Psalm 16: a short reflection

Taken from the ESV translation...

A Michtam of David

 

1 Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge.

2 I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord;

I have no good apart from You."

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,

in whom is all my delight.

4 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.

5 The Lord is my chosen Portion and my Cup;

You hold my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the Lord always before me;

because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

in Your presence there is fullness of joy;

at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

These were the words that overflowed from a heart that truly believed in God... a heart, convinced that there was no other who was worthy of such confidence. 

"The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply..." - the psalmist declares with conviction (v. 4). He vows not to go down that path. He then proceeds to contrast with the bleak consequences of idolatry, the blessings of being in the Lord's refuge and honouring Him exclusively (vv. 5-11). 

Well, it is one thing to express contentment in good times, and quite another thing to breathe such words of faith during pressing times. The psalm suggests that the psalmist was in pressing times. Consider his plea, "Preserve me, O God..." (v. 1), as well as his statement of faith in v. 8. Definitely not the words one would normally use during times of peace and enjoyment! I really like how the psalmist sort of self-talks at random intervals. He does address God directly - but he also reasons with himself. For example, "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure..." (v. 8-9) 

These were words that must have inspired faith in the psalmist himself - as well as among the worshippers who read his psalms later on. I believe that such were also words with which God was well-pleased. 

I need to be mindful about the way I self-talk during my share of pressing times... and therefore the stuff I meditate on. Do I meditate on God's Word day and night? Do I think of His faithfulness? 

Self-directed sarcasm and self-condemnation will never get me anywhere. Neither do they please God.