"Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."
Psalm 16:9-11
Part 4
Yesterday: Jesus’ Resurrection Destroyed the Power of the Grave!
“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.”
Jesus did not stay dead long, just three days. Then He was raised again.
“Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
Jesus’ body was placed in a grave long enough, so His death was certain, but not long enough for His body to decay.
Today: The Pleasures of Being with the Lord Forever
“Thou wilt show me the path of life.”
“Thou wilt show me”
God will be the guide so that Jesus will come forth from His grave. (see JFB).
“‘I first shall find the way out of the regions of death, to die no more.’ Thus Christ was the first fruits of them that slept. Several had before risen from the dead, but they died again. Jesus rose from the dead and is alive forevermore”[1] (Clarke).
“Thou wilt cause me to know … the path of life: not only preserve me from death but lead me onward in that fellowship with Thee which alone is worthy to be called life.”[2]
“To Jesus first, this way was shown, for He is the first-begotten from the dead, the first-born of every creature. He himself opened up the way through his own flesh, and then trod it as the forerunner of His own redeemed”[3] (Spurgeon).
“The path of life.”
This is obviously the opposite of the condition of the dead. There is no higher form of life and living than to be resurrected from the dead. And to be in Heaven, eternally with our Lord, will be glorious!
“In thy presence is fulness of joy.”
Being in His presence, literally “before His face,” is where real joy is found.
“The thought of being made the path of life to his people gladdened the soul of Jesus. ‘In thy presence is fullness of joy’”[4] (Spurgeon).
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Because He followed the path of life and arose from the dead, He will lead us that way also. Then we will be with Him in heaven, “before His face” eternally. And we will finally be like Him, “without sin!”
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15).
Being in the Lord’s presence, and before His face, is the thought behind Aaron’s blessing:
“The LORD bless thee and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).
Even when David was in the middle of problems, and with his enemies surrounding him, he remembered,
“My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake” (Psalm 31:15-16).
Believers, may we live today as in His presence, for He indeed sees us where we are and what we do. David was concerned that he did have God’s approval for whatever he did.
“At thy right hand, there are pleasures forevermore.”
“Thy right hand.”
The right hand is the hand of honor and blessing.
“…The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1).
David said,
“I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8).
Where is Jesus Christ now that His work on earth is done?
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).
We are so looking forward to eternity with Jesus Christ! Here are some,
“Thoughts about Heaven,” from David’s 16th Psalm.[5]
Heaven’s Quality – there are genuine joys and eternal pleasures there. Life cannot get any better than this!
Heaven’s Quantity – there is “fullness.” Everything we need, and as much as we need, will be available there. No shortages, no need to “reorder…” “Heaven’s joys are without measure, mixture, or end” (Trapp).
Heaven’s Consistency – there is constant happiness without “intermission” at God’s right hand. Heaven is glorious because God is there, and never changing. There are never any disappointments there!
Heaven’s Permanence – there is no end to our everlasting life! It is eternal!
Quote: “Soon He [Jesus] will become God’s strong right hand of power, manifested until all His enemies become His footstool, and we, His people, are taken up to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Then we shall enjoy with Him the pleasures and fullness of joy at God’s right hand forevermore”[6] (Henry M. Morris).
[1] Clarke’s quote is from his commentary on Psalm 16:11. Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword. See Psalm 143:8, where David uses these words. Psalm 16:11.
[3] C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, the electronic version in eSword. Psalm 16:11.
[4] C.H. Spurgeon, ibid.
[5] These facts about heaven have been gleaned from a quote by Trapp that Spurgeon used as he wrote about this psalm. C.H. Spurgeon, ibid.
[6] Henry Morris’ quote from his article in “Days of Praise,” December 05, 2005. Downloaded: Saturday, February 27, 2021. From: https://www.icr.org/article/pleasures-at-gods-right-hand/.