Jesus’ Victory is Our Life

Day 26:  Psalms 16:8-11

            Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

            Lord, You created all humanity to live in Your likeness in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24), but we failed to follow Your design for us. Only the Lord Jesus Christ never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). In one sense it is only Jesus who could say these words. This Psalm is first and foremost about Jesus Christ and His glorious work! But through His work of incarnation, ransom, and reconciliation, He applies His blood sacrifice and His resurrection power to work in and through His children.

O Lord God, I have not set You always before me though this is my need, my deepest and truest desire, even my solemn prayer and entreaty to You because of the work You have done in my heart! Lord, help me to always have You before me. Lord, please help me love You, serve You, seek You, abide in You. I have seen and tasted of Your spiritual gifts. You have sustained me through my trials and woes. In Your strength, Lord Jesus, I find my strength!

            Lord, please be near me always. Love me and help me to love You as I ought. I can only love You because You have first loved me (I John 4:19).

            Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices. My flesh also will rest in hope.

            Our heart is glad when we know You are near, O Lord. You are the true treasure, the true delight of our souls. Please help us love You, adore and worship You! Let us rejoice in You. Let our greatest thoughts, desires, fulfillment be in You and in You alone. Rebuke the evil one from us (Jude 1:9). Enlarge our capacity to love You (Ephesians 3:14-19). Please let our children and our wives, our children’s children and all our families and Your church in this place love and desire and serve and follow You until Jesus takes us home. Help us be a godly army before You, serving You, loving You, believing You.

            Lord, You are our hope. It is not our planning – not our giftedness, strength, resources. No, O Lord, it is You. Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name be glory, Because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. (Psalm 115:1)

            Psalm 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol nor will You allow Your holy one to see corruption.

            Lord, while this applies first and foremost to Your Son, Jesus, the first born from the dead, yet because of Your work as the triune God, it is also for us. You redeemed us by the blood of Your Son. You raised us by His resurrection power (Eph 2: 4 – 6). Work Your glory and praise in us, O Lord (Eph 1: 11 & 12). In His life we have life and hope forevermore!

            Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

            Lord, in Jesus You have shown me life. You are joy. You are life. You are true and godly pleasure.

Jesus, priceless Treasure,
Source of purest pleasure,
Truest Friend to me.
Ah, how long in anguish
Shall my spirit languish,
Yearning, Lord, for Thee?
Thou art mine, O Lamb divine!
I will suffer naught to hide Thee,
Naught I ask beside Thee.

In Jesus alone, Amen. (Jesus, Priceless Treasure, Words: Johann Franck, in Praxis Pietatis Melica, by Johann Crüger, 1653 (Je­su, meine Freude); translated from German to English by Catherine Winkworth, 1863.)