Protect Me, O God
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
I keep the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices,
my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol ...
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
-- Psalm 16:8-10a, 11
Theme: Intimations of immortality
Outline
1-4 -- The marks of the believer: God is the source of his well-being.
5-8 -- The privilege of the believer: the LORD is his fulfillment and inheritance.
9-11 -- The future of the believer: life in wonderful fellowship with the LORD.
Notes
• Affirmation of Faith
• Surely this psalm was among the psalms interpreted to the church by the risen Christ. (See Luke 24:25-27, 44, 45.)
• The promise of Christ's resurrection was seen in this psalm by Peter in his sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:25-33) and by Paul in his sermon at Antioch (Acts 13:35).
• Covenant loyalty (chasid) involves not joining in heathen worship (v. 4).
For Reflection
• This is one of four psalms (16; 17; 49; 73) that "contain the germ and principle of the doctrine of eternal life. It was present in the mind of the Spirit who inspired the authors. The intimate fellowship with God, which they speak of as man's highest good and truest happiness, could not, in view of the nature and destiny of man and his relation to God, continue to be regarded as limited to this life and liable to sudden and final interruption."1
• Verses 8-10 are one of the most precious passages in all of scripture. They were certainly dear to Jesus facing the cross, as they are to the Christian facing death and "the things God has in store for us." (See 1 Corinthians 2:9.) They should be memorized, recited each Saturday, the day Jesus' body lay in the tomb. "He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus."
• The psalmist cites at least eight great attributes of God (my refuge, sovereign [Lord], and so on).
Prayer
To know and trust you, Lord, is our greatest privilege and joy in life. Never let it come to an end! Through your beloved Son, who died for us and whom you raised and exalted, bring us to the fulfillment of your loving purpose -- life eternal with you. Amen.
____________
1. A.F. Kirkpatrick, The Psalms (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1957), pp. xcv-xcvi.
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices,
my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol ...
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
-- Psalm 16:8-10a, 11
Theme: Intimations of immortality
Outline
1-4 -- The marks of the believer: God is the source of his well-being.
5-8 -- The privilege of the believer: the LORD is his fulfillment and inheritance.
9-11 -- The future of the believer: life in wonderful fellowship with the LORD.
Notes
• Affirmation of Faith
• Surely this psalm was among the psalms interpreted to the church by the risen Christ. (See Luke 24:25-27, 44, 45.)
• The promise of Christ's resurrection was seen in this psalm by Peter in his sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:25-33) and by Paul in his sermon at Antioch (Acts 13:35).
• Covenant loyalty (chasid) involves not joining in heathen worship (v. 4).
For Reflection
• This is one of four psalms (16; 17; 49; 73) that "contain the germ and principle of the doctrine of eternal life. It was present in the mind of the Spirit who inspired the authors. The intimate fellowship with God, which they speak of as man's highest good and truest happiness, could not, in view of the nature and destiny of man and his relation to God, continue to be regarded as limited to this life and liable to sudden and final interruption."1
• Verses 8-10 are one of the most precious passages in all of scripture. They were certainly dear to Jesus facing the cross, as they are to the Christian facing death and "the things God has in store for us." (See 1 Corinthians 2:9.) They should be memorized, recited each Saturday, the day Jesus' body lay in the tomb. "He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus."
• The psalmist cites at least eight great attributes of God (my refuge, sovereign [Lord], and so on).
Prayer
To know and trust you, Lord, is our greatest privilege and joy in life. Never let it come to an end! Through your beloved Son, who died for us and whom you raised and exalted, bring us to the fulfillment of your loving purpose -- life eternal with you. Amen.
____________
1. A.F. Kirkpatrick, The Psalms (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1957), pp. xcv-xcvi.
