Psalm 16 - Find Your Confidence and Joy in Jesus

Find Your Confidence and Joy in Jesus

Today we are looking at Psalm chapter 16. It is a Psalm written by David and is going to begin with a plea for safety and security. However, this is not really what the Psalm is about.

Instead it is actually about CONFIDENCE.

Confidence. Some of us simply appear to have, at times, tons of it. We seem to be able to make decisions with little thought or concern that we might somehow be wrong. We are confident in our decisions.

But, what is it that builds that confidence within us. How can we stand in the midst of lifes struggles for instance and be confident of the outcome.

I have much of my life, and even still lead a life of little confidence in my self. I know for some of you this may come as a surprise, but it is very true.

Throughout school Autumn saw it first hand.

Confidence is crucial to our success in life. We might not fully recognize this when simply speak of confidence.

But it is confidence that allows us to make bold decisions concerning our future that most people might never make.

But, where does confidence come from?

Confidence is always build through relationships.

First and oddly probably least important is our relationship with ourselves. Our confidence is based in part on right decisions we have made in the past. That’s right I said that this is probably the least important of the two, but should be one of the most powerful. Because it is based on our own experiences created by us.

Second and the one we tend to lean towards the most, is based on our relationships with others. Third party recognition. What are others saying of us? If others build us up or tear us down, these will affect our confidence more than anything else.

Finally, that one relationship that should cause us to have the greatest of confidences is our relationship with Jesus Christ.

If your confidence at times feels a bit lackluster, and I am right there with you. I know you might not see it often times, but I do a really good job of hiding it. Then this Psalm this message is probably for all of us. Because I know that all of us at times struggle with confidence in ourselves and the decisions that we make.

So let’s read through our Psalm and look at how it is that we can find our confidence in Jesus Christ. Who is the bedrock of all creation upon whose life and power we now stand.

Psalm chapter 16

Psalm 16 ESV

A Miktam of David. Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 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. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

An Initial Plea

Our Psalm begins with a plea. A petition so to speak. A plea for preservation or protection from God. But, even though the Psalm begins this way, because the rest of the Psalm is about finding confidence in Jesus we take actually take the Psalm as one about protection, but rather one about Confidence in Jesus.

David begins and he writes.

Psalm 16:1 ESV

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

David is the only one in all of scripture who is called a man after God’s own heart. And yet here even though he recognizes that it is in God that he finds his refuge. It is IN God that his life is lived, and he knows this truth well.

He still expresses to God his uncertainty about his future. Why?

Just because our lives our lived in Christ Jesus that does not give us a pass from having to live lives in this fallen sin soaked world. There is always the potential for suffering, for failure. These realities are always present.

And so David recognizes that reality right away. David more than anyone knows that he needs Gods protection over his life from others and as well from himself.

And this first verse begins to show to us the confidence that David walked in the midst of this knowledge. It is because of the truths about his own life that he knows that needs to find his only true and safe refuge in God and God alone. We find our safest place in life in Christ Alone.

In Christ Alone

David know that it is in God alone that his confidence might be found.

And so he continues in verse two and expresses this confidence towards God. And he writes.

Psalm 16:2 ESV

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

In verse one he has said that it is in God that he takes his refuge, finds his rest.

And now he continues to express to the Lord this great confidence.

He says to Yahweh, you are my lord, you are the master of my life. you direct my steps.

And when I allow you to direct them all I find is goodness. Because we know that when David directed his steps apart from God there was pain, and agony, and often times death.

But David knows that Yahweh is his greatest good. The relationship that David has with Yahweh is what is best and apart from his relationship with Jesus he says there is nothing good.

Right now you might be saying to yourself, well I’ve got relationships with others that are good. Nope.

There is no comparison to any relationship that you might have to the goodness that is your relationship with Jesus. Period.

My greatest hope for Autumn, for my wife. Is that she falls in love with another man more than me. Just so long as that man is Jesus the Christ. Her Lord, Her creator, Her savior. Because I know that that relationship will bring only goodness to her life.

I will strive to bring good to her life, but I will fail. We need to see every loving relationship that we have in this way.

Don’t tune me out just yet. Especially if you didn’t like what I just said.

Ok. If this is true. Based on this you need to stop something very destructive. You need to stop looking for love, for meaning in life, for your confidence in others. Rather you need to look to Jesus alone. When you do you will find love, you will find meaning, you will find purpose, you will find confidence.

Apart from our relationship with Christ Jesus there is no good. We need to understand this truth just like David did. He did not look for it in Bathsheba or Solomon. He found it in God and in God alone. Because life in Christ is the only way to find true confidence.

The Only Way

Ok. Now we are going to get this really odd shift in our Psalm. And at first it doesn’t really make sense the way things appear to be worded at first. But remember Hebrew poetry is often times very different than English or modern poetry. The next verse verse three is connected to verse four. And this becomes difficult because it seems like nonsense when connected to verse four. But that is because we are reading verse three superficially. Let’s figure out what is going on in these verse and then we can better understand the implications of what is being said. So verse three reads.

Psalm 16:3 ESV

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

Seems pretty straight forward right. There are these people in the land and they are “holy ones” or saints. The idea of a saint, however did not exist in the Davids mind when he wrote this though. This is something later that comes from greek philosophy and is found in the New Testament. The Hebrew word can mean saints for perhaps the last 2000 years or so. But this was written long before that time period. And so “holy ones” is a better understanding.

But nonetheless they are seen by David as excellent individuals and they are the ones in whom he enjoys to find all of his delight.

So, now let’s pause just a moment because I am about to say that these individuals are actually pagan worshippers and not saints who live their lives in Christ Jesus. Why would I say such a thing. Because verse four describes them better. David and the culture often times see these individuals as they are described in verse three.

But now in verse four David describes how he must respond to these pagans or even possibly pagan deities who seem just so amazing.

verse four reads.

Psalm 16:4 ESV

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

In verse three we read of loyalty and delight. But now David because God has opened his eyes sees the truth that stands before him.

We have all chased after things that are truly unhealthy for us. And often times in the midst of the chase we new just how unhealthy those things, those relationships, whatever it might be, we knew just how unhealthy or even sinful they were. And yet we ran after them.

And in the midst of the chase we know that our sorrows from catching that which we should not lay hold of will only grow worse each and every time we chase after that thing, whatever that thing might be.

Perhaps it’s praise from others, or love from others, or a sense of security that we hope that others might provide. All the time we know that they will only fail us and cause pain, but we continue to chase after that which we know we should not.

What can these things be? Well, they can be all kinds of things. They can be unhealthy relationship, sinful actions on our part or that of others. Or perhaps we are chasing after status or status symbols.

David says that the rights and rituals of these pagan God that appear so attractive He will resist and he will NOT take part in.

Today it’s not pagan rights and rituals per se. Instead our society uses other means to entice and draw us away from Jesus.

The hope of belonging to a political movement greater than ourselves, or becoming wealthy, or being seeing in some special by others. This is how our society today entices us to drink the an offering made in the blood of others.

Look. This is exactly what pornography is. Most of these young ladies are seduced into doing something that they would have never chosen to do on their own. But sinful men seduce them to poor out their innocence, their lives, as a blood offerring to other men online. And so many stop and drink form the fount of pornography today. And they sacrifice these young womens lives for their own pleasure and delight.

David says do NOT take part.

Look Pornography is not subtle in its destructive nature. The truth is that was low hanging fruit for me to beat up. There are things in our world that are much more enticing and much more subtle in their means to draw us away from our relationship with Christ Jesus. Video Games. Books. Food. These are not bad things in and of themselves. In fact food is necessary for life. But, here’s the thing ANYTHING in creation can now be twisted by this fallen world into something that is sinful and can be used to draw us away from God and towards false Gods.

Trees are good and necessary. Dogs are amazing companions. But neither of those hold the value of human life. And yet we as humans can eleveate them as to being equal and even sometimes as being of greater value than humanity. When we do they become Gods in our lives. That we will worship and will take the place of Jesus.

The same can be true of those whom we love. But we don’t want to talk about unhealthy love relationships that’s just not fun. So moving on.

In the next several verses David is going to speak about how we overcome these relationships and things that so easily trip us up in our lives and relationship with Jesus.

We must live lives committed to christ Jesus.

Committed to Christ

So David has just stated that he will live his life rejecting any possible allegiance to pagan gods.

Now David is going to again shift our Psalm towards that which is important a life lived in and with Yahweh. In and with Jesus.

He writes in verses five and six.

Psalm 16:5–6 ESV

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

David shift from drinking of the cup of wrath or a blood offering made to pagan gods. To saying that the LORD is his portion the LORD is his cup. The LORD is the one who holds his lot.

All of these ideas were used by God when the LORD spoke of the division and giving of the land to the Israelites.

Pagan gods were often times seen during this time as being the ones that brought fertility and success to the land through the crops and herds. But using ideas related to the land of Israel David is recognizing that it is Yahweh who uphold the land. who upholds the crops, who upholds the herds, and who upholds David in the midst of Israel.

And all of this that God does every day has been given to David. Not because he is king of Israel. But because is a chosen child of Yahweh. The land of Israel was given to the Gods chosen people. God has blessed them with the land and made the land bountiful for their good, for their delight.

And so because God has blessed David. David says in verse seven.

Psalm 16:7 ESV

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

Some translations begin this verse with the phrase I will praise the LORD.

Why a difference in translations? Let me ask you two questions? First can you think of any ways that God might bless you? You probably could think of several in fact. Right!

But the second question is much more difficult. How can we be a blessing to the LORD? It is this difficulty that causes some translators to translate this as praise. Because clearly in our praises we are a blessing to the LORD.

But what about our doing? Is there not something that we might do that is a blessing to the LORD.

This is how I would answer this question. First, I prefer the word bless. It is the Hebrew word that is used here. And I would put it this way. Whenever we live our lifes in a way that brings glory to our God. Then we are a blessing to the heart of God. Whether we are singing or sharing the truth of who His son is to the lost. Whenever we glorify him in either song or word, thought or deed. We are a blessing to our Father who is in heaven.

And we should seek to bless the Lord every day. Because he will guide us and direct us. We will give us counsel and instruct our hearts in His ways. When we seek Him. How do we do this?

Well guess what. David is gracious enough to help us with that very thing in the next verse. He writes.

Psalm 16:8 ESV

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

If we understand that Jesus will bring us counsel and he will instruct our hearts in his ways. Then we should set Him always before us to lead us to His glory.

We can stand confident and secure that he is every present at our right hand. And when we learn to do this in our lives. Our lives will not be shaken. No matter what may come.

I know we don’t always live life like this. All of us are going to fail at this not a single one of us is going to do this consistently. And here’s what we need during those times. We need each other. We need each others prayers, and confident words in our lives. Because those prayers those words come from Jesus.

When we as a church family live our lives together in this small way. We will all slowly perhaps, but we will begin to live lives that may be weak and fallen, but live that will not be shaken. Because they will be strengthened by the strength of our God who spoke all things into existence.

And as we begin to live our lives in this way more and more. When we find our confidence in Christ Joy will erupt from our lives.

We Find Confidence and Joy in Jesus

This guy David is so smart. I just love him. You know what it was that made him so smart? He loved Jesus with all of his heart, mind and soul.

David had found that his weak and insecure life could find confidence in God. And this caused him to celebrate.

We should as well.

He writes in verse nine.

Psalm 16:9 NIV

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,

David sings out with a glad heart and a joyful tongue.

These Psalms were not simply poems which is how I know I often times represent them. That’s because they were written as poetry. But they were written by David as songs to be sung as joyous anthem that bless the heart of our God.

David here says that an inner joy based in the heart breaks forth into audible praise of our God. And all of this then creates an emotional joy that is grounded in the security of the body. David rests secure because he knows he can trust Yahweh.

Why? Three things we are going to find in the next two veses.

First David knows he will be delivered out of death. Death will come but deliverance will follow.

Second, David knows that God will always guide his life.

And finally, Yahweh will always be present with him and never abandon him.

So let’s look at each of these. We read in verse 10

Psalm 16:10 ESV

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

What the heck is Sheol. Most believe that Sheol was the holding place that people who died prior to the coming of Christ Jesus and his resurrection from the Dead. This may be so. It’s full meaning is perhaps unknown. What I can say for certain. It was what was used in the Old Testament prior to Christ to describe where the soul goes when death has come.

And so David has confidence that Jesus will not abandon him to death and eternal separation from God.

He will not see corruption. He is confident he will live eternally with God, with the Messiah, with the Christ, who is Jesus.

He continues in verse 11 and writes.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

David expresses His complete confidence that Guid will always guide his life. God will make know to Him and to us the path of life he desires for us to walk.

And David says that to dwell in the presence of the Lord is find true and full joy in ones life.

All of the pleasures that life truly desires are at the right hand of our God to be given as a blessing by our good and gracious God.

So What?

Our Psalm begins with the idea of find safety and securety in God.

So, where do we find our own sense of security? Perhaps we have installed a security system. Or perhaps we have purchased home defence weapons. Perhaps for us it means having a hefty 401k.

We live in a world that is really insecure. And I mean all kinds of things when I say that. Here in the USA however we don’t live with a constant fear for our personal safety though do we? Even if you lived in a city with a really high rate of crime. You would probably not live here day-to-day with the constant fear of death. However much of our world does.

At any point in time in our world theres is either war or the threat of war, there are places in our world where there is no police protection and so lawlessness is the rule, two-thirds of our world live in poverty that no american could comprehend, but we like to complain about a “living” wage.

When we thing about safety and security. I have to wonder what is it dependent upon? Is it things or circumstances? Or do we depend upon God. He is after all our portion and our cup.

When all else has fallen by the way side, when all means of safety and security have failed us. God is still our portion and our cup.

Right now if you lived in Ukraine I don’t believe that we would describe daily life as being safe and secure. Would we?

There is little if anything right now thriving in Ukraine. There is death and there is destruction. There is fear and there is uncertainty. Some who live there have placed their trust in their government. And you know what they still feel? Fear and uncertainty. But, I have read over-and-over again in secular non-christian newspapers of one group one organization that healthy and that is thriving. Those, at least, that want to be honest. And that is the church.

Why? Because in the midst of bombs these people are finding assurance, they are find certainty, they are finding confidince, because they are finding the presence of God.

And that same presence is there whether it’s bombs, or the loss of a job, or illness, or death, whatever fall thing that this fallen world brings to fall all over you. You need to lean into and press into the presence of Yahweh.

Jesus is our portion and our cup, Jesus is our delightful inheritance. Jesus is the one who will guide us to those place in which we will find delight.

Now listen, please. I am not saying that when you come into the presence of the Lord the insecurities of life will just vanish into thin air.

What I am saying is that when you are in the presence of the Lord He will empower you to find the path of life within and through those painful, uncertain times. We will discover in those times in the presence of God that there is joy and eternal pleasures unending.

My hope and prayer is that we can all discover and know that God is at our right hand with joy, please, with our cup and our portion.

Jesus is ever present in this grand story of life as we live life on this journey through life with him and to him.

Amen.