Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you."

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

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.

The LORD is my chosen portion and my(G) cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your Holy One see decay.*

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

*All ESV except this line, which is NIV, because that translation shows more clearly that this verse is prophecy - God will not abandon me to the grave, nor will he let his Holy One, Jesus Christ, see decay. And we know that Jesus Christ did not see decay, but was raised again on the third day! And because of his resurrection, I have confidence that I will not be abandoned to the grave! Hallelujah!


These days I find it so easy to rejoice and thank God for the beautiful "inheritance" he has given me - living in the heart of Chicago, a wonderful church, a good education, loving parents, friends who point me to Christ, and a wonderful, godly future husband. But I notice that the psalmist starts by enjoying his inheritance, to praising the Lord for his counsel, to rejoicing the promise of eternity! He starts talking about what is good, goes to what is better, then to what is best! And here I am, rejoicing in the good!

I have asked the Lord to help me get my priorities straight, for even though I truly find my "inheritance" delightful, that is the least of his blessings for me. I thank him though, that he uses these blessings to communicate with me, to draw me to himself. I am able to understand how very good the blessing of counsel is when I realize that it is better than what I am enjoying here and now in my life. And from that, he teaches me that eternity will be even better than that!