Day 94: Psalm 16- All In

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.

Meditation
Zero Risk Bias is used to describe people in the COVID19 crisis who horde items during societal panic. Feeling out of control people seek to grab a tangible item to gather in order to feel in control and give the perception of minimizing risk. Like the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-30) we tend to trust what we can see and store. 

Psalm 16 describes trusting the Lord more than what we see and can store up. The descriptions of the Lord display the dependency of the worshipper. The Lord is refuge, (1) total Good, (2) delight, (3) portion, and provider. (5) 

The blessings for the one who seeks security through faith in the Lord are clearly articulated in the second half of the Psalm. The Lord is a pleasant place (6) and our hearts find peace in His council. (7) In Him we will not be shaken (8) but will rejoice with glad hearts. (9) By faith we know the Lord will not abandon us (10) and He will reveal the path of life, a fullness of joy! (11)

Grace invites us to let go of what we see and try to store up, and to return to the Lord instead. Only He provides what our hearts cry out for! The Rich young ruler walked away from Jesus but Jesus walked to the cross. Jesus lost control, giving Himself to die in the place of those who idolatrously grab things other than Him in seeking to minimize risk. True security is found only in Him! 

Richly Dwelling
-Do you see how your heart gravitates to “zero risk bias” through trying to find control through that which we can see and store?

-Which descriptions of being all in with the Lord from the first half of the Psalm are most compelling? Which promises of blessing in the second half of the Psalm are most inviting?

-The gospel is that Jesus lost control to die for the Church, loving us while we were not willing to trust Him by dying on our behalf. His grace compels us to return and discover all we long for in Him. Will you find your joy in HIM?

Key Verse
 10-11a For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy.