January 23, 2017
EYES ON ME!
Psalm 16
Gigi Hornberger
Central Truth
Those who take refuge in God will be satisfied, stable, and secure.
Key Verse | Psalm 16:1
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
(Psalm 16:1)
Psalm 16
You Will Not Abandon My Soul
A Miktam 1 16:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term of David.
1
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2
I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3
As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
2
16:3
Or To the saints in the land, the excellent in whom is all my delight, I say:
4
The sorrows of those who run after
3
16:4
Or who acquire
another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
4
16:7
Hebrew my kidneys instruct me
8
I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being
5
16:9
Hebrew my glory
rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
6
16:10
Or see the pit
11
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Dive Deeper | Psalm 16
When teaching our kids to ride bikes, I would stand at the far end of the block shouting, “Keep your eyes on me! Look at me!” Their tendency was to focus on their front tire, or the grass to the side, which would cause them to wobble and fall. Their joy came when they would lift their eyes to stare at me at the end of the sidewalk and succeed in riding steadily in a straight line.
Similarly, in Psalm 16 when David is in danger, he finds steadiness and joy by lifting his eyes above his situation to the truth about God. Although today we are easily knocked off balance by our circumstances and tempted to seek security apart from God, we, too, can be steadied by lifting our eyes and trusting the One who is our most powerful refuge.
In Psalm 16 we are reminded of the truth that:
Verses 1-2—God is the safest place to which we can run in times of trouble, and we can trust Him to protect us.
Verses 3-4—God provides protection through community that reminds us that seeking security elsewhere only multiplies our sorrows.
Verses 5-6—The Lord Himself is our nourishment and strength, and He is sovereign over every situation that enters our lives. We trust that our situation is not a surprise to Him. He has allowed this for our ultimate good and His glory.
Verses 7-8—As we regularly set God’s Word before us, His wise counsel and instruction provide a sure, strong, unshakable foundation. We can trust His Word over our feelings, because feelings are real, but they are not reliable.
Verses 9-11—We can trust the Lord to lead us down the safest path to fullness of joy and eternal security.
As we lift our eyes above our circumstances and focus on the truth about God, we are reminded that He is FOR us, and He wants to be our safest refuge and our stabilizing hope. In the midst of your challenge, what would it look like for you to really trust God in this way?
Discussion Questions
1. What situation in your life this week has been drawing your focus away from God?
2. As you think about this situation, where do you have a tendency to seek refuge apart from God?
3. What wisdom has your community given you regarding this situation?
4. As you study God's Word with this situation in mind, which attributes of God comfort, strengthen, or steady you?
5. What would it look like for you to really trust God in this situation?