April 17, 2023 -- Psalm 16:1-2 -- The Psalm Series: the LORD the Source of all Good
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~hear and obey Jesus!
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.”
Psalm 16:1-2 ESV
The old atheist question “If there is a good man who does not know God, why would a loving God condemn him to hell?” is answered by these first verses of Psalm 16. There is no good apart from the Living God. The only good in our life is to acknowledge the LORD—He Who makes covenant with His people and at great cost keeps those covenant promises. But how would the non-believer know this?
The heavens declare God’s glory (Psalm 19:1) and their testimony is available to all.
The complexity of human design proves there is a maker (Psalm 139:14). Cell phone manufacturers boast of their latest models and all its features. We are often amazed at what computing power is in our hands. These companies crow over their designs. We know these machines are designed. There is no way they ‘happened by chance and time’. And if you'd be so naïve to think that, you'd see the maker's stamp on it to correct your foolish notion. Yet a single cell in our bodies is far more complex. What a work of beauty each one is. Our very DNA bears our Maker's mark. If a cell phone has a maker (manufacturer) how much more does life have a designer?! He is God--the source of all good.
It is increasingly difficult to watch any movie or film. The Name of God is a cure. Interestingly and painfully, when the same one who curses is in trouble, there is an appeal to God. It is obvious men suppress the truth of God’s existence (Romans 1:28). Why else would they curse Him or cry out to Him? No one curses the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy when they are in crisis.
When the Rich Young Ruler came to Jesus asking how to be saved, he began by calling Jesus “Good Teacher”. Jesus replied “No one is good except God alone”. (Luke 18:19). Jesus is affirming God the Father is the source of good. In conjunction with this Jesus is challenging the RYR to see standing before him Jesus, truly God, truly the Source of Good for all who believe.
Still the mercy of God beyond all description is seen in this fact, as long as men, atheists and believers alike, draw breath, God is good. He sends His rain on the just and the unjust. He gives life. He gives breath in our lungs and skills and abilities. Truly His goodness is infinite. As long as a man lives and breaths, he has every opportunity to acknowledge “apart from God I have no good”.
Our Father in heaven honoured and praised may Your Name be throughout all eternity. LORD, You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You! You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are eternal pleasures forevermore. Amen.
(Based on Psalm 16:1,11)
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When Morning Gilds the Sky
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