A MESSAGE OF HOPE IN THE MIDST OF OUR DARKNESS!
Psalm 16:1-11
INTRODUCTION: As the coronavirus began to spread across our world beginning in Wuhan, China in 2019 and spreading rapidly to every nation in our world it was interesting to see how different world leaders reacted to that new international challenge. Queen Elizabeth of England responded in a calm way because she had weathered decades of disasters. Remember, there is always a message of hope in the midst of our darkest moments! The story behind Psalm 16 is played out in 1 Samuel 26 where King Saul is in hot pursuit of David: 1 Samuel 26:9. David looked at things as God would look at them. 1 Samuel 26:13-16. This moved King Saul to declare his sin: 1 Samuel 26:17-21; Psalm 16:4-6. We must take the counsel of our God in these difficult days. Instead of focusing on the source of our troubles we need to focus on our Lord and His goodness to us with thanksgiving: Psalm 77:11-12.
I. REMEMBER WHO YOUR GOD IS!
Psalm 16:1-2: in these two verses we find three different names for our God: Elohim, Jehovah, and Adonai. David, even in the midst of his darkness and trouble reflects on the God of the covenant Who deals with all His children with love and grace. David sees the God Who is with him from his conception until the day He would take David home to paradise. David sees the God Who is the source of all his blessings: James 1:16-17; John 10:10.
II. SEEING GOD IN OTHERS!
David not only takes in the greatness of his God but David is also thankful for God’s blessings of good friends: Psalm 16:3. How long has it been since you let your friends know “that they are the excellent ones in your life?” 1 Samuel 23:15-18: Jonathon loved David even as he knew it would cost him the kingdom. Do your friends help you find strength in the Lord? Abishai risked his life to help David move forward to being the next king of Israel. 1 John 3:14; 1 John 4:7-8; 1 John 4:11-12. God has given us all a warning about choosing not to love others: 1 John 4:20-21; John 13:34-35. David tells us here that not everyone is a true friend to us or to our God: Psalm 16:4. We must be very careful of who we become close friends with: 1 Corinthians 15:33. Our God must be our closest Friend: Psalm 16:5-6. When we pray to our Lord to give us our daily bread: Matthew 6:11 do you know that He is our daily bread? John 6:35. David did have a lot of troubles but the Lord preserved him even with the most powerful man in his nation trying to destroy him. How can we like David keep our minds off our temporary troubles and focus on the blessings of our God? Philippians 4:11-13. The Lord longs to be your private counselor: Psalm 16:7; James 1:5; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 16:8.
III. REJOICING IN WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED!
Never stop being amazed at the Old Testament writers revealing future events. David here rejoices in what God has promised He will do about the resurrection of those who trust in Him: Psalm 16:8-10. God’s faithful One is not David it is the Lord Jesus Christ: Acts 2:24-28; Acts 13:32-37. Psalm 16:11: once again David is looking into the future promises of his God to him. Do you have that same hope in your heart today? Romans 10:9-10, 13.