Psalm 16:11

(Today’s post is the last post in a series on Psalm 16. You can find all the posts on my Psalm 16 page.)

 

You have made known to me the path of life;

You will fill me with joy in Your presence, 

With eternal pleasures at Your right hand.  Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

 

Path – manner; way; well-traveled path; way of living

Life – age; living

Joy – glee; pleasure; mirth

Presence – face; in the face of; in front of

Eternal – continual; never ending; everlasting

Pleasures – pleasant; sweet; lovely; agreeable things

Right hand – literal right hand. Often used in the Old Testament as a symbol of God’s divine blessing, favor, protection

 

In his final verse, David wraps up Psalm 16 with a declaration of God’s goodness and praise for what He has done for him.

He acknowledges God has shown him which path he wants David’s life to take.

David says he knows God will fill him with joy when he comes into God’s presence, and that God will fill him with never-ending goodness because he trusts in Him.

David knows he has good things ahead for him, both in this life and in the life to come, simply because he trusts and walks with God.

 

God will do the same for us.

Because He loves us and wants good for us, God will show us the path of life He wants us to take.

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Category: God, Old Testament, Scripture Study, Teaching | LEAVE A COMMENT

Count It All Joy…

One bible passage I used to really struggle with comes from the book of James.

It says,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. –James 1:2-4

So, according to this verse, we are supposed to be joyful over the trials of life?!?

In a way that seems far-fetched.

 

But look closer…

First, James is talking to other Christians.

We know this because he calls them his brothers.

As Christians, we live within the boundaries of God’s economy, not man’s.

This means that the reasoning and morals of God are what we adhere to.

They are different than the world’s and are often complete opposites to each other.

As Christians we cannot look at things from the world’s point of view.

We must look at things from God’s perspective.

 

Next, notice he says to consider it joy.

He doesn’t say the trial should be joyful in and of itself.

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