Ep. 101. Psalm 16,19 | A Beautiful Inheritance

EPISODE 101

A BEAUTIFUL INHERITANCE: PSALM 16, 19

This life can be abundantly challenging. It is difficult for us to have the attitude that we indeed "Have a beautiful inheritance." Too often, we, people of faith, measure our portion and inheritance by the money in our accounts, the food in the fridge, the health in our bodies, the joy in our friendships, the longevity of our days, or the pleasures we've partaken in. However, as Christians, we ought to know and remember that God is the fullness of our portion and inheritance. I am still taken back to that day in June 2000 when I read this Psalm and wept. I did not feel like God had been gracious or good to me then. It was a major shift for me. From that moment forward, I would remind myself that my fullness and blessing were found in God, my Redeemer. It is still something I have to remind myself of from time to time to find my greatest joy in God. We ought to rejoice that in God's "presence there is fullness of joy" and pleasures forevermore are at his "right hand."

In Psalm 16, we also have a reference to Christ and his resurrection. Both Peter and Paul refer to verses 7-10. God did not abandon Jesus to Sheol (the grave) and he did not see corruption.

Psalm 19 is important as it relates to the book of Romans. We see the power of creation as a preacher of the truth and revelation of God. I do find it interesting that so many people use Romans 10 as a call to send preachers into the world when the point Paul makes in Romans 10 is that all the world has already heard of the glory and power of God. The questions in 10:14-15 are not Paul's questions to the reader, but Paul's predicting the questions the reader will pose to him. Paul asks his questions in verses 18-19. Paul's audience would likely ask, "How can they hear without a preacher, and how can they preach unless they are sent?" Paul responds with his own questions, "Have they not heard? Has Israel not understood?" And then he answers his own questions, "Indeed they have." It is here that Paul quotes Psalm 19. The Bible is so great when we can see how all the pieces fit together or at least begin to see.

The Psalmist does petition God to "Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!" That prayer is answered in Christ. Sin no longer dominates people of faith.

ADDITIONAL READING: Romans 8:16-18; Ephesians 1:3; Acts 2:27; Acts 13:35; Romans 1:20; Romans 10:18; Romans 6:1-8; Genesis 4:4