“If the Lord is with you, you are safe.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 23, 2024
I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:8-11, NKJV
Life is full of joys and delights, as well as moments of unspeakable pain and loss. The longer we live, the more we know this to be true. Chances are, as you read these words today, you can think of elements of both joy and sorrow that are present in your life at this very moment, for rarely, if ever, is life entirely characterized by one or the other.
In the Psalms, we see this reality on full display, especially in the psalms of David. At times, we find him exhorting all who read his words to join him in rejoicing with great joy in the faithfulness of God. “Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You” (Psalm 5:11). On the other hand, we find him weeping over his sins and begging for the mercy and forgiveness of God (Psalm 51). And while both of these realities are true, in David we also consistently encounter a steadfast hope in the midst of suffering.
David’s joy is not circumstantial, only to be experienced in seasons of peace and harmony. No, we find him at his most hopeful in times of great distress, and therein lies the key for us in our own life with Christ. Take, for example, today’s passage from Psalm 16. Here, even when surrounded by those who seek to do him harm, David has an inner disposition of peace, for if the Lord is with him, he is safe. Hear this same truth spoken over you today: If the Lord is with you, you are safe. Though you may feel like you are surrounded, or that you find yourself in the place of the dead, remember this truth. He will not leave you there (Psalm 16:10) but will come to you, lift you up, and give you his peace.
“This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me.” (Psalm 49:14-15, NKJV)
Prayer
Father, remind us that you are with us, even in life’s most difficult moments, and that you come to us and draw us out of these places, even the place of the dead, inviting us instead to live with you in the joy of your presence, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Take time today to meditate upon this one line from today’s Psalm: You will not leave my soul in Sheol.
Related Reading
Psalm 4:7-8; Psalm 13:5; Psalm 86:13
Worship Resource
Bethel Music feat. Kari Jobe: Surrounded (Fight My Battles)
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