Psalm 16

Masada, a flat topped mountain located in the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea, is 1300 ft high with sheer cliffs on all sides of the summit. Herod the Great built a palatial fortress there years ago which was used as a refuge in case of attack. Our refuge or fortress is not in a great big place like this, but in person. God himself is our refuge, our fortress, our "Masada".

Where David began in Psalm 16 is very personal and tender. Read Psalm 16:1, David's only request is "preserve me, protect me, take care of me, you are my refuge, my place of safety." Then he moves from a petition to God to a declaration of allegiance to God in vs. 2. David's statement "I have no good apart from you." Seems a little bit of an exaggeration. Surely there are good things in life outside of God: marriage, kids, health, good restaurants, great books, etc. Yes, these are all good things, but all of these good things are from God. Every good thing in the universe comes from God. Read James 1:17. Not only is God the source of all good, but when we desire these good things we are desiring God. We don't know it but we are, we are longing for God. We are longing to fill that empty place in our souls. This desire or longing is a gift from God, and you can ask to have that gift.

Read Psalm 16:3. David calls God's people saints, excellent ones, those in whom is all my delight. The saints are God's people; not God's perfect people but God's flawed people. God's stubborn people. David doesn't delight in them because they are "good" but because they are God's. Some of God's people are easier to enjoy compared to others of course, but there is a bond that is bigger that us. It is a spirit-produced bond, we are bound together as a body. We are bound together by blood, by the blood of Jesus. Because David delighted in God, he delighted in people of God.

Read Psalm 16:4. In contrast to God's people, now he turns to idolaters. Those who run after other gods will multiply their sorrows, that is the cost of sin it always hurts us. If we place anything before God it is idolatry and in the end always ends up hurting us. For us, the issue of idolatry is usually not some other god but something in life more important than God: career, money, family, marriage, children, hobbies, and the list could go on. Only God should be our God, remove anything else.

Read Psalm 16:5-6. David moves from petitioning to allegiance to now blessing the Lord. He says "You are my portion, my cup, my inheritance. All my good is in you. You have been so good to me." David had a choice, he could focus on what he had or focus on what he didn't have. We have that same choice. If we focus on what we don't have - bitterness and misery are close behind. If we focus on what we do have - gratitude and joy are just around the corner. It is our choice. Some of us need to work on cultivating a thankful heart, David had a thankful heart let that be the goal. Read Psalm 16:7. God himself if our counselor. Go to him first, rely primarily on him. He is the all-knowing, ever-present, ever-loving counselor. God may use human counselors, but ultimately we must look to God. Just imagine: Your own personal counselor. Ready to listen, ready to guide, and ready to heal at all times. No wonder David exclaimed "I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me." Read Psalm 16:8. What would it look like for you and me to always have the Lord before us. We would be thinking about Jesus frequently, we would talk with him continually, we would depend on him, we would live for his approval not the approval of others, we would fear him, and sing to him. We would become more and more preoccupied with Jesus and less preoccupied with ourselves.

Read Psalm 16:9-10. David says he has joy and peace as he looks ahead to death because he believes that God will resurrect him. But this statement was ultimately fulfilled in the Son of David, Jesus. Read Acts 2:25-32. It was a prophecy of the resurrection of Jesus.

Delight in the Lord. Let him be your refuge, your portion, your cup. Let him counsel you and protect you.

Discussion Questions
1. What would you say is the main rival for God in your life?
2. Take about 5 minutes alone with God and make a list of the things you are thankful for.
3. What could you do to encourage more of a spirit of gratitude to God?
4. What helps you to keep the Lord set always before you? (vs.8)