Psalm 16 (NRSV)
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Verse 1Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
Verse 2I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
Verse 3As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
Verse 4Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
Verse 5The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
Verse 6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
Verse 7I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
Verse 8I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Verse 9Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
Verse 10For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
Verse 11You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Devotion
Many in our society live in fear – of terrorists, crime, pollution, global warming, even asteroids crashing into earth. People are evermore turning to human ingenuity and resourcefulness in looking for solutions. Some of these solutions come from our own hand: We look to the government for social security, to FEMA in times of natural disaster, to farm programs, welfare and other forms of aid to help meet daily needs. But while these things may provide temporal relief, which of them can bring eternal life?
The only source of true help, that which is eternal, is God. God calls upon us to turn to him for that which truly satisfies. God is our redeemer, not just for the struggles we confront on a daily basis, but for the eternal crises of our lives. God gives life, as nothing else and no one else can.
Prayer
You, O Lord, show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy. Amen.