Psalm 16

Read Psalm 16 ESV

Who - David is singing to the LORD.

What - David has written a song of praise and thankfulness.  David is singing about how the LORD has been good to him.  

When - No time is given, possibly after a recent illness or life threatening situation. (vs10).

Where - Unknown

Why - While David does make a specific request (vs 1), the purpose seems to be a personal praise and thanksgiving for God’s overall goodness and blessing.  

How - David starts with a request for the LORD to preserve him.  David goes on to proclaim his dependence on the LORD and his rejection of false gods and those who practice false religions.  Next David acknowledges the LORD’S blessing on his life (vs 5 & 6).  David also praises the LORD for giving him wise counsel and wisdom.  David declares his joy and delight at the security the LORD has given him, because the LORD has kept David from death (vs 9 & 10).  David finishes with a proclamation of delight and joy he has in the LORD’S presence and fellowship.  

This psalm (vs 10) is quoted by Paul in Acts 13:35 in his sermon at the synagogue in Antioch Pisidia as being fulfilled in Jesus by His resurrection from the dead.  Since Psalm 16 is ultimately about Jesus, the whole psalm appropriately fits Him and could be said of the NT Church and believers.

So What 

1. Praise and give thanks to the LORD for His goodness and blessings in our lives.  (If we are having trouble coming up with specific items, use the list David does in this psalm.  See  the “How” section.)  We should plan regular times of reflection to see the LORD’S goodness and blessing in our lives.  Stopping to think about the LORD’S goodness to us personally is very important during times of crisis and difficulty.  It gives us hope and belief the LORD will act for us.
2. Our refuge is the LORD when trouble and crisis comes into our lives.  We must do more than intellectually assent to this truth.  We must speak it with our mouths and plead it to the LORD.  
3. One aspect of taking refuge in the LORD is the fellowship of believers.  As most of our crises are emotional or spiritual, the LORD has provided the means of fellowship with believers when we need refuge.  This is not to diminish the importance of fellowship with God the Father through the Spirit, this too must happen.  It is an acknowledgment that the LORD uses our brothers and sisters to aid us.
4. Who you hang with matters.  We must build relationships with nonchristians as the LORD allows.  Yet David’s words in verse four are clear, we cannot participate in or condone their disobedience of God.
5. We all should sing and apply this psalm to our corporate church life as well.  Because this psalm is ultimately about Christ, we can sing this as a church body praising and thanking the LORD for how He has blessed us as a body of believers.