Hallelujah! He is Risen!

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

 my body also will rest secure,

because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

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 16:7-11

This world in which we live isn’t looking very inviting: war, inflation, open border, weak government administration, and the list could go on. Anyone who is awake and sane knows things are not right. What to do? Of course, let our voices be heard with our representatives at both local and national levels. Make your approvals and disapprovals known to them. But if we want to remain sane and satisfied, we must look beyond this world.

David, in Psalm 16, asserts that God is his refuge and his sustainer. He chooses to “set the Lord always before” him. He trusts God to keep him safe so he can rest secure. He does not fear the grave because he knows God will fill him with joy in His presence. David looks forward to eternal pleasures with God.

This Psalm is a Messianic psalm. The Apostles Peter and Paul, both quote it in the New Testament when referring to Jesus’ resurrection. David did not see the Messiah in his days on earth, but he knew a Savior was to come someday. Praise God and Hallelujah the Savior has come! He lived to show us how to live and died to show us death is not the end. Death was defeated on the third day when Jesus rose from the dead and walked with his disciples long enough to prove He really was alive!

If we are Jesus’ disciples today and remain faithful to Him, we have the assurance, as David did, of enjoying joy and eternal pleasures with God after this life. So, in the midst of this world’s trouble and trials we “set the Lord always before” us. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

Happy Resurrection Day!