Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Psalm 16

Psalm 16

On the Day of Pentecost Peter faced a daunting challenge. Together with the other one hundred-nineteen disciples, Peter had been in hiding since the crucifixion of Jesus. When the promised Holy Spirit came upon Peter, and the others, it was kairos, God’s Time, to come out of hiding and proclaim the resurrection of Jesus to all people, everywhere. Where do you start, how do you explain the resurrection? Peter began with Psalm 16.

Peter preached that David’s words in Psalm 16: 8-11 were fulfilled in Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 2:25-32). The Apostle Paul also relied on Psalm 16 when he preached to the people in Antioch (Acts 13:35-37).

While David’s psalm became an Old Testament prophecy of Jesus, the Messiah, it also held great comfort and power for David. We too, can feed upon the truth of God in David’s great psalm of hope. In this psalm David affirms his faith in God who shall preserve him, in God’s goodness, in God’s presence before him, giving him hope, and in God’s victory over death as the Giver of life. Because Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, the Apostle Paul proclaimed that we can rest in the sure hope of our eternal life in Jesus. (See Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 6:14 and 2 Corinthians 4:14)

What else is there for the psalmist to say but,

“In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.”


What word or phrase in these verses
Attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?

Reading for May 17, 2012            Psalm 17

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