Psalm 16

The topic of trust comes up many times in the book of Psalms. Psalm 4, 16, 23, 27, 62, and 73 are individual Psalms of Trust. C. Hassell Bullock says in Encountering the Book of Psalms, “the sentiment of trust dominates a few psalms and singles them out as special expressions of confidence in God. Experience is the master teacher of trust. In fact, the spirit of trusting seems more often than not to be directly proportional to the intensity of distress or the depth of trouble.”

This is certainly a time where the spirit of trust needs to invade our lives as much as the spirit of stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and fear are attempting to creep into our lives. The level of intensity is varied depending on our experience and situation, but no matter what depth of trouble we find ourselves in, we can all depend and trust in the Lord.

There is a pattern that comes up in these Psalms of trust: there are declarations, an invitation to trust, a basis for trust, a petition to God, and a vow of praise. You can pick up on these patterns in the psalms mentioned above. Let us focus in on the basis and the declarations we can pray through today.

The basis on which we can base our trust in God is found in verses 5-6 and 11 which says, “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)
“You make 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).

God is our portion for each day and because He makes us secure, we can trust Him fully. His joy fills us as we are in His presence; we are satisfied in Him because of who God is.

Actions Steps and Prayer:
1. Pray out this Psalm as it applies in your own life. Repeat verses 5-6 and 11 as a reminder to you why you can trust in the Lord and pray: Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup, you make me secure.  Lord, through you, you give me a path of life, you fill me with joy as I am in your presence today and forevermore!
2. As you continue in your prayer today, you can declare with confidence in a prayer:

• “for in you I take refuge” (Psalm 16:1b)
• “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing” (Psalm 16:2)
• “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me” (Psalm 16:7)
• “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8)
• “my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices” (Psalm 9a)

3. Listen to “Psalm 16: Fullness of Joy.” As you listen, may joy fill your heart as you enjoy the presence of the Lord.