Untitled Sermon

Psalm 16:8       

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved or shaken.

“Set” –

I have position Him; it is my responsibility to position the Lord in my life.  Not just anywhere, but right before me. So that I will be aware of His continual present.  I do the positing, it is my choice.  I can choose not to if I so desire.  It is all up to me. How do I position the Lord always before me?  I can’t see him physically, I can’t touch Him, He is spirit.  So how do a person position the Lord always before them?

                     i.       The Great Commandment – Mark 12:28

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [1]

                    ii.        Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

·        “Always” – consistency; not just when trouble comes, but always, at all times, even when things are going well in my life.

·        “before me” – location; in sight. When something is before you, you can’t help but see it.  You are always aware of its presents.  When you lie down it is there, when you wake up it is there, as you go about your daily activities it is there, why, because it is always before you so no matter what, you will not forget it nor ignore it.

·        “at my right hand” – the Lord’s

                     i.        A fully armed warrior would hold his weapon in his right hand and his shield in his left. 

                    ii.        The person to the right of a king would have the privilege of defending him. 

                  iii.        For a king to put someone there would be an affirmation of trust and therefore an honor. 

                  iv.        In contrast, when the Lord takes up his position at someone’s right han, as here, he is in a position to offer defense with his shield

·        “I shall not be shaken” – shall not be moved, I am firmly planted, those trouble may come, I shall not be shaken, no matter what it looks like all around me, I shall not be shaken! Why? Because the Lord is always before me, He is at my dominant position, always present; I am confident and secure, at peace because I have position the Lord before me always, He is at my dominant position

                     i.        I will not be swayed

                    ii.        Or not be secure and be at peace

                  iii.        Only who faithfully stand on the sure foundation of God’s Word can confidently say, I shall not be moved or shaken.

Psalm 10:6

He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall [2]

·        Only those who stand on the sure foundation of God’s Word can confidently say, I shall not be moved[3]

Deut 11:13-14

13 'And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Josh 22:5-6

5 But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."

Matt 22:37-39

37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'  38 This is the first and great commandment.

Luke 10:27

27 So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"

[1]The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mk 12:28–30.