Psalm 16:1-10

The quality of relationships is usually determined by how much we put into the relationship as well as what we get out of the relationship.  Our relationship with God is similar in some ways, but very different in other ways.  It is similar in that the more we give of ourselves to love and fear the Lord; the more we will benefit from the immense blessings of God.  It is different in that no matter how much we give of ourselves or fear and love the Lord; we do not change God in any way.  He is always the same so matter what we do or fail to do.  However, our relationship with Him is a great blessing to us just as it was to David.

GOD IS OUR SOURCE OF HELP: One of the keys to our relationship with the Lord is for us to realize that we are in desperate need of His help.  When we pretend that we are sufficient in and of ourselves; we displease the Lord.  When we recognize our dependence upon Him and see Him as our refuge and strength He is faithful to give us the help that we need.  God may choose you use godly men and women as His means of sending help and we are free to enjoy this fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  However, there are many powerful people who will offer help to us if we will agree to walk in their sinful ways and worship their idols.  We must always remember that the strength of sinners is very temporary and, in reality, is only an illusion.  God is our only true and secure source of help.

GOD IS OUR SOURCE OF HAPPINESS: Our relationship with God should be the greatest source of jot that we have in our lives.  He is our inheritance.  David not only sees God as the source of his food and drink, but he sees God as being his food and drink.  God gives us many gifts to enjoy and meets all of our needs but He is the greatest gift.  He gives us wise counsel when we do not know what to do.  He meets every single one of our needs so that we can rest with Him in great contentment.  Too often believes are seen as angry, mean and even sad.  This should never be!  God gives us great joy that should permeate every aspect of our lives.  When we contemplate Him and our relationship with Him we should have laugh out loud and have a smile on our face and twinkle in our eye no matter what circumstances we face.  God is our only true source of happiness.


GOD IS OUR SOURCE OF HOPE: We live in a world that is cursed by sin and we have bodies and hearts that are under the curse of sin.  Sin always leads to death.  Our sin separates us from God which is spiritual death.  Our sin also leads to physical death which is generally defined as the separation of the spirit from the body.  This is a desperate and hopeless condition that has fallen upon all of humanity.  However, God has graciously provided hop for the sinner through Christ.  This Psalm is quoted by the Apostles as referring to Christ and His resurrection from the dead.  However, what we must remember is that the hope of the resurrection is by no means limited to Christ.  What has happened to Him is what will happen to us.  We will not simply rot in death.  Our spirits will go to the presence of the Lord and our bodies will be resurrected just as Christ’s body was.  God is our only true source of hope.

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