In Psalm 16, up against mounting adversity, David rejoices in the Lord! He does so through recounting the blessings of following God in life. Further, through thoughts of the glory to come after death. Let’s approach this psalm with three headings: v.1 - Requesting Preservation vv.2-6 - Realizing Position vv.7-11 - Rejoicing in Potential This is King David, on God’s Preservation. Requesting Preservation, v.1. In v.1 David makes a statement of trust as he requests that God preserve him. (1) We do not know exactly what was before the King at this time…He is likely in crisis, given the request. Wiersbe thinks not — “Preserve me doesn’t suggest that David was in trouble or danger…It simply means that he needed God’s constant care and oversight so that he might honor the Lord and enjoy all the good things that only God could give him.” We do find two issues before him in this chapter: v.4 - Those practicing idolatry. v.10 - The potential of death. Still, he makes a plea for help. And in doing, we can see just how he handles the situation. The prayer is simple. Preserve me, O God. My trust is in you. What a wonderful pattern of prayer for us to consider. We pray for much and about much … But, at times, this might just be the very best thing for us to pray. Simply. God, I trust in You. Please preserve me. The Hebrew word used means: keep, watch over, guard. This is a simple prayer, but useful, and powerful. The prayer is confident. David’s request for preservation includes a statement of total reliance. The one true God is his God — Lord — and David is fully trusting in Him! That Hebrew word for trust is “to take refuge”. To seek and find a shelter. This is more than just a request — it is a statement of confident faith. Realizing Position, v.2-6. In vv.2-6 there are statements of “faith”. Statements of confidence. David notes his realization of his standing with God. He, in the midst of requesting preservation, realizes his position. v.2- David, talking to himself says: I have said to God, you are my Lord. That seems worded oddly in English. From the Hebrew it would more clearly read: I said to Yahweh (Jehovah - the one true God), You are master (a-don-ai, LORD). Boice explains, “Adonai can designate an earthly Lord as well as God. So when the psalmist says, as he does, “I said to the Lord [Jehovah], ‘You are my Lord [Adonai],’ ” he is saying that the God of Israel is his master.” “…God is not only the strong, powerful God in whom he can take refuge but also the one who is able to—and does—order his life and direct what he should do.” I have no good past what I have in You! This is a statement to say that God is the ultimate good! He is the source that makes all other lesser goods possible. Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” God was his all, his security, his satisfaction, his one and only good thing. David is telling himself as he prays — that his well being is totally dependent upon God. Psalm 73:25-26, “ 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” James 1:17, “Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Matthew 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” David’s realized position in v.2 is, with God as refuge, redeemer, and Lord, nothing else can ever mean as much as God does. Our relationship to self, circumstance, others, even the future depends on our relationship with God. Ills: J. Vernon McGee, when preaching this passage illustrated v.2 with grandchildren! “I have a little grandson, and you cannot imagine what it means to an old man to have his grandson crawl up in his lap, put his little arms around him, and say, “You are my grandpa.” It is quite wonderful. And we have a heavenly Father who made us in His image, and I am of the opinion He likes us to come to Him and tell Him, “You are my Lord.” v.3-4 contrasts Saints and Sinners. God’s people and those who serve idols. Certainly David’s realized position is that of a saint — one of God’s people — those who trust in Him and serve Him. Thus, it follows (3) that these are those to whom he is drawn. Those, he is the most comfortable around. How about you? Where do you find yourself at this point in life? Do you love other Christians? Do you find it good and rewarding to be with them? Do you seek their company? Do you find it uncomfortable to be with those who sin openly? Are you troubled by their values, shocked by their desires, outraged by their blasphemies? Or are you at ease among them? (Abbr. Boice) “When we love God as we should, we will love those around us as we should.” (Williams) David’s realized position among the saints can be a simple test for us. Those who love God will love the fellowship of those who also love Him. Those who find their “delight” in God will also find delight in those who likewise seek Him. We do not live the Christian life alone! *In contrast (v.4), David will have nothing to do with those who do not serve the one true God. * We often create a third category, but this is a good reminder. There are those who serve God and those who do not. There is no in between. It is easy to rationalize in our minds, “well, they aren’t bad people…they just don’t hold God to the same level I do.” Not true! There are no good people. We are all bad. Those who do not serve God are idol worshippers. Their sorrows will be multiplied. How? Multiplied gods, only bring multiplied sorrows. Matthew Henry said, “They that multiply gods multiply griefs to themselves; for whosoever thinks one god too little, will find two too many, and yet hundreds not enough.” David says, “I will not take part in their blood sacrifices, nor speak the names of their false gods.” This is not a call to be isolationists, God has left us in this world to be salt and light … But we must be careful not to be defiled by their sins. James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 4:4b, “…know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Rom. 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” David’s realized position is with God’s people! In vv.5-6- David writes of his lot, portion, cup, his inheritance. You can go back and forth with what exactly he is referring to: Certainly portion, lot, and lines bring to mind the promised inheritance of the land for God’s people. Then, when cup enters in — portion and cup bring to mind daily bread — God’s provision. A third route to think of this is both — the land provides the bread. All in all, the clue is found in the first words of v.5. THE LORD! Whether possession, land, lineage, sustenance, etc. David is content with his God! God is his inheritance, his portion, his cup, his boundary lines! He is content with all the goodness that he has in his life and attributes this to his being in the family of God. Wiersbe said, “To possess great wealth but not have the Lord is poverty indeed, and to enjoy the gifts but ignore the Giver is wickedness indeed.” Realized Position: All good comes from God, We have a place among God’s people, We have God! Rejoicing in Potential, v.7-11. In vv.7-11 we find 7 terms of worship in response to 10 potential hopes or causes for rejoicing. Worship: v.7, bless the Lord. v.8, set the Lord before me. v.9, heart is glad. v.9, glory rejoiceth. v.9, rest in hope. v.11, fullness of joy. v.11, pleasures evermore. Potential that gives Hope: Counsel. (7) Settled heart. (7) Sure foundation. (8) Rest in hope. (9) Not going to hell. (10) Not see corruption. (10) Will show the path of life. (11) God’s presence. (11) Fullness of joy. (11) Pleasures evermore. (11) David’s worship is grounded in his knowledge of God. His Doxology is led by his Theology. And because of this he can rejoice in potential — the hope of that which is still to come! He is requesting preservation, but he can realize his position, leaving him to rejoice in potential. Conclusion: Thomas Brooks said, “Hope can see heaven through the thickest clouds.” We can trust in our God for His Preservation! vv.9-11, Trust is rejoicing in the Lord. vv.7-8, Trust is learning from the Lord. vv.5-6, Trust is delight in the Lord. vv.3-4, Trust is devotion to the Lord. vv.1-2, Trust is reliance on the Lord. (Sproul)