January 6, 2023 -- Psalm 16 -- Yearning for the Father's love

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

A Miktam of David.

16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.
4 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.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 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.
Psalm 16 ESV

A Miktam is a reference to a musical notation. It means this Psalm was used for public worship. So, likely it was something that the people of God learned by heart, sang in worship and through these activities the Psalm was used by the Spirit of God to change hearts. John Owen has a wonderful reflection on this. It is unusual for me, but I will quote his work at length.

     It is clear, then that Christians are the most misunderstood people
     in the world. If Christians say, "Come and have fellowship with us,"
     the world is ready to retort, "Have fellowship with you! Who are you?
     You are a company of foolish people. We despise your fellowship.
     When we intend to leave fellowship with all honest men and with men
     who are worth knowing, then we will come to you." But how sadly
     mistaken is the world! Truly the fellowship with Christians is with the
     Father. Let the world think as they please, but Christians have intimate,
     spiritual, heavenly joys, because their fellowship is a fellowship of love
     with the Father. Christians are looked on as poor, low, despicable 
     persons, when indeed, they are the only great and noble persons in
     the world (II Corinthians 6:8-10). So Christians are indeed the excellent
     in the earth (Psalm 16:3).
     This also shows clearly the difference between true and false
     Christians. Outwardly, both do the same things and enjoy the same
     privileges. But now enter into their secret prayers and thoughts.
     What a difference there is! There the saints hold communion with
     God. Hypocrites for the most part commune with the world and with
     their own lusts. They listen to what their lusts have to say, and then
     make provision for them. The saints, on the other hand, are sweetly
     wrapped up in the the love of their Father. Often it is impossible
     that believers should be better outwardly than those with rotten
     hearts. But this fellowship with the Father true Christians have, of
     which hypocrites know nothing. They have this feast in the Father's
     banqueting house, in which hypocrites have no share. In the
     multitude of their thoughts, the comforts of God their Father revive
     their souls.
     Communion with God. John Owen. Abridged: R.J.K. Law. Banner of
     Truth Trust. reprinted 2018. page 35-36

Father in heaven, blessed and beautiful is Your Name. May Your Named be honoured and adored through-out the earth. Thank You for the writings of those who are giants in the faith. Spirit of the Living God, through the grace given in Jesus Christ and His reconciling blood, help us as believers to yearn for this kind of fellowship with our Father in heaven. So move our souls and minds and hearts that we become insatiably hungry to know God in the way in which John Owen describes, and David celebrates in Psalm 16. As the beauty of this time with God the Father begins to fill our hearts and imagination, and saturate the desires and goals of our life, let the sweetness of such time with God the Holy, displace baser lusts and hypocritical religious fevers. In You, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may our hearts be glad and our entire being rejoice. Give what is powerfully depicted here, the knowledge of the path of life, fullness of joy in Your presence and such pleasures at your Right Hand that eternity is not nearly long enough to savour Your goodness and blessedness and perfections. Amen.

https://youtu.be/njKlUFJaBYE
Shane and Shane "Yearn"

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.