Psalm 16: Praise For Provision
Introduction:
• My grandparents on my dad's side had four children Thomas Earl, Jr., my dad, Samuel Lee, Sandra Jean, and Aunt Betty. My grandparents were amazing parents. When my parents married they were the first to have a child among my dad's siblings. That child was me. I was the firstborn grandchild and so it was with me that my grandparents experienced many firsts.
• Because I was there first, my spot at the Sunday afternoon dinner table was directly at my grandfather's right hand. I had a swiveling bar chair next to him. It was my place. Later in life when I faced difficulties, I lived with Grandpa. When I stayed the weekend with him, we would lay in bed and pray for all our neighbors. They taught me how to pray. In the morning we would wake up and watch cartoons. When I was hungry I was welcome to whatever was in the deep freeze or refrigerator, no questions asked. When I attended San Jacinto College thinking I might get a job as a mechanic, my grandfather bought me my first toolbox and set of hand tools. I cannot remember ever asking him for anything he didn't give me when it was in his power to do so. My relationship with him afforded me everything he had. He loved me.
• Today we will continue our reading of Psalm 16 and find that David praises the LORD for the provision that his relationship with the LORD gives him.
Recap:
• We began our look at Psalm 16 noting that it can be divided into three basic sections: 1) a prayer for protection (16:1-4), 2) praise for provision (16:5-8), and 3) confidence in preservation (16:9-11). In our last look at this psalm, we covered the first stanza. This morning we will look at the second.
• David begins with a prayer for protection, quickly becoming a declaration of confidence. Ask, and it shall be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened unto you. (Matthew 7:7). You have not because you ask not. (James 4:2-3). God does not despise your doubt. Doubt turned in the right direction transforms into faith!
• David found God to be a refuge and shelter against all enemies both small and great, both external and internal. He declared that he would be loyal to the One in Whom his salvation and safety reside. He renounced the idols of the cultures that surrounded him. As Christians, we find ourselves safe "in Christ." He is the One in Whom we have taken refuge. We like David realize that we cannot save ourselves. We need Jesus.
• After this prayer for protection, David moves on the praising God for His provision. This morning we will look together at verses 5-8. They read:
1. God Provides A Pleasant and Satisfying Life
5 O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain (or, uphold) my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
• In this stanza, there is a reference to the way the LORD gave the land of Canaan to the tribes of Israel. It was given by lot so that they would not think that anyone but the LORD was portioning it out to them. The casting of lots may have been like a lottery where it seemed random, but the Israelites believed that God was the one who chose. The LORD decided what they received. This should have eliminated envy and jealousy. We know that it didn't always work this way, even for the kings of Israel. The writer of Kings tells about the way Ahab coveted the vineyard of a man named Naboth and went so far as to have him killed to take what the LORD had given another. One of the realities of life is that if we place ultimate value in even the good things that God gives us and forget about the Giver we can easily become unsatisfied. Our ultimate satisfaction must be in God alone.
• The tribe of Levi was given no land. The LORD was their portion and inheritance. They were entirely dependent on the LORD for their living.
• Joshua 13:14, "Only to the tribe of Levi he had given no inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He said to them."
• Joshua 18:2, "But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance."
• Numbers 18:20, "Then the LORD said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel."
• Deuteronomy 10:9, "Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, just as the LORD your God promised him."
• Israel was initially called to be a kingdom of priests, not one that had priests (Exodus 19:6). In a very real sense, Yahweh was the portion of His people.
• Jeremiah 10:16, "The Portion of Jacob is not like them, For He is the Maker of all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name."
• He is also the Inheritance of the individual:
• Psalm 73:26, "My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
• Psalm 119:57, "You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words."
• Psalm 142:5, "I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living."
• Lamentations 3:19-24 "Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers And sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
• "Oh Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup"
• David realizes that, like the priests of ancient Israel, his real portion in life is the LORD.
• The metaphor "cup" in the Scriptures symbolizes one's destiny. It represents what one is given to drink in life.
Everyone has a cup to drink. And David says his is good because it is the LORD has given it and it is the LORD who maintains it.
• "You maintain (or, uphold) my lot." Whatever the LORD was to him, whatever the LORD gave to him, was made secure by the LORD himself. It is God who holds it--he grasps it, maintains it, makes it secure with his special care.
• "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance."
• All David can do is marvel at God's special care and goodness to him. He is in awe. He is still using the ideal of an allotted inheritance. The word "lines" can refer to the cords used to measure the portion of land allotted to individuals and tribes. It also has the idea of the LORD choosing, by lot in the words "fallen to me."
• David is saying as he has surveyed everything that the LORD has given him, the LORD Himself, he sees that he has the very best.
• There are echoes of this way of thinking in Paul's words to the Philippians 3:7-13 when he says:
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before..."
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The widowed, elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.
As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.
Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season, a season that he and his son had so looked forward to, would visit his house no longer. On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home.
As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.” As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man’s son had told everyone of his, not to mention his father’s, love of fine art. “I’m an artist,” said the soldier, “and I want to give you this.” As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the son.
Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture over the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task.
True to his word, the painting went well above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given. During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy’s life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart.
As the stories of his son’s gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.
The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation!
Unmindful of the story of the man’s only son, but in his honor, those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest gift. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many claim “I have the greatest collection.” The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent.
“Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s forget it and go on to the good stuff.”
More voices echoed in agreement. “No, we have to sell this one first,” replied the auctioneer. “Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a friend of the old man spoke, “Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.”
“I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?” called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice. Gone.” The gavel fell, cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, “Now we can get on with it and we can bid on these treasures!”
The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, “What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what’s going on here!” The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son…gets it all.”
Puts things into perspective doesn’t it? Just as those art collectors discovered on that Christmas Day, the message is still the same: the love of a Father, a Father whose greatest joy came from His Son, who went away and gave His life rescuing others. And because of that Father’s love, whoever takes the Son, gets it all.
– Unknown
• "In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead in a bodily form" (Colossians 2:9).
• "In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).
• "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)
• "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
• "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
• Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by Me."
• Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks unto God and the Father by Him!
• If anyone has the Son, He has the Father also!
• This is why when we are baptized, we are baptized in Christ's Name. When we receive the Spirit of the Lord, it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ, Christ in us, the hope of glory!
