Sermons

Psalm 16    

Life In the Lord

Introduction

My life on this earth should be given to God and I long for life in God and Christ forever. 

This psalm teaches us how to be godly and it inspires our hope. 

This psalm is Messianic and ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

I.     My Commitment in life: to God Alone (1-4)

A.   God is My Refuge (1) “Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.”

B.   God is My Lord (2a) “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord’”

C.   God is My Only Good (2b) “I have no good besides You”

D.   I Delight in God’s People (3) “As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.”

E.    I Do Not Participate With God’s Enemies (4) “The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips.”

1.    Jesus warned against idolatry (Mt. 6:24)

2.    Paul warned against idolatry (Col. 3:5; Ep. 5:5)

II.   My Blessings In life: God Himself (5-8)

A.   God is My Inheritance (5-6) “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.  The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”

B.   God is My Counselor and Guide (7) “I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; indeed my mind instructs me in the night.”

C.   God is Always With Me (8) “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

III.  My hope of life in Death (9-11)

A.   My Joy and Security, Now (9) “Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely.”

B.   God Will Not Abandon Me in Death (10) “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.”

C.   My Fullness of Joy and Life, Later (11) “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

 [At the very most, David is only a shadowy fulfillment of this Psalm.  Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment and only in Him can we have this hope…

IV. Jesus is My Only Hope

A.   The Resurrection of The Holy One (Acts 2:22-32; cf. 13:26-39)

1.    David’s body decayed (2:29)

2.    David said these things because he was a prophet and believed the promises of God (2:30)

3.    David said these things about the resurrection of the Christ (2:31)

B.   Our Resurrection Through The Holy One (1 Cor. 15:1-4, 20-23)

1.    Jesus died so that we wouldn’t have to (Heb. 2:9, 14-15)

2.    In Christ we have the hope of resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-4, 20-23; cf. Rom. 8:11)

3.    Our souls will not be left in Hades (Jn. 5:28-29; 1 Th. 4:13-18)

C.   Jesus is the Ultimate Fulfilment of Psalm 16

V.  SUMMARY LESSONS

A.   God is Not Just the Source of Blessings, He is Our Blessing

B.   If We Live in God Now, We Will Live in God Forever (Jn. 17:3)

C.   God Will Do Exceedingly Abundantly Beyond All We Ask or Think (Ep. 3:20)

D.   Life is Only Possible in Jesus (Jn. 11:25; 14:6; 20:30-31)

Conclusion

Please personalize this psalm and make it your own.

Orient your life fully toward the Lord as we see in this psalm and as we ultimately see in Jesus.

Give your life to God now so that you will have life forever.