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
Jesus Christ raised from the dead is an unsolvable problem for us. The reality of Easter is an omnipresent threat to our security and way of life. It means, in the words of author Philip Yancey, that “He’s out there somewhere.” What makes this matter all the more dire is that “He cannot die again … ” (Romans 6:9).
Consequently, Jesus has us cornered, without any possibility of us getting rid of him, pushing him out to Golgotha and crucifying him all over again. He can’t die again, and this means that his unyielding will to forgive sinners cannot die either. What are we to do with such a God? It seems as if there is only one option available. In the end we may just have to look to him in faith, realizing that he is Lord of all things, including us!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, create us anew in faith, content to be your creatures. Amen.