We Have Joy in the Risen Hand of the Lord Jesus based on Psalm 16:1-11

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed alleluia!

During the Wednesdays of Lent and in Holy Week we have looked at the idea of the hand of the Lord. The hand of the Lord usually means power in the Old Testament. The hand of the Lord Jesus reveals who Jesus really is—the Son of the Most High God. The Lord Jesus showed His compassion and love by healing people, casting out demons, and raising the dead.

Today we will think about Psalm 16 and what that Old Testament psalm points to in the life of Jesus. The last verse of Psalm 16 records these words of King David, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11). King David wrote these words around 1000 years before the earthly life of Jesus.

David found joy at the right hand of the Lord. How could David write those words about joy so many years before the dying and rising of Jesus? How do those words about joy help us in our struggles around 2000 years after the dying and rising of Jesus?

We live in a time when joy and peace seem to be lacking. People are restless. People look for joy and peace in many ways. We are told to take care of ourselves first. We are told to look within ourselves for joy and peace. We are told to do whatever we can do to make ourselves happy. Buy this car. Buy that smartphone. Buy more and more things to find joy and peace. Buying more things might give us a little joy, but that will never give us lasting joy in life. There are always more things to buy. When look mainly at ourselves for happiness in life, then we are making a false god out of ourselves. That is not what the true God wants from us.

David gives us this truth in Psalm 16:4, “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply.” David knew firsthand about sorrows in life. In his younger years he spent a lot of time running from King Saul who wanted to kill him. As a king David fought many battles against enemies who wanted to destroy him. In his later years his own son, Absalom, tried to take away his kingdom from him. David had his troubles.

Our world today is full of people running after another god. The false god of fame leads to many sorrows. The false god of possesions leads to many sorrows. The false god of money leads to many sorrows. We do not need to be a king like David to go through difficulties in life.

King David’s answer for overcoming sorrow is not to get in touch with your inner feelings. Or to work harder. Or to be strong and show no weakness. David in Psalm 16:8 points to the Lord, “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” David believes that the Lord is with him. David trusts that the Lord is at his right hand. David knows that with the Lord on his side he will not be shaken.

The same is true for you and for me. The Lord is with us. The Lord protects us. The Lord gives us strength for every challenge. The Lord gives us promises that we can count on.

Psalm 16:9-10 gives us a huge promise about the Lord, “Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” That promise of the Lord is a prophecy pointing ahead to Jesus the Christ. That promise has come true in the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead.

In Acts 2:22–25 Peter said on the day of Pentecost, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken.” When the Son of God, Jesus, took on human flesh and blood, He took on human hands. The Son of God, Jesus, has a real left hand and a real right hand. The Son of God, Jesus, showed His hands of great compassion and mercy.

Jesus came to a world cursed by sin. He was given a crown of thorns by sinful men. The hands of Jesus were nailed to the cross on the day we call Good Friday. Jesus died for all of the sins and wrongs of all people. Some women came with spices in their hands to give the body of Jesus a proper burial on that amazing Easter Sunday morning. The women heard the good news about Jesus from angels in dazzling clothes in Luke 24:5–7 , “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

Jesus was raised from the dead on that first Easter Sunday morning for you and for me. He brings us lasting joy and peace. He brings us forgiveness of all wrongs. He brings us everlasting life and eternal salvation. He is with us always. He will never abandon us. He continues to love us. We have a joy and peace the things of this world can never match. The hands of the risen Lord Jesus give us a joy and peace that will never end. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.