In Your Presence

Hopefully I will be out of self-isolation soon. I have been fever free and feeling better (still some lingering things, but that is to be expected). It’s been a bit frustrating with the differing information that comes out from doctors or the CDC - is it 72 hours, is it 7 days, or 14 days even? It’s all a bit confusing, and I will say the lack of ability to get tested seems to be something that needs to be remedied in our country. However, I am grateful that whether I contracted CoV-19 or had a bad summer cold mixed with allergies that this is all the worse it got. I realize it has been much worse for a good number of people and we need to continue to pray for this virus to dissipate, for people to recover, and for our health care workers who are on the front lines.

This morning I turn to one of my favorite Psalms - Psalm 16.

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.

One would be hard pressed to find a better confession that verse 2: “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” David understood this throughout his life. He was a man who made many mistakes. He certainly wasn’t the true hero. But he did learn that God was his sure and certain source of good…he learned what it was to trust in God. And we can see that throughout this entire psalm in different facets of life. David relys on the Lord, delights in Him, learns from Him, rejoices in Him. Take some time and meditate on the language of this psalm and see what it is to trust in the Lord.

You see this trust culminate in the final verses when David has such confidence that he will not even rot in the grave. The way that is true is because this also speaks of One greater than David…of Jesus. And because of His resurrection from the dead those who trust in Him will also not be abandoned. As believers in Christ we have been raised with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places - at the right hand of the Father (cf. Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:1-4). And there we will know true fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore - but even now we live in the presence of God (His Spirit dwells in us) and experience the first fruits of that joy. Our joy is one that is everlasting because we know that God will never abandon us and has set us on the path of life.

For your listening pleasure today - Shane & Shane - Psalm 16.