“Preserve me, O God!” These days, it’s easy to sympathize with David’s plea in Psalm 16, isn’t it? The unemployment, political gridlock, fractured relationships, and sickness we see all around us have stripped us of whatever illusions of control we might have harbored, leaving us longing for safety. Our need for God has never been greater, never more obvious.

But how can we trust in God when life seems so crazy? In verses 10 and 11, David points to our ultimate source of hope – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In fact, Peter quoted these verses as the clearest Old Testament prophecy of the empty tomb (Acts 2:25-32). And because Jesus was raised from the dead, all who trust in Him can be assured that the power of sin and death has been crushed. Moreover, we can take comfort that one day, when He comes again, we will be in His presence forever (Psalm 16:11).

But David wasn’t just looking forward to blessings in the life to come. No, in verse 9, he insists that his heart could be glad and that he was able to rejoice in the present time. And how could he do this? Verse 1 tells us how – he found his refuge, his safe place in God Himself, regardless of what was going on around him.

Now, I suppose we could go on looking to other things to make us feel safe. We could go on trusting in government regulations or business investments, in our relationships or our knowledge or our skills. In David’s time, people looked to all sorts of false gods, trusting them for safety or prosperity or happiness.

But in verse 4, David turns away from all those things. Instead, in verse 5, he insists that God alone is his portion, his inheritance. In other words, the reason David could trust in God not only in the life to come but also in this life is because God was more important to him, more precious to him than anyone or anything else.

And the same sort of confidence is available for us today. For the good news is that if God is our portion, if God is our refuge, if God is our inheritance, then our greatest desire is already within our reach. For in the cross and the empty tomb of Christ, Jesus has opened a way into the presence of God Himself. So, all who trust in Christ as Savior and bow the knee to Him as Lord can be sure that God is protecting us now (v. 8), that God is guiding us on the path of life now (v. 11), and that God is ensuring that we will be with Him forever. What could be a more beautiful heritage than that (v. 6)?

Psalm 16 (NASB)

A Mikhtam of David . Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in Thee.
2 I said to the LORD, “Thou art my Lord; I have no good besides Thee.”
3 As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their libations of blood, Nor shall I take their names upon my lips.
5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; Thou dost support my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
7 I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay.
11 Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.