GODLY COMMITMENT AND THE CRUCIBLE OF PAIN(PSALM 16:1-9)

INTRODUCTION

Psalm 16 is a beautiful psalm of David. It is called a Michtam. It carries the idea of being “golden.” Other scholars believe that this word is related to the Hebrew verb meaning “to cover.” Every psalm that is entitled as a Michtam, this psalm and psalms 56-60 were written from a time of peril or some period of intense suffering or grief. Some believe that the idea of these types of psalms is covering the lips with a sense of secrecy or a psalm spoken softly in a time of crisis.

There is the Confidence to be Found in a Relationship with God (1-3).

David is crying out to God in a time of trouble. We know this by the very first word in the very first verse: “Preserve.” [1]

Then in verse 2 David’s soul declares that the LORD (Yahweh) is His Lord. Right here is a perfect example of the Person of God being referred to by three different terms in these first two verses of Psalm 16. First, is the Hebrew term “El” which is the most common name for God (1). It delineates God as “the Strong (or Mighty One).” God is the Mighty One that the psalmist takes refuge in.

The second term is the English word Lord. However, the first use of this word is designated in all capitals to demonstrate that it is the personal name of God that is in view-Yahweh (2). It is the personal name for the God of Israel. It was revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-14).

The third use of the name of God is also Lord in our English translations (2). However, this time it is not in all capitals. This is the Hebrew term “Adonai.” The idea behind Adonai is “Master.” David is saying that Yahweh is his Master. In other words, God is not only the strong, powerful God in whom we can take refuge. He is also the one who is able to order our steps and direct us in what we should do. Notice what David says next. He says, “My goodness is nothing apart from You.” Elihu says the same thing to Job in Job 35:7. “If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?” Neither Job nor David possessed the goodness within themselves to cause them to be righteous before God. Both these men needed God to bring His righteousness to them. David’s goodness was nothing because David’s goodness itself was a gift of God. Further, without his relationship with God, David’s goodness was of little value.

Since God is the ultimate in terms of relationship, one’s relationship with God should have a positive bearing on one’s relationship with God’s people. That is why verse 3 states, “As for the saints who are on the earth, ‘They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.’” David delighted in the people of God. David loved the people of God. Although I might not be able to adequately express it right now, your pastor wants you to know that he loves you and delights in you. You have been a source of strength to him and his family. Your expressions of love, concern, and support are bearing us up under extremely difficult circumstances. I just want to say, “Thank you and I love you.” It seems so inadequate to say, but it comes from the depths of my heart. If you are a “Negative Nellie” concerning your church family then you have forgotten that God’s people are those in whom we should delight.

“This is a practical matter, for it is a way by which we can measure our relationship to the Lord. Do you love other Christians? Do you find it good and rewarding to be with them? Do you seek their company? This is a simple test. Those who love the Lord will love the company of those who also love him.” [James Montgomery Boice]

First, learn the lesson of the confidence that comes from a genuine relationship with God.

There is the Contrast between the Godly and the Ungodly (16:4-6).

The people referred to in verse four are totally opposite those in verse three. The ones in verse four will face ultimate sorrow that will last an eternity versus those who face a temporal sorrow that will last for only a little while. The good times for the ungodly down here is as good as it will ever get for them. However, the rough times down here for the genuine believer in Jesus Christ is as bad as it will ever get. That is our hope. That is why David says in verse 5, “O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.”

There is nothing of this world that can provide what the God of heaven can provide. I hope you can say with David today, “You are the portion of my inheritance. David was the youngest of seven sons. As such, David could expect no inheritance from his family. Yet, look what God did with David despite his own weaknesses and failures. David came to understand that God was the portion of His inheritance. That is why David goes on to say in verse 6, “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.” This is God’s promise to all those who place their trust and faith in Him. God is our portion and our inheritance. You see, David was confident that not only would God give him an inheritance, but that He would also maintain that inheritance.

There is the contrast between the godly and the ungodly.

There is the Celebration Found in God’s Divine Counsel (16:7-9)

The larger context is a psalm speaking of the contentment a life of commitment to God brings. However, we can apply these three verses to dealing with the unexpected and unwanted crucible of pain. There are three responses we can make.

Response #1: We Can Praise God During Times of Trouble (7a).

“I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel.”

The book of Isaiah describes Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor. Jesus is the ultimate Counselor. No matter how difficult the circumstances, we must praise God in spite of those circumstances, not withhold praise because of the difficulties presented to us. Yes, I know the reality of how difficult it is to praise the God during such times. Although it is difficult, it is helpful to remember those from biblical history who endured hard times, people like Paul and Silas. As I think about these, I believe they were focused on several things during their time of difficulty. They focused on the surety of the Word of God. They focused on communing with God through prayer and they focused on praising God through song. The next time difficulty arises, concentrate on praise to God despite the pain and trouble. Yes, it is difficult, but we serve the God that promises to be with us through the difficulty. I do not say that with emotional ease, but I do say it with biblical confidence.

Response #2: We Can Present our Hurts to God During Times of Trouble (7b-8)

When going through an emotional trauma, as bad as it is, the nights are almost unbearable. That is what David is saying here. “I will bless the LORD who counsels me- even at night when my thoughts trouble me (CSB).” Yes, this is a difficult task when you have gone days without any real sleep and depression tries to take over. It is difficult to give our hurts over to God during a time of real physical and emotional breakdown. Yet, this is what the Word of God says.

Think of a parent having designated places for their children’s belongings. Toys go into specific containers. Clothes go into the dresser and the closet. Books go on a bookshelf or some other appropriate place. Even when their rooms are a mess, their rooms can quickly be put back into order. Why? Because everything has its place and there is a place for everything. However, what do you do when you find an item that does not fit into any of those categories? I will tell you what you do. You stand in the middle of the room holding it. You stand in the middle of that room overwhelmed. You stand there without any idea of what to do with this thing that does not fit anywhere.

Pain, discouragement and disillusionment are overwhelming obstacles that seem not to have a place that fits in our lives. It causes our sense of direction to come to a screeching halt. We stall as we search in vain for a place to put it, to attempt to make it fit into our so-called orderly lives. It is during the difficult times of life when we are trying to find where to place the burden of our troubles that we need to remember that the Lord Jesus desires that we bring those burdens to Him. It is okay to tell Jesus just how you feel. Tell Him what He already knows is tormenting your mind and heart. Express to Him the fact that you are greatly overwhelmed. Yes, we can bring our hurts to Jesus and be confident that He is hurting right along with us.

[Note on verse 8: “I always let the LORD guide. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” As David wrote this psalm, he was going outside the parameters of his own personal experience. The truth of the matter is that David did not always allow the Lord to guide him. There were times when David was shaken. For David, this was the ideal or standard, not the reality. What we have here is a foreshadowing of the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the ideal and our expectant hope was fulfilled.]

Response #3: We Can Persevere with Confidence Despite Periods of Great Trouble (16:9)

Because of the first two lessons the result is contentment of soul because our ultimate confidence is in God. Because David made the godly decision to praise God amid trouble and take those troubles to the God who he is praising, God gives confidence to persevere through the troubles of this life. His heart is glad despite his hurt. His entire being rejoices amid unsettling circumstances. He is at rest in the confidence that God is protecting and providing for him. From David’s perspective, because of the confidence He had in a life devoted to God, he also possessed the confidence for the life beyond this one.

Conclusion

The great author and Christian apologist, C.S. Lewis wrote a book entitled, The Problem of Pain (1940) in which he formulates a theological defense of the fact that only Christianity can adequately address the problem of pain and suffering. However, twenty years later C.S. Lewis was blindsided and knocked into the crucible of pain as he had to cry bitter tears over the death of his wife. Out of this crucible he wrote the little book entitled, A Grief Observed.

I have scanned through this book in the past. I have sympathized with Lewis but was not that moved by it. I am rereading this book for at least the second time since May 16th of this year. It was on that date that my entire world forever changed. I too was blindsided and knocked into the crucible of pain and suffering. It is the only book outside of the Bible I have read since that date. In this book the theology of C.S.Lewis becomes unraveled to the point in places that I consider it even unbiblical. I find the book refreshing in the sense that Lewis does not pretend to have it all together. He does not try to get all the answers right and that is okay. He struggled just as I struggle now to try to make sense out of details that really do not make sense. Listen to this passage as we close:

“There is sort of an invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty…Meanwhile, where is God?”

I want to remind you that those are the words of C.S. Lewis, not mine. However, I find myself being drawn into the same sentiments as he. Concerning the question at the end of the quote, “Where is God?” let me just say that God is in the crucible with us. God’s part is to bear us along through that pain. Our part is to trust God in the pain and to trust God with our pain. I pray you will help me through mine as I desire to help you through yours. I pray you will continue to be patient with me as God teaches me through this most horrible crucible of unwanted pain.