Cultivating Joy
Psalm 16:1-11
"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 16:11)
The Bible uses the word "joy" liberally. It's a hot commodity in our world of discontent, tension and grief. Often there seems to be little room for joy in our lives. Yet this is a gift (and gifts are given) which God desires for us. In Psalm 16 David - a man who knew sadness and hardship - speaks much of joy.
David enjoyed communion and fellowship with God (v. 2-4). He also put his confidence and trust in God (v. 5-11). Our joy will come as we live in the path of life that He shows us. It's a wonder that David could feel such abundant joy through the agonies of being hated by others, fearing for his life, murdering someone and being caught, having an affair, seeing a baby son die and watching other children grow up wayward.
David Livingston's joy in serving Christ in Africa was based on Jesus' words, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Eternal pleasures - ones that await us at the end of the age - held dear by both of these Davids, are given to us in Christ.
INSIGHT
ONE DAY WE'LL BE WITH JESUS, AND THE JOYS WE HAVE KNOWN IN THIS LIFE WILL PALE IN COMPARISON TO BEING IN HIS PRESENCE FOR ETERNITY!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
1 Chronicles 16-17
Psalm 1
Revelation 20-22
Psalm 16:1-11
New Living Translation (NLT)
1 Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.
2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.
5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!
7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.[b]
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[c]
or allow your holy one[d] to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.[e]
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 16:1 Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term.
b. Psalm 16:9 Greek version reads and my tongue shouts his praises. Compare Acts 2:26.
c. Psalm 16:10 Hebrew in Sheol.
d. Psalm 16:10 Or your Holy One.
e. Psalm 16:11 Greek version reads You have shown me the way of life, / and you will fill me with the joy of your presence. Compare Acts 2:28.
CHRISTIANS YOU SHOULD KNOW - ROB NOVAK
The drug-filled hard rock scene was all Rob Novak cared about. He hated even the idea of God, but it the end his story is proof that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace.
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