Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
We are given three promises in this verse.
God will make known to us the path of life,
In His presence is fullness of joy,
In His right hand there are pleasures forever.
Let’s look at these three promises with a careful eye to see, and a heart to understand.
You will make known to me the path of life
First, it is God, Jehovah, the Almighty, who is our source of understanding. Looking back to the beginning of this Psalm, some things we have learned is that God will guard us, He will keep us, He will counsel and instruct us, He is our source of strength, and He is our source of joy.
What does it mean that God will make something known to us?
make known, from the Hebrew word yada, meaning to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); …including observation, care, recognition; …instruction, designation, punishment; …to regard, to have respect, to be sure, to teach, to have understanding.
The path of life – Jesus is the path of life. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, we are redeemed. Remember this is a Psalm of David, a praise to God for His blessings. We read King David’s exultation in the mercies of God in Psalm 21.
Psalm 21:1 O LORD, in Thy strength the king will be glad, and in Thy salvation how greatly he will rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and Thou hast not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. For Thou dost meet him with the blessings of good things; Thou dost set a crown of fine gold on his head. He asked life of Thee, Thou didst give it to him, length of days forever and ever.
God will make known to you Himself – He alone is able to cause you to have understanding of who He is. It is only because of Him that you are able to understand your need of His gift of salvation. It is His work in your heart that makes you His child.
As God’s child, you have the privilege of getting to know God through His Word, through His care, and through His instruction.
We know God through understanding given to us by His Holy Spirit and through His discipline in our lives. As we are focused on knowing and understanding God’s will for us, He will lead us in the way which we should go in order to bring glory to His name.
In Your presence is fullness of joy
Presence, paniym, … the face…before…countenance…
Psalm 17:15 As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known.
In God’s presence there is exceeding joy. Full and perfect joy and satisfaction. This is the future which awaits those who trust in Him. Fullness of joy cannot be found in earthly things. We look forward to that state of blessedness where our complete focus and purpose is realized in God’s presence alone.
But for now, we can find joy in the blessings we have here. And we can be joyful for the future which awaits us and all those who have placed their trust in Jesus alone for their salvation.
Is there joy in your heart? Do you see God’s blessings in your life right now?
3) In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Forever, from the Hebrew word, netsach, a goal, i.e. the bright object at a distance traveled towards; perpetual
Forevermore – from now on and for all time; eternally; ad infinitum
Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Pleasures – “Our joys are empty and defective: But in heaven there is fulness of joy. Our pleasures here are transient and momentary; but those at God's right hand are pleasures for evermore. For they are the pleasures of immortal souls, in the enjoyment of an eternal God”, John Wesley’s Notes.
Think of forever and then add more. That is our time in God’s presence. God is our perfect instructor; He will guide us. God is our complete joy. God is our forever promise.
We have –
God’s protection,
His blessings,
His promises,
His love, and
His faithfulness.
We look forward to the certainty of being in His presence forevermore. How could we not be joy-filled knowing these truths?
Is your focus on the LIGHT at the end of the tunnel?
James 1:17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.
Psalm 27:1 ([A Psalm] of David.) The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?
John 12:46 "I have come [as] light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness.
John 8:12 Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
