[Ps 16 (Part 1)] God's Goodness Even to Death.
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Nathan Sehi
Bethel Baptist Church
Laramie, WY
11/29/17
– God’s Goodness Even to Death
In our World – what do we perceive as the greatest threat to our happiness?
We might be able to say many things, but in many ways it can be summed as threats to our fortune and threats to our life.
What is the first goal of at least 90% of high-school students?
To find a good paying job.
What is one of the most talked about political issues today?
The state of medical insurance in the United States.
For many,
Happiness is bound up in fortune and in a long life.
Yet, we see in where true happiness, fortune, and protection come from.
Psalm 16English Standard Version (ESV)
You Will Not Abandon My Soul
A Miktam[a] of David.
16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.[b]
4 The sorrows of those who run after[c] another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.[d]
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being[e] rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.[f]
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.
This Psalm teaches us,
PROPOSITION: God’s Goodness Should Overcome the Worry of the Godly.
Now next week, we will look at why that is,
But for this week I just want us to consider the confession of David in the first 4 verses.
1. Plea for Protection. (v. 1)
“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.”
Interestingly, this is the only prayer request David makes.
Likely we do not know what is worrying David, but the rest of the Psalm almost overshadows his own request.
He makes a bigger point about who God is in his life – then his own trial.
APPLICATION:
I think that is a lesson for us – many times we dwell on our problems before God. And at times that is perhaps appropriate.
But many times the majesty of God ought to overshadow the temporary struggles we are facing.
2. Confession. (v. 2-3)
In the next section,
We note really 3 confessions followed by a 4th in v. 4.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.[b]
a. Yahweh is my master.
b. Goodness only comes from Yahweh.
How often do we equate fortune and goodness in this world – apart from God.
Our blessings come from the
- right investment
- good paying job
- low taxes.
- a lack of set backs (we have a good year).
- my hard work.
- someone who has been generous to us.
But where does goodness really come from?
Always God.
Even when we are blessed by
- right investment
- good paying job
- low taxes.
- a lack of set backs (we have a good year).
- my hard work.
- someone who has been generous to us.
We need to remember that our real blessings come from God.
We may recognize the worldly provision, but may we always remember the ultimate source of that provision was God.
This was David’s confession
And perhaps during prayer time – we ought to acknowledge the true provider of all our Good things.
I think of the parallel that comes from .
This passage, really is meant to remind us about how much better the Goodness of the Gospel is to us – than anything else in this world.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
c. His delight is in the people of God.
Just a brief a reminder – look around – because the people who are the people of God ought to bring you the greatest delight in the world.
Doesn’t mean we are sinless, but the common love for God and Christ ought to be our true delight.
We also see a confession in v. 4.
3. Refusal to Worship Idols (v. 4)
4 The sorrows of those who run after[c] another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
a. Idolater’s Sorrows will multiply.
To often, we think the greatest blessing follow the wicked – but we are doing is forgetting their great sorrows.
Those who chase after others Gods – whether God of a love of this world or an actual false idol – sorrows follow those who lack the goodness of God found in Yahweh.
That was David’s confession in v. 2.
c. Refusal to Practice Idolatry
The next refusal is an interesting one.
We know that there are drink offerings in the Temple, but it is unclear if this a play on words or some idolatry that actually practiced blood drink offerings.
d. Refusal to Praise Idol’s.
“ or take their names on my lips.”
David so refuses to follow false idols – he won’t even acknowledge their existence by naming them.
The point – David refuses to be one of the people who chase after others God’s.
CONCLUSION:
Perhaps to bring some of this confession together in way of conclusion –
I know we would like say we agree – I will not worship or name other gods.
Certainly we would confess –
We need to reject those who deny
o Christ Alone
o Faith Alone
o Grace Alone
But the book, the Gospel Treason, that Pastor Jeremy Stephens mentioned, makes it perfectly clear we are just as capable as believers to commit idolatry.
Whether we speak of false idols found in religion – or the material idols of this world we follow with our hearts.
May we also confess a refusal to worship false idols?
May we acknowledge the goodness found in Yahweh alone
And refuse to even mention the idols of this world.