A MESSAGE OF HOPE IN THE MIDST OF OUR DARKNESS!

Psalm 16:1-11

INTRODUCTION: There is always a message of hope in the midst of any darkness we enter into. Psalm 16 is a recounting of David’s darkness during the last days of King Saul’s leadership of the nation of Israel found in 1 Samuel 26:9. David didn’t just look at things from his viewpoint. David kept in mind God’s viewpoint of his troubles: 1 Samuel 26:13-16. This moved King Saul to confess his sin: 1 Samuel 26:17-21. The words of 1 Samuel 26:19-20 almost precisely match the wording in Psalm 16:4-6. Psalm 16 reaches across the years to remind us in our time of darkness to reflect on the goodness of our God. Instead of focusing on our darkness we must learn to reflect on the blessings of our Lord in our lives: Psalm 77:11-12.

I. REMEMBER WHO YOUR GOD IS!

Psalm 16:1-2: David starts this Psalm praising the person of God for all the blessings He has brought into David’s life. In those two verses; David uses three different names of his God: Elohim, Jehovah, and Adonai. David praises his God for being with him. Our God is the source of not only all of David’s blessings but also of each of our blessings as well: James 1:16-17: John 10:10.

II. SEEING GOD IN OTHERS!

David first took in the greatness of His God and then moves on to his thankfulness to His God for how God has blessed his friends: Psalm16:3. Who long since you let your holy friends know that they are “the excellent ones in your life? David may have been thinking of his friend Jonathan, though he would never be king himself was such a blessing to David: 1 Samuel 23:15-18. David never had to be alone because God surrounded David with excellent friends: 1 John 3:14. Are you an excellent friend others can count on when they are in their times of darkness? 1 John 4:7-8; 1 John 4:11. We are warned about not loving others: 1 John 4:20-21; John 13:34-35. God’s spiritual principle is that we should never be alone. Sadly, David tells us that not everyone is an excellent friend: Psalm 16:4; 1 Corinthians 15:33. David said that God is his portion and cup: Psalm 16:5-6. Even so today, God is our portion and cup: Matthew 6:11. Our Lord Jesus is our daily bread: John 6:35. David had lots of trouble but he could say honestly: “surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Can you look back at your life and say the same thing today? We must learn the joy of true contentment: Philippians 4:11-13. Our God longs to be our Counselor just as He was David’s Counselor many years ago: Psalm 16:7; James 1:5; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 16:8.

III. REJOICING IN WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED!

We must continue to be amazed at the Old Testament writers revealing future events. David here is rejoicing in what God will do concerning the resurrection of those who trust in Him: Psalm 16:9-10. David’s body won’t be in the grave forever and Jesus Christ, God’s faithful One would never see decay: Acts 2:24-28; Acts 13:32-37. Here is David’s conclusion of his beautiful psalm to God: Psalm 16:11. What a might psalm. What a future David looked forward to. Do you have that same hope? Romans 10:9-10, 13.