Go! And Keep Your Eyes On The Lord - Psalm 16:8 Series

Go! And Keep Your Eyes on the Lord - Psalm 16:8

Psalm 16:8 (NLT): “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.”

Introduction: A Picture to Begin

Have you ever tried walking in a straight line while looking over your shoulder? You cannot do it. You stumble, you drift, you trip. Why? Because your eyes are not fixed ahead. In life, many people walk forward while looking backward—at past mistakes, regrets, or pain. Others are distracted by the chaos of the present or the uncertainty of the future. But the psalmist David declares with confidence: “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.”

This is not wishful thinking. This is not a motivational poster. This is an unshakable truth anchored in the eternal presence of God, fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Today, I want us to see that when our eyes are fixed on the Lord, we can walk through the storms of life with confidence, courage, and peace.

The psalmist says: “I know the Lord is always with me.”

The Hebrew word for “know” here is ša?î (??????????) which carries the sense of “to set before, to place continually.” David is not simply saying, “I think the Lord is here.” He is deliberately, consciously placing God at the centre of his vision. He is choosing to see the Lord as his constant focus.

“Always with me” means at every moment, not just in times of worship, but in the battlefield, in the palace, in the wilderness, in despair, and in joy.

“I will not be shaken” uses the Hebrew mô? (????), meaning “to slip, to totter, to be moved.” It conveys the image of a foundation that will not crumble, no matter the storm.

“For he is right beside me.” This is the language of intimacy. David understood God not as distant but as near, personal, present.

And friends, in Christ Jesus, this truth is magnified—because Emmanuel means God with us.

Point 1: The Unshakable Presence of God in Christ

Matthew 28:20 (NLT): “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Here, Jesus—after His resurrection—makes the same promise David clung to: His presence is constant. But this time it is not a shadow, not a symbol—it is the living risen Christ who walks with us by His Spirit.

David, as king, faced enemies, betrayal, and trials. Yet he said, “I will not be shaken.” Jesus’ disciples faced persecution, prison, and death—but clung to His words, “I am with you always.”

The Hebrew concept of God’s presence (shekinah) pointed to God dwelling with His people. In Christ, God Himself tabernacled among us (John 1:14). Now by the Spirit, He indwells every believer.

Today, many live with fear—economic uncertainty, global unrest, personal struggles. Yet Christ’s promise stands: He is with you in the boardroom, in the hospital, in the classroom, on the bus. You are never abandoned.

Max Lucado: “You’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good.”

As Max Lucado reminds us, the presence of God does not mean the absence of pain, but the assurance of purpose. Like David, we can say, “I will not be shaken.”

Picture a child learning to ride a bike. At first, they wobble and fear falling. But when they know their father’s hand is holding the back of the seat, suddenly courage rises. That’s us with God—He is right beside us, steadying us, guiding us.

Point 2: The Unshakable Security of Salvation in Christ

Romans 8:38–39 (NLT): “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”

The Greek word for “convinced” is pepeismai, meaning “fully persuaded, utterly convinced.” Paul is declaring absolute certainty that God’s love in Christ is secure.

David’s confidence in Psalm 16 foreshadowed Christ’s victory. Paul, writing to persecuted believers in Rome, echoes this confidence—our security is not in circumstance but in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

You may lose your job, your health may fail, your relationships may falter—but if you are in Christ, you cannot lose Him. He is the anchor of your soul.

John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

When Christ is our treasure, our security does not depend on shifting sands but on the rock of His unchanging love.

During World War II, the underground church in Europe met in hidden cellars, singing hymns quietly, trembling not with fear but with joy. Why? Because they knew—even if soldiers took their lives—Christ had secured their eternity.