Psalm 16: Trust in Life and Death

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
The New City Catechism begins with a familiar remix: Christians are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ. Believers completely belong to Christ through God’s covenant faithfulness and are invited to trust Christ with all of life, even in death. 
 
Christian pilgrims know this Psalm points to Jesus to deepen our worship and trust in Him. Peter uses the second half of this Psalm in the first Christian sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:25-32) and Paul uses Psalm 16 to proclaim the gospel and prove Jesus is Messiah (Acts 13:35). Faith invites you to sing this song of trust, too. God is faithful to keep His promises. You can trust Him.
 
Trust in life is lived when God alone is our refuge, knowing apart from Him we have no good thing (1). Trust in God is exemplified when God’s people are our delight (2), God Himself is the inheritance we live for (5-6), and God alone instructs our steps (7). Sorrows grow when we trust another god (3-4). The Lord alone is worthy of our total trust.
 
Trust in death is guaranteed by the work of Jesus. Our life is secure in Christ today because we know Jesus will not abandon our soul in death tomorrow (9-10). Death has been defeated so Christians can live in victory and see the grave as a doorway of hope. 
 
Trust in the Lord follows Jesus on the path of life today, enjoying His presence both now and forever (11).
 
Richly Dwelling
-How does is strengthen your trust to see how Peter and Paul used this Psalm to point to and prove the divinity of Jesus and the fulfillment of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises?
 
-What parts of trust in both life and death highlighted in today’s Psalm compel you to trust the Lord more? 
 
-Where do you need to freshly see the covenant faithfulness of Jesus, that you belong to Him securely in both life and death, to live for Him more freely with all you have and all you are- trusting Jesus for strength today and hope for tomorrow?
 
Key Verse
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.