In the first seven verses of Psalm 16, we have learned –
God is our refuge,
All goodness is because of Him,
We are to delight in serving one another,
Denying God will end in sorrow,
We have an inheritance in heaven,
God gives us instruction, and
God is our secure foundation.
These blessings assume we have bowed to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, having placed our sole/soul dependance on the work of His death and resurrection for the payment of our sin. The warning of sorrow is for those who have denied God’s truths. The instruction in God’s word is given as a road map, directing God’s children how to live in a manner which brings Him glory. In an ever-changing world, God is our solid Rock, the hope on which we stand.
David is certain of the Lord’s counsel and instruction in his life.
How does he gain this assurance?
Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
First, David is focused on God continually.
Have you ever had something you could just not stop thinking about? Sometimes a tune might be going over and over in your mind or perhaps something someone said or did. In any case, these things present themselves with great frequency, almost without interruption. Here’s another way to think about this. You’re in a public place and amongst all the people; a fly decides you are the one it will bother. It persistently buzzes around your face as you swat at it, but it continues to bother you. This is a negative application of persistence, but the idea is the relentless reminder of its presence. When David says he has set the Lord continually before him, he is thinking upon God literally all the time. God’s truth is always before him, affecting each thought, each action, and every decision. God is his focus.
“ … so a faithful Christian man, whether he abound in wealth or be pinched with poverty, whether he be of high or low degree in this world, ought continually to have his faith and hope surely built and grounded upon Christ, and to have his heart and mind fast fixed and settled in Him, … never to lose sight and view of Christ, never to give over faith, hope, and trust in Him”, Robert Cawdray, The Treasury of David.
Isaiah 26:8-9a Indeed, [while following] the way of Thy judgments, O LORD, we have waited for Thee eagerly; Thy name, even Thy memory, is the desire of [our] souls. At night my soul longs for Thee, indeed, my spirit within me seeks Thee diligently;
Remember, the first verse of Psalm 16 says ‘for I take refuge in Thee’. God is our protection, our hope, and our strength. Our trust belongs to Him alone. But we must stay focused on Him. We walk away from the hedge of protection He gives to us when we follow our own will instead of His. In verse 8 of this Psalm, David knows he will remain in God’s strength because he has set his focus on Him continually.
Think back upon decisions you have made, words you have shared, thoughts you have entertained, and actions you have chosen that have not honored God. In every instance, you should be able to recognize that you were not seeking His guidance sincerely. We have a foolproof plan of protection from being caught up in sin. However, when our selfish desires beckon and we look away from the Light for just a moment – that is when we fail. When we neglect the necessity of our involvement in a church body, true Biblical teaching, accountability, fellowship, and loving correction from fellow believers, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the offerings of the world. Consider, most individuals don’t choose to lie, cheat, or steal, or even have an affair, instead they gradually convince themselves these things are okay, they justify sin because they are weak and have left themselves unprotected against Satan’s manipulation. Pride takes over and we begin to think, ‘I would never do that’. If you depend on your own strength, you are wide open to failure, and without Christ you will fall into the practice of sin just as the world does.
Consider, do you have close friends who will hold you accountable and ask hard questions?
Have you gradually pulled yourself away from fellowship thinking you don’t need it?
Do you convince yourself you are doing okay on your own?
Are you unable to forgive others for their offenses against you, and you remain isolated because of this?
In all these situations, if you answer yes, you are doing a good job at leaving yourself vulnerable and you are thinking too highly of yourself when you say you are okay without fellowship and serving alongside other believers. There is a reason God set up our church family with each individual offering different strengths and talents. Together we make a whole.
In John Wesley’s Notes regarding the words ‘I have set’, he says it means ‘I have always presented him [the Lord] to my mind, as my witness and judge, as my patron and protector’… Christ as man did always set his father's will and glory before him.
Acts 2:25, “For David says of Him, ‘I WAS ALWAYS BEHOLDING THE LORD IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN’.
We are to always consider God in all circumstances. Notice the constant reliance upon God. This is different than only seeking His help when we encounter trials or praising His name when we recognize blessings. We need to be discerning in our words, thoughts, and actions. For instance, my husband was a college professor for almost forty years. He always left his office door open when he met with a female student. He never wanted to give any appearance that would mar his Christian profession.
“David did not by fits and starts set the Lord before him; but he "always" set the Lord before him in his course; he had his eye upon the Lord, and so much the Hebrew word imports: I have equally set the Lord before me; that is the force of the original word, that is, I have set the Lord before me, at one time as well as another, without any irregular affections or passions, etc. In every place, in every condition, in every company, in every employment, and in every enjoyment, I have set the Lord equally before me; and this raised him, and this will raise any Christian, by degrees, to a very great height of holiness”, Thomas Brooks in The Treasury of David.
If you are of an older generation, you may remember the commercial for Calgon, a foaming milk bath. In the 1970-1980’s, the “Calgon Take Me Away” campaign focused on a moment of relaxation from the world’s cares. These advertisements were very successful, in large part because people could relate to the stresses of life. The flesh response to trouble is to be shaken and become disengaged; to run away from circumstances when it becomes difficult. The believer’s response to trouble is to be strengthened in their dependence on Christ and trust in His protection and plan.
The example we have from the Psalmist is to set our sights on the Lord. Christ, while on this earth, kept his eyes and purpose set on His Father’s will. “David might perhaps have some regard to his own hope and experience in these verses: but doubtless Christ was especially intended. – As man, He relied on the power, truth, love and promise of the Father: therefore He was not moved in His deepest sufferings; but “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, and despised the shame”, Thomas Scott.
How easy is it for us to lose our focus on what is truly important?
Setting our eyes on Jesus is a purposed effort. It is a choice we can make because His Spirit is working in us giving us the strength and desire to do God’s will. When something doesn’t go as expected we can either focus on the problem or we can remember our true purpose on this earth. If we are determined to honor God, we will look at the perfect example of His Son. He came to serve – not Himself, but others, and to do the will of His Father in heaven. Jesus is the example of holiness we are to follow.
If we constantly keep our eyes on Jesus, we will not fall off the course He has intended for us. There is great value in receiving counsel from God’s word and God’s children.
God has a perfect design for His creation and His children. Consider this, a marathon runner keeps their eyes on the goal of finishing. Along the trail, they may become weary, they may be injured, or even take a wrong turn. Those who finish keep going, they do not lose sight of the purpose and they push forward through all kinds of difficulty. We can trust that God will guard our steps and give us the strength to follow Him.
The things we put in our mind often are the things which affect us most. When my thoughts are on Jesus, my heart will be turned towards His promises, His faithfulness, His strength, and His purpose for my life.
Isaiah 26:8 Indeed, [while following] the way of Thy judgments, O LORD, we have waited for Thee eagerly; Thy name, even Thy memory, is the desire of [our] souls.
When my eyes are on God as my protector, I will not be shaken; with my eyes on God as my purpose, I will stay the course. Are you willing to ask the Holy Spirit moment by moment to be your guide in all Truth and wisdom? What do the priorities in your life say about you? Are there things that have captured your interest and are bigger and more important than your relationship with God?
Psalm 73:24-25 With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven [but Thee]? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth.
Second, David gains the assurance of God’s help through God’s strength. Because the Lord is at his right hand, he will not be shaken.
Being at the right hand of someone implies strength. God is the strength that causes David to stay on course, to be steadfast. With God’s presence and His help, we can be certain that we are safe and secure. As God’s children we can trust in Him to guard us. When we stay focused on Him, desiring to please Him in all things, we will not fail.
Psalm 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast taken hold of my right hand.
Psalm 62:6-7 He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory [rest]; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Psalm 121:5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
Through all circumstances we are to keep God’s will and glory in our sight. We have the assurance of His presence and help in our trials to strengthen and guide us. We are promised a future in heaven with our Savior and Lord.
The Lord is our confidence on earth and our certain hope of heaven.
Psalm 62:5-7 My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.
All because of Jesus.
