So many of the psalms begin by the writer describing the troubles they’re in and end with praise.
It’s as though, as they pour out their heart to God, they feel His presence and their hearts are filled with peace and joy.
Psalm 16 is like this. David begins by pleading with God to preserve him, he’s in trouble, he’s in distress…
‘Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.’
And he ends with this beautiful verse..
‘Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’
David had many enemies and was often on the run, hiding in caves etc.
In this Psalm, he begins with crying out to God in his trouble, then he counts his blessings compared to the lot of his enemies…
‘The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.’
If God is on our side we have everything we need to fight our battles whether in matters in our life or those spiritual battles. David goes on looking at God’s goodness to him, even in this trial…
‘The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.’
Then he begins to praise God…
‘I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel:’
Even in this hard time, David could praise God for his counsel, His direction, His wisdom.
‘Therefore my heart is glad…’
and then as David ends he looks forward to a future of walking with God and a never ending eternity in heaven and makes this wonderful statement of his faith and trust in the Lord…
‘Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’
God doesn’t leave us when troubles come, he holds us!
God is our Helper, our Counsellor, our Guide, our Friend.
God will show you the way Friend if you’ll just put your trust in Him.
God’s ways are perfect and when they’re hard, if God is with us we can know the fullness of the joy of His presence and peace, even in the middle of the storm.
All true peace and joy is to be found at the right hand of God, both now as we walk this path of life and in a never ending eternity to come!
Cling to Him Friend, keep close to Him, there’s joy in His presence, even in the hard.
The more we enjoy God’s presence, the more satisanction we will find in Christ and as a result, the more we will experience this fullness of joy.
David hasn’t come out of his trial, he’s resting in those everlasting arms.
God won’t abandon you either dear Friend, lean on Him, he’ll show you the path of life. Seek His presence, ‘seek his face continually’, for there is full, abundant joy and peace to be found, even when tears of sorrow or pain roll down our cheeks, when we rest in God.
This is the way of wisdom and…
‘Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.’
If we’re found in this way, as we journey along this narrow way, we can look forward to the joy of God’s presence now and the never ending joy of an eternity with God in heaven.
Psalm 16, 1 Chro 16:11, Prov 3:17
Encouraging Women to Seek and Abide... 