in verse 2, declares God as the source of all goodness - and elaborates in verses 3 and 4 that for the pagan priests and nobles who many delight in, their sorrows will multiply, and David will not offer sacrifices or pray for them, for they have turned away from the Lord.
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure
David knows he has an inheritance from God (as God's anointed one to be king over Israel). He is happy with it, and is sure that he has a delightful inheritance
Today, none of us are king of Israel. However, we are through Christ made co-heirs of the kingdom of God. Our inheritance today is the inheritance of eternal life, and the joy of being in God's presence in time to come. This is God's blessing for us.
...the Lord, who counsels me.
Even at night, my heart instructs me. God is omnipresent in our lives. He speaks to us in many ways, one of which being our own conscience and minds.
David sets the Lord always before him. He values God over himself - affecting his decision making - God's counsel purely by His holiness. If we place God first in our lives - that is godly counsel itself.
Because God is at David's right hand, he will not be shaken. Here comes the table analogy. Strangely, David here describes himself as head of the table, with God at his right hand. Insanely arrogant? No. David describes it this way because he values God as his counselor, not because he is God's king!
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices
David rejoices in all these things - God's goodness, His blessing and His counsel. He rejoices that God will not abandon him to the grave, that God will not let him see decay.
Finally, David rejoices in God's eternal promise - that God will make known the path of life, God will fill him with joy in His presence, and with eternal pleasures at God's right hand.
Here David rights himself in his placing before God - to be at God's right hand, serving Him faithfully. He expresses his joy in God's eternal plan to bring Jesus to earth and rescue us from death. (even though he probably doesn't know about Jesus yet). David says with full certainty that God will save.
Takeaway
Do we take refuge in God?
Are we happy with the blessings God has given us?
Do we place God first in our considerations while making decisions, or listen to His counsel which he sends not only divinely, but also in our hearts and through the people around us?
Our greatest blessing is God's gift of salvation. Sometimes I question God's blessings for myself. Why can't I have this? Why is this good thing taken from me? It is very easy to lose track of what is of eternal importance and what are simply our worldly desires. I pray that God will help me keep my focus on His great love for us in Jesus Christ - not to be distracted by the things of the world.
What strikes you most?
At the table of God
Introduction
Contrary to how I've titled this Psalm, there's nothing about tables here. Instead, David makes a lot of references to the seating arrangement at God's table. I'll elaborate a little later. Psalm 16 is written as a testimonial Psalm to God's goodness.
A traditional royal table would often have its' seats assigned in a way so that the king seats at the end of the table, with his most-valued man on his right. This man is often also a counselor to the king.
_________________________________
king |________________________________|
counselor
^ That was my horrendous description.
Summary
v1 Prayer by David for God to keep him safe
v2-4 God as the only source of all goodness
v5-6 God's blessing
v7-8 God's counsel
v9-11 Rejoice in God's eternal plan
Keep me safe, O God for in you I take refuge
David speaks this prayer in full confidence in God to keep His promise - to protect those who take refuge in Him. God does not reject those who turn to Him wholeheartedly.
Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to youApart from you I have no good thing
David, in verse 2, declares God as the source of all goodness - and elaborates in verses 3 and 4 that for the pagan priests and nobles who many delight in, their sorrows will multiply, and David will not offer sacrifices or pray for them, for they have turned away from the Lord.
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure
David knows he has an inheritance from God (as God's anointed one to be king over Israel). He is happy with it, and is sure that he has a delightful inheritance
Today, none of us are king of Israel. However, we are through Christ made co-heirs of the kingdom of God. Our inheritance today is the inheritance of eternal life, and the joy of being in God's presence in time to come. This is God's blessing for us.
...the Lord, who counsels me.
Even at night, my heart instructs me. God is omnipresent in our lives. He speaks to us in many ways, one of which being our own conscience and minds.
David sets the Lord always before him. He values God over himself - affecting his decision making - God's counsel purely by His holiness. If we place God first in our lives - that is godly counsel itself.
Because God is at David's right hand, he will not be shaken. Here comes the table analogy. Strangely, David here describes himself as head of the table, with God at his right hand. Insanely arrogant? No. David describes it this way because he values God as his counselor, not because he is God's king!
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices
David rejoices in all these things - God's goodness, His blessing and His counsel. He rejoices that God will not abandon him to the grave, that God will not let him see decay.
Finally, David rejoices in God's eternal promise - that God will make known the path of life, God will fill him with joy in His presence, and with eternal pleasures at God's right hand.
Here David rights himself in his placing before God - to be at God's right hand, serving Him faithfully. He expresses his joy in God's eternal plan to bring Jesus to earth and rescue us from death. (even though he probably doesn't know about Jesus yet). David says with full certainty that God will save.
Takeaway
Do we take refuge in God?
Are we happy with the blessings God has given us?
Do we place God first in our considerations while making decisions, or listen to His counsel which he sends not only divinely, but also in our hearts and through the people around us?
Our greatest blessing is God's gift of salvation. Sometimes I question God's blessings for myself. Why can't I have this? Why is this good thing taken from me? It is very easy to lose track of what is of eternal importance and what are simply our worldly desires. I pray that God will help me keep my focus on His great love for us in Jesus Christ - not to be distracted by the things of the world.
What strikes you most?
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