Abandonment is Not a Helpful Option

David wrote a Psalm full of rich and comforting theology. Every aspect of Psalm 16 points to God as the source for everything a person needs for this life and for eternity. If one is abandoned, there is usually no hope and no apparent solution to the problems of this life. There is no hope. But if someone has a place of refuge with Someone close at hand there is great hope.

Psalm 16 (ESV) declares some beautiful things about the Lord God.

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;  I have no good apart from you.”

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,  in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Notice four things that David declares in Psalm 16. First he says that because I have no good apart from God, I must take him as my refuge. This is a gospel statement. Jesus came to rescue the abandoned sinners, the ones who recognized that they needed a Great Physician, and the ones living in the darkness and death of sin.

Secondly, he makes it personal. He says, “The Lord is my chosen portion and cup.” There is no other solution. He knows that the Lord “holds his lot.” This echo’s Peter’s declaration in the Gospel. Peter said this to Jesus after Jesus asked the disciples if they would leave him: “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.’” John 6:68-69

Thirdly, our response to this wonderful gospel news is not just a heart that is glad, but a total being that rejoices. Why? Because I am secure in Christ. God does not abandon my soul, and my death is not the end of the story. I am not abandoned in Christ.

Finally, the conclusion of the Psalm declares the path, the Lord’s presence in this life, and the pleasures awaiting the unabandoned soul at God’s right hand forevermore.

It doesn’t get any better than that. I trust you can see the gospel in this Psalm. If not, read John’s Gospel to see how what David said aligns with what Jesus said.

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.