Daily Digest: Capstone Capsule

“l WILL BLESS THE LORD who has given me COUNSEL; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons” – Psalm 16:7

Certain personal decisions and commitments are vital to experiencing the Performance of THE COUNSEL of the LORD: “l WILL BLESS THE LORD who has given me COUNSEL; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons” (Psa.16:7). The Lord performs nothing but His Counsel, and this is one of the key benefits of a life committed to God! The psalmist blessed God for counsel, even in the night, leading to steadfastness and rejoicing, because God revealed the Path of Life, and didn’t abandon the soul to Sheol – the grave. This wonderful song relates how David found the secret of contentment and joy even in pressing times. It also powerfully predicts Jesus and His work for us.

It seems that David wrote this psalm from a time of trouble, because he asked for preservation: “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust” (v.1). Yet, he knew that he would not be moved (v.8), and had confidence in some kind of resurrection (v.10). Therefore, the tone of this psalm is not despair or complaint; it is settled joy. Despite his trouble, David had a praising confidence in his God, Who preserves from the world, the devil, self, and from evils known and unknown. He also knew how to speak to his own soul (v.2; Psalm 42:5 and 43:5). Here, David affirmed that his very best – all of his goodness – was nothing apart from God: “My goodness is nothing apart from You” (v.2b).

Ironically, David delighted in God’s people, despite all their failings and scandals: “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight” (v.3b). This is a way of measuring our relationship to the Lord: Those who love the Lord will love the company of those who also love Him! Although David knew that his life, lived for God, was not an easy one, in contrast were the folly and futility of idolatry: those who served other gods found multiplied sorrows in life (v.4). After stating that there was nothing found in paganism, he explained the good he received from the Lord as the portion of his inheritance (v.5). The lines that marked out his inheritance had fallen to him in pleasant places (v.6).

Along with contentment, David obtained the benefits of counsel, security, joy, and eternal pleasures. The nation’s false gods could never give counsel the way the Lord gave him; hence, David praised God! His heart was instructed by God and His Word, and therefore his heart could also instruct him in the ways of God. He knew the joy of communing with God in the night seasons and receiving guidance from Him. (v.7). He therefore decided to put God first in his life and be rewarded with the Performance of His Promises – His Presence, Fullness of Joy and eternal pleasures (vv.8-11).