Thursday, June 20, 2024

           David wrote Psalm 16.  Some people believe this Psalm was originally written to be sung more than read—more as music than simply a verbal mediation to be reflected upon.  Some suggest that this chapter was written as a song of praise that Israel would have offered to the Lord God as a part of worship and gathering before Him.  The opening verse reads, “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge” (Psalm 16:1).  We often sing of God’s protection and provision.  We voice our trust in God’s power and might.  Whom else would we ever trust but Him?  He is able to keep watch over His people.  We can live confidently knowing that God is forever on the watch.  Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.” Much as an ever-watchful father keeps track of his children and their needs, the Father knows His children and is able to save and to strengthen.
            A bit later in Psalm 16, David wrote, “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.  The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance” (Psalm 16:5-6).  David had a reason to sing.  He was blessed by what God had assigned to him.  His cup was full and his life was secure.  Indeed today, the portions and provisions that God measures out for us are wonderful. The places to which God calls or leads us often give us a chance to experience His grace and sustaining power in ways that we never would otherwise.  We are often amazed by the abundance of God’s gifts and the overflowing nature of His grace and mercy.  As awful as sin and disobedience are, God’s grace is much stronger and more enduring.  We see a perfect picture of God’s transforming and redeeming grace at the cross where the perfect lamb of God satisfied the justice of God, defeated the powers of darkness and opened the way to the Father.  Such realities are good reasons and occasions for us to sing today.
            If you wrote a Psalm or song of praise to the Lord today, what would you say? In what direction does your praise go today?  If you had a space about the size of Psalm 16 to craft a praise to God, what would you name?  We likely all have some reasons in common for praising God.  Yet, we also possess uniquely personal reasons to praise God and adore Him with both mind and voice.  The boundary lines of God may have fallen for you in very different places than for others or me.  The “delightful inheritance” that God has entrusted to you could look starkly different than what God has chosen for me.  God is worthy of ALL the praise that His people can bring.  The differences in refuge, cup, portion, blessings and inheritance that God offers us give us occasions to bring God more praise and limitless praise.  My reasons for praise might be distinct and different from yours.  Yet together, your praise, my praise and the praise of God’s people across the globe make for a pleasing Psalm that we can gladly and joyfully sing forth to Him today.
            A final observation about God’s faithfulness reminds us that His provisions are daily—at times they are moment by moment.  His provisions can always keep us wherever God has placed us.  David noted that apart from God he had “no good thing” (Psalm 16:2b).  Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord who has made and chosen each one for His people.  We can rest in what God has chosen for us knowing that it will be right and good.  Today is the official start of summer.  And likewise, it is the longest day of the year by the measurement of sunrise and sunset.  With the sun shining above us for a bit longer than any other day, how can you use this longest of days to praise God and to call forth His blessings.  Have a great Thursday and a happy summer!