Psalm 16 — Working with God’s Glory — Reading the Psalms

Michtam of David.

1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2 I have said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord:
I have no good beyond thee.
3 As for the saints that are in the earth,
They are the excellent in whom is all my delight.
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that exchange the Lord for another god:
Their drink offerings of blood will I not offer,
Nor take their names upon my lips.
5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup:
Thou maintainest my lot.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places;
Yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel:
Yea, my reins instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the LORD always before me:
Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:
My flesh also shall dwell in safety.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol;
Neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life:
In thy presence is fulness of joy;
In thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

David’s confidence in the Lord shines through and through. He knows he is well because of God; he knows he will do well because of God. He knows that every good and perfect gift he’s ever received came down from above, not from himself.

In the last psalm, psalm 15, David lists out, in almost a bullet point format, good behaviors and works of the righteous ones. He shows the steps taken in a virtuous life. Psalm 16 shows how the steps move into the mindset of God’s children. David knows that his good direction and choices are by God’s guidance, not himself. He clings to God’s saints and shuns the wicked. Surely success and riches will be found with the wicked, but David will not countenance that path. If he sees any blessings in his life it will be by the portion and lot God gives.

He knows his success comes from God alone. David’s strength is not in his own right hand, but because God is at his right hand. His lot and inheritance was not won by any greatness of himself; he received it from God. His ideas were not born of his own mind; he received instruction by God’s counsel.

Our successes and gifts are from God, too. We may have to work for them, to be sure, but when can we work without God’s help? Isn’t it God who works in us for his good pleasure? Let us do the works of righteousness, but let us also praise God for his help and the ability to do the works. Let us give God the glory for any glory we see or receive.