Rejoice In Our God: A Reflection on Psalm 16


Psalm 16

 

A Miktam of David

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”


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As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me. 
I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

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.

  

Editor’s Note: This year, we are praying for China by praying through the Psalms. Each month, our prayers will be centered around one unifying theme. This month, that theme is joy.

It is fitting that, in a season of extreme anxiety and uncertainty, we should remember that believers always have great reason to rejoice and exult in the God of our salvation. In this meditation on Psalm 16, Pastor Shu Yu reminds us that our current experiences are directly connected to our eternal hope.

God Is the Source of All Good in Life

“Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.” (v. 9) This is a psalm of joy, expressing the deepest emotion of the poet’s heart: inexpressible gladness, born of both faith and experience, and involving a relationship with God and the riches of God’s being. The psalmist writes: “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”(v. 2) Indeed! What good is there apart from God?

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“From David’s point of view, all that God gives is good and beneficial. But for us, there is a certain uncertainty in both our personal emotions and the circumstances of our ministry.

— Shu Yu

David took refuge in God. In this psalm, he writes that God blessed him (v. 1), gave him an inheritance (v. 6), and gave him a people in whom he delighted (v. 3). The Lord counseled and instructed David (v. 7), was with him (v. 8), saved him (v. 10), and prepared for him everlasting pleasures (v. 11). By faith, David saw that everything he was given and all that he experienced were opportunities to trust in and experience God. He learned the wisdom of being content in all things, of enjoying God’s goodness, and delighting in God through unceasing supplication, praise, and thanksgiving.

From David’s point of view, all that God gives is good and beneficial. But for us, there is a certain uncertainty in both our personal emotions and the circumstances of our ministry. Perhaps our uncertainty lies in our political environment, in the disturbances of the pandemic, in spiritual weakness or health problems, or in the temptations of Satan. Wherever our uncertainty, we are often trapped in worry and frustration. Unlike David, we do not see our troubles as gifts from God and opportunities to experience him. We not only lose our joyful hearts, but our fervor for prayer also slowly grows cold. Let us beg the Lord to help us use David’s perspective to reflect on our own hearts. May he turn our hearts toward himself, and may we come to rejoice in him alone as the sole cause of our joy.

Hope and Contentment Found in Christ Alone

From the point of view of the last days, God blesses those who turn to him. He never forsakes them, does not leave them to fall into Sheol, and does not cause his holy ones to see corruption (v. 10). Death is not the end of life, but the starting point of eternity. This truth becomes the psalmist’s hope, and brings us great hope as well.

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“Through Jesus Christ, we now have the power to face death, and the confidence to face the future. Life and death are not in opposition; suffering and joy are no longer contradictions; this world and eternity are not cut off from one another.

— Shu Yu

God did not allow the work that Jesus Christ accomplished to remain on the cross. Instead, by the power of the resurrection, he pushed open the gates of heaven for us. Our current circumstances are directly connected with our future hope! At this moment, Jesus is our God, and our good is never found outside of him. Through Jesus Christ, we now have the power to face death, and the confidence to face the future. Life and death are not in opposition; suffering and joy are no longer contradictions; this world and eternity are not cut off from one another. Instead, these things have great continuity, echoing and melting into one another. Through Jesus, every suffering and every difficult situation becomes another opportunity for us to, in faith, draw on the riches of God’s grace.

Jesus Christ is our God, and in his “presence there is fullness of joy; at [his] right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (v. 11)

Since we have no good apart from God, since our refuge is found in him, let us cry out to him: “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge!” 

We must cry out and pray to the Lord at all times. In times of discouragement, pray; in times of weakness; pray; in times of danger, pray. In all times, we pray without ceasing, and we rejoice. Because he is our God, we can rejoice with joy inexpressible.

Shu Yu (a pseudonym) was born in 1970. In 2010, he was called to serve as a pastor in an urban house church.

    


We are using the Psalms to guide our prayers for China

In 2022, our prayer movement is turning to the scriptural prayers found in the Psalms as we pray for the Chinese church. When you join our prayer movement, you will receive weekly prayer emails and a monthly newsletter so that you too can pray for our brothers and sisters in China.

  

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

With rising pressure and persecution in China, there are two challenges imperative for church leaders. The first challenge is for current leaders to love Christ above all else, and not to stray into legalism or love of the world. The second challenge is to raise up the next generation of leaders, who will humbly model Jesus even if current leaders are arrested.

WILL YOU JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA? PRAY FOR:

  1. Current leaders to grow in their daily walks with Christ
  2. Current leaders to shepherd and raise up new leaders
  3. New leaders who love Christ and will model him to the world
  4. New leaders to love and care for the church

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ABOUT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

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Shenyang is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Liaoning Province. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, including the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shenyang is also a hub for China’s heavy industry, with companies such as the China First Automobile Group and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation having their headquarters in the city.

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About Qingdao

Qingdao is a city located in eastern China and is famous for its beaches, beer, and seafood. The city is home to several landmarks, including the Zhanqiao Pier and the Badaguan Scenic Area. Qingdao is also a major port and has a thriving economy, with industries such as electronics, petrochemicals, and machinery.

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About Xiamen

Xiamen is a city located in southeastern China and is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful coastal scenery, including Gulangyu Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also a hub for China’s high-tech industry, with companies such as Huawei and ZTE having research and development centers in Xiamen.

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About Chongqing

Chongqing is a city located in southwestern China and is a major economic center in the region. The city is known for its spicy cuisine, especially its hot pot dishes, and is also famous for the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Chongqing is also home to several historic sites, including the Dazu Rock Carvings, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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About Nanjing

Nanjing is a city located in eastern China and is the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is one of China’s ancient capitals and has a rich cultural history, including the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Nanjing City Wall, and the Confucius Temple. Nanjing is also a modern city with a thriving economy and is home to several universities, including Nanjing University and Southeast University.

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About Changchun

Changchun is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Jilin Province. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and is home to several historical landmarks such as the Puppet Emperor’s Palace and the Jingyuetan National Forest Park. Changchun is also a hub for China’s automotive industry, with several major automobile manufacturers having their headquarters in the city.

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About Guangzhou

Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is a city located in southern China and is the capital of Guangdong Province. It is one of the country’s largest and most prosperous cities, serving as a major transportation and trading hub for the region. Guangzhou is renowned for its modern architecture, including the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House, as well as its Cantonese cuisine, which is famous for its variety and bold flavors. The city also has a rich history, with landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Additionally, Guangzhou hosts the annual Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in China.

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About Kunming

Kunming is a city located in southwest China and is the capital of Yunnan Province. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its mild climate, Kunming is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and cultural diversity. The city is home to several scenic spots, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Stone Forest, Dian Lake, and the Western Hills. Kunming is also famous for its unique cuisine, which features a mix of Han, Yi, and Bai ethnic flavors. The city has a rich cultural history, with ancient temples and shrines like the Yuantong Temple and the Golden Temple, and it’s also a hub for Yunnan’s ethnic minority cultures, such as the Yi and Bai peoples.

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About Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a city located in southeastern China and is one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolises. The city is renowned for its thriving tech industry, with companies such as Huawei, Tencent, and DJI having their headquarters in Shenzhen. The city also has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, art galleries, and parks. Shenzhen is also known for its modern architecture, such as the Ping An Finance Center and the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. Despite its modernization, Shenzhen also has a rich history and cultural heritage, with landmarks such as the Dapeng Fortress and the Chiwan Tin Hau Temple.

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About Chengdu

Chengdu is a city located in the southwestern region of China, and the capital of Sichuan province. It has a population of over 18 million people, and it is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, laid-back lifestyle, and its cute and cuddly residents – the giant pandas. Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where visitors can observe these adorable creatures in their natural habitat. The city also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with numerous temples, museums, and historical sites scattered throughout its boundaries. Chengdu is a city of contrasts, with ancient traditions coexisting alongside modern developments, making it an intriguing and fascinating destination for visitors to China. 

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About Beijing

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About Shanghai

Shanghai is a vibrant and dynamic city located on the eastern coast of China. It is the largest city in China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 24 million people. Shanghai is a global financial hub and a major center for international trade, with a rich history and culture that spans over 1,000 years. The city is famous for its iconic skyline, which features towering skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Tower. Shanghai is also home to a diverse culinary scene, world-class museums and art galleries, and numerous shopping districts. It is a city that is constantly evolving and reinventing itself, making it a fascinating destination for visitors from around the world.

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