How the Resurrection Informs Our Life

A Resurrection Hope

In this Psalm, David examines the goodness of God all around him finds encouragement not that he will escape death, but that even in death God will preserve him and give him resurrection life that he wouldn’t see corruption. Now, even though David will see resurrection, he also saw corruption since he is still lying in his grave and that would definitely cause concern for us if we didn’t know Christ. Because, if David is the King and Psalmist of Israel who is called the man after God’s own heart and God left him in the grave, than is there any hope for any of us at all?

Well, as you may have guessed, this prophecy wasn’t about David, but was about Christ according to Peter and Paul.

Peter, in Acts 2:22-32, teaches us that this Psalm is actually about Jesus Christ. He says, Acts 2:22-32

Acts 2:22–32 (NKJV)

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

Paul also makes the same argument in Acts 13:29-37

Acts 13:29–37 NKJV

29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’ 34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ 36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.

So, what does it mean for us that God has raised up Jesus from the dead? Paul actually addresses that question for us in 1 Corinthians 15:13-22

1 Corinthians 15:13–22 NKJV

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

So, what does the resurrection mean for us? It means that we who belong to Him have resurrection hope too! Now, that hope doesn’t just apply to some time in the future, but actually means something for our daily life. For instance, in Romans 6, Paul teaches us that since we have been raised from the dead with Christ, that means that we should not live under the dominion of sin, but live in victory over our sin by grace. Now, we could spend a whole lesson on that text, but for now I want us to focus on Psalm 16 and how the resurrection informs our life according to David and I believe we will find three things it produces in us.

Resurrection Life Produces Dependence.

A. Because He is over all things.

Psalm 16:1 uses the name “El” for God which is used to bring His omniscience and transcendence over all creation to mind.

B. Because He determines our lives. (5)

In verse 5, David seems to be pulling on two different things. First, he seems to be referring to the distribution of land in Joshua and how the Levites didn’t receive land as their inheritance, but God. David picks up on that here and says that it isn’t the fading things of this world, but God that is his inheritance. Second, David says that God is his cup which would picture a sovereign handing the king his cup. In short, David is claiming that he isn’t interested in the things of this world or the way of the wicked because his God is the faithful One who determines David’s life both now and forever and so he totally entrusts his life and trust to God. God is David’s great joy!

Resurrection Life Develops Gratitude.

A. Because all that we have is from the Lord.

James 1:17 NKJV

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

I think that right here would be a good time to remind ourselves of the dangers of grumbling. In 1 Cor. 10 Paul points back to the grumbling children in the wilderness and warns us not to be like they were

1 Corinthians 10:10 NKJV

10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

I think it is good for us to regularly look at the wilderness wanderings and to look at our hearts to see if we are any different than they are and what we can learn from their failures. You see, we are a lot like they were. They were wandering through the world and heading towards the promise land after being delivered and we are too. Jesus has led the Exodus for us out of sin and has entered the promised land and has sent His Spirit to strengthen us as we journey home. So, as we think of Christ’s victory over this wilderness, we should find our hearts full of gratitude as we remind ourselves that we are truly blessed people since we have Jesus.

Resurrection Life Encourages Devotion.

A. Because the way of the world has nothing to offer (4).

Verse four sounds a little like God’s sentencing to Eve in the Garden when He says He will greatly multiply her sorrows. But whether that’s the intention or not, David is trying to communicate that he isn’t interested in betraying his God and worshipping the god’s of this world. This may be referring back to his incident in 1 Samuel 26:19 where David is thrown out from his people and finds himself among pagans and still refuses to worship their false God. He might be alone, but he isn’t forsaking his God.

1 Samuel 26:19 NKJV

19 Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

B. Because the Lord has given us the way of safety.

Finally, in verses 7-8 David can’t help but to praise the Lord because the Lord has given us the word of God. David says that at night when he is able ot get away from the noise of the world, that his mind, or heart, is steeped in the word of God and that this informs his life and because of this, God is at his right hand, the place of protection, and so David isn’t in danger.

This is a helpful reminder for us to regularly find ourselves in the Bible and to be so immersed in it that it affects how we think and informs the decisions that we make in this life.