Psalm 16

Psalm 16

- This is a specific song of David that is written

- Hebrew word that is used to describe this is "miktam"

-- Literally a literary or musical term, refers to its content

- When we are discouraged we can rejoice in the Lord

- When we are feeling depressed we can sing to the Lord

- When we are facing issues we can turn to the Word for comfort

- As David writes this, see if you can hear the joy in his voice

- Stand and read Psalm 16:1-11 / Pray

Point 1 - Confess who He is! (1-4)

- Confession of the need for the Lord's protection

-- This puts us in direct submission to His authority

-- It allows us to remind ourselves who is God

-- It also confesses that we acknowledge who God is

- Very imp: When we come before the Lord we must have the right heart

-- A heart of pride, or rebellion, or sin ridden will not be heard

-- Proverbs 8:13, “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”

- When we look to the Lord as our sustainer, we see/feel His glory

- (v2) I have nothing good apart from you

-- Romans 7:18, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”

-- 1 Timothy 4:4, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving”

- Those who spend time chasing other gods will fail (v4) ... miserably

- It is a matter of setting our priorities on whom we shall trust

- This goes straight to the matter of the issue of FAITH we are studying

-- When we take the time to look only to God, we see the reward

-- The reward is the acknowledgement that He is all we need

Point 2 - Be content in God’s Provisions (5-8)

- God gives each of us what we are to have in this life

-- This leads to the matter of contentment and joy in Him

-- Looking over the fence never garners us God's best

-- His will is to treat you like His child

-- John 1:12-13, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God; children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

- Where God lays out the boundaries we have security and peace

- We must then even look at the bad times as matters of blessing

-- (v7) When the Lord counsels us it is in both good and bad

-- Even when we rest we see the counsel of the Lord

- Psalm 3:5, "I lie down in sleep, I wake again, because the Lord sustains me."

-- We have peace because of who God is and what He does

-- It is vital that we seek the counsel of God, always

-- But, when we seek it we must take the time to hear it

- (v8) All of our ways should be set before the Lord, because He is solid

-- The right side is the place of honor, it is a steadfast location

-- Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father

-- The senior officer walks to the right side of the junior

- APP: When God stands with us at our right side, we are secure

Point 3 - God's Reward is a Promise (9-11)

- What else happens when we have the Lord at our right side?

- (v9) My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices

-- It causes peace within, and praise to reign out of our lips

-- When Jesus calms the storm, it is calmed forever

- God promises to always stand beside us, when we turn to him (IMP)

-- This is the matter that we must take to the Lord always

-- To trust Him is the key rather than seeking to trust ourselves

- Let's look at one of the first Disciple sermons recorded in the NT

- Go to Acts 2:22-36 / Read

- When God makes known the paths of life (v11), it is forever!

- This is where our application comes to rest tonight

- Do we stand on the promise of what God has done?

- Or, do we stand on the promise of what we think we can do?

- David closes by (again) mentioning God being at his right side; "You fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

- When we have the peace of God filling our soul, what more could we need?

- There is wisdom in the Psalms ... We must take time to apply it!

- Pray