January 13 2013
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 16

OBSERVATIONS
David is not sinless, but he is sincere. He genuinely strives to honour and obey God, and He is genuinely thankful to God for guiding and supporting him through his life. God has been good to him, and he is thankful. Now he is going through a crisis, he is walking through a valley of the shadow of death (we do not know the specific situation). But he maintains his confidence in God through this crisis, and chooses to believe that God will not let him die or be defeated.
We are all sinners, like David, in need of God’s mercy and help. Though some ‘believers’ can be hypocrites, many are sincere, genuinely trying to honour and obey God. Yet they also suffer, they also experience crises, go through valleys shadowed by death. Has God abandoned us, is God judging and condemning us, is sin, Satan, death and hell victorious?
NO, NO, NO!
Sin is the reason for all suffering and hardship, it’s the reality in this sin-messed world, it’s the consequence of our sinful attitudes and behaviours. But God has stepped into the world overcome sin, Satan, death and hell. Jesus WAS sinless, and He WAS abandoned to sin, Satan, death and hell (Matthew 27:46). But not forever. Peter affirms that God did not allow His faithful one to see decay (Acts 2:25-33, which quotes Psalm 16:8-11). David did die, but Jesus was resurrected. And because He lives, we also will live! (John 14:19)
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
What do you notice in this passage?

APPLICATION
We may die, but we will not be destroyed. Death is not the end of life, it is the entry way to life. Jesus has overcome ever enemy – sin, Satan, death and hell – and now the shadow of death is JUST a shadow.
Outwardly we still experience death, but inwardly we are renewed by His life. We still age, we still get sick, we will still suffer, we can still get cancer, we will one day die. But because of Jesus, death is more like falling asleep… then waking up again… forever. Nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ. This does not mean that I will not suffer or eventually die, but it does mean that these things will not defeat and destroy me.
Is this hope, this confidence, evident in how I live? Is it evident when I am suffering or struggling? If I am diagnosed with a disease, do I ‘take refuge’ like David, thankful for all God’s goodness, trusting in His purpose, confident that suffering and death will NOT defeat me, for He will not abandon me in the grave.
Do I have this resurrection attitude?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?

PRAYER
God, You have been good me. My life is valuable, despite my struggles, doubts and fears. You have a purpose for me, and I am absolutely immortal in this life while Your purpose stands. And when my task is done, my life will just be beginning.