Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to you. I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense.
Psalm 16:1-2 (The Message)
Psalm 16 gives an insight into a man who tells us his secret to life. This is worth investigating as a large part of his life was in a lockdown scenario; not shut-in, but on the run. He lived a life having adventures, some good, bad and yes ugly too. He knew success as well as failure. To me, he is an inspiration. His name is David. You best know him as a Goliath slayer.
Synopsis of his life – a boy looking after sheep to becoming a king, dethroned by his son, reclaiming his throne, murder, adultery and one of the sincerest apologies for sinning ever recorded, which can be read in Psalm 51.
Here in Psalm 16, David begins with the first lesson (Preservation and Protection) he learnt from a young boy.
Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to you. I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense.
Psalm 16:1-2 (The Message)
David, years later before facing a giant, told a king how God had preserved and protected him from a lion and a bear and He was in no doubt He would protect him again from this giant he was about to face.
David was preserved not so much as a great warrior or leader but by throwing himself on God. His preservation came in God. As bodyguards surround a king and shepherds protect their flocks, so David appeals to God, whose name is EL (the Omnipotent One), preserve him. One of the great names of God is the Preserver of Men – Job 7:20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?
Those three words are so real today for us too. (Keep me safe) When going shopping, on public transport, even just going for a walk. I confess it is a daily prayer I too make and then every day I thank God for doing just that, and especially keeping me free form the virus. I take each day as it comes for I know that at any time there is that possibility of receiving the virus no matter how careful or protected I am which is why I have adopted this Psalm as it expresses confidence in the Lord. Like David in his life, his attitude was one of trust. (v. 1) We to start by trusting, knowing and counting that in Christ we have all our provisions and protection met.
As our Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ has expressly promised such preservation. Isaiah 49:7 The Lord who saves you is the Holy One of Israel.
We are surrounded by dangers of every kind at present, our health, unemployment, economy due to the impact of this virus and one old-age problem discrimination, the majority of which we at present have little or no defence against.
The only way to be really preserved forever is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior!
Did you know the words recorded at the centre of the Bible are this:
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man
Psalm 118:8
I believe it is there for a reason. At the very centre of the Bible God wants you to put your preservation and protection in Him.
I hope you will consider doing that and find like David, myself and many others HE won’t let you down. Keep Safe! Keep Distancing!
Tomorrow we see more of David’s success in life.