God is our Protector. Everything good is from God. Delight is found in serving one another. Choosing to not follow God will end in sorrow. God will give us all we need, He is our inheritance, and we are sustained by Him. These are truths from Psalm 16:1-5 which we have learned. We continue to look at our heritage, or inheritance, in verse 6.
Psalm 16:6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
David is referring to the previous verse, Ps 16:5 – the full portion of his inheritance in Christ – and is giving his testimony of God’s blessings and faithfulness; He is witnessing to the truth of God’s love. The ‘lines’ are his measured portion or inheritance. David uses a term that is familiar to his readers at the time – measuring lines were used in the distribution of the land among the Israelites when their land was divided by lots. David’s lot, or life, is blessed with the presence and knowledge of God.
Consider the defining terms from Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary of the words and phrases in this verse:
Lines (chebel), a rope, a measuring line; by implication, an inheritance
Have fallen to me (naphal), to cast down, to be accepted, to cause, to present
Pleasant places (na’iym), delightful, pleasant, sweet
Re-wording the first part of verse 6 using the defined terms reads like this –
My inheritance in Christ has been presented to me and it is delightful.
David’s words in Psalm 16:6 are part of his testimony of God’s work and faithfulness. It is evidence of what he has seen; it supports the truth of God’s faithfulness.
In what ways do you see God’s faithfulness in your life?
What evidence do you have that He is working in you?
The inheritance we have in Christ is something we claim now and look forward to in the future. Through Jesus’ death on the cross we are justified – made right through His payment for our sin. While we await heaven, we are being sanctified – which means we are growing in holiness and one day will stand righteous before God. The testimony of God’s work in our lives is ongoing.
Therefore, we should be able to add to our testimony each day. David is experiencing hardship at the time of this writing, yet we see him looking to God with confidence and hope. He looks to God for his portion and happiness. He strives to focus on God’s blessings now and in the future. He attributes all he has to God, giving God the glory and honor.
If you are in God’s word, and enjoying fellowship with Him, then you will have recent testimony of His working in your life. You will be able to clearly see His hand directing your choices each day. You will be able to see His faithfulness as He blesses your desire to live for His glory. You will be able to see His love as He matures you in your trust as you walk through circumstances that are challenging.
How does the knowledge of God’s faithfulness affect your outlook on things?
When you think of the future and the place Jesus has secured for you in heaven for eternity, how does it change your concern for circumstances in your life today?
Periodically, our economy takes a nosedive. When this happens, most everyone is affected or at least knows of someone who is affected in some way. Either by the loss of a job, loss of income, loss of equity in investments, and so on. During these times, there are reports of individuals who become severely depressed, even committing suicide, because of their sudden losses. Many people have an inability to cope with the idea of not being in control of their future. This happens when security is placed in the things of this world, the stuff we have on earth.
Consider – what is the one thing that does not change?
How secure is your future? Are you able to support your answer?
“Our Lord was poorer than we are, for he had not where to lay his head, and yet when he mentioned his poverty he never used a word of murmuring; discontented spirits are as unlike Jesus as the croaking raven is unlike the cooing dove… The sense of our Father's love is like honey at the end of every rod; it turns stones into bread, and water into wine, and the valley of trouble into a door of hope”, The Treasury of David.
Psalm 16:6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
A heritage is something inherited. To inherit means to receive something when somebody dies, to become the owner of what was theirs to give.
What happened when Jesus died on the cross?
Colossians 1:19-22 For it was the [Father's] good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say], whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, [engaged] in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
What happens when someone accepts the free gift of God offered through His Son’s death?
Ephesians 1:11-14 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of [God's own] possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:18-19a [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Our heritage is described as beautiful. In Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, this comes from the word shaphar, which literally means to glisten. Our future shines brightly! There is no question to the outcome of our future. We have the assurance that it will be bright.
What is your response to this truth? How does this information affect your thoughts? Your actions? Your purpose? Your disposition?
