Friday, August 21, 2020

Verse of the Day 8/21

Verse of the Day 8/21

Psalm 16:11  You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.    New King James Version (NKJV)

As I read this Psalm, written by King David, this morning a couple of thoughts came to my mind in relation to this verse.  Davids first statement here is that God will show him the path of life, it is a quiet confidence that God will guide and direct his steps through the hills and valleys and the dark times and brighter days.  He then draws upon his experiences in life where He has experienced "fullness" joy in God's presence in and through life's ebb and flow.  Both of these can point to Psalm 23 where David states that God had led him beside still waters and that his cup overflows.  With these things already stated he moves on to the last statement, "at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  At God's right hand means that he is close to God and is aware that the Lord is with him always and he looks for an eternity spent with him.

David Jeremiah writes, "The psalmist, David, anticipated the "fullness of joy" in God's presence—"pleasures forevermore." He looked forward to the eternal pleasure of experiencing God's presence, what we would refer to, from a New Testament perspective, as heaven. Not evident in the English translation of Psalm 16:11 is the fact that the word "joy" is plural in Hebrew, this plural form also occurs in Psalm 45:15. The plural form intensifies the joy David anticipated: absolute joy, various joys, or intense joy. This was no idle or casual expectation on his part; he was absolutely looking forward to the multifaceted joy of dwelling in God's presence forever."

The Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1648 states "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever." Think about that, while we live we have been created to bring glory to God and look forward to spending eternity with Him in the fullness of joy that David speaks of while continuing to glorify Him!  

These thoughts brought to mind the old hymn.  Hopefully, it rings true in you heart today and will forevermore.

Jesus, my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow'r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul;
Now I belong to Him;
Once I was lost in sin's degradation,
Jesus came down to bring me salvation,
Lifted me up from sorrow and shame,
Now I belong to Him;
Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.
--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV	    

Psalm 16:7-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.[a]
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[b] rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.[c]

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

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