Living in a Good Relationship with God

“The joys and benefits of a life lived in companionship with God” is the theme for Psalm 16
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From the very beginning, in verses 1 and 2, David cried out for God to be his refuge, and acknowledges God as his Lord apart from whom he had no good thing. He declared his allegiance to God, and God alone in verse 4, vowing never to make any sacrifice, as the Jews usually do, to no other gods (little g). He expressed his satisfaction with what he has, with his lot in life, and vowed to praise the Lord, even at night.

As I read this Psalm, and meditate on the feelings expressed by David, I cannot help but come to the realization that they are no different from what you and I feel, or should feel when we are living in a good relationship with the one true God.

Just like David, we want to be saved from threatening enemies. But that is not enough. We want to be saved to someone or something – a refuge. Our ultimate safety is in God, our refuge. In Psalm 17:8 David writes: “Keep me as the apple of your eye,” a metaphor to describe something that is protected and guarded carefully. And in the same verse he continued: “hide me in the shadow of your wings” a poetic language that borrows the characteristics of a protective bird to describe the way David wants God to take care of him. In fact, we find the same language in the first verse of Psalm 57 when having fled from Saul into the cave, he writes “In you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” God is indeed our ultimate refuge whenever danger of any kind lurks around.

There is no other god like the true God; the God who created us and loves us despite our imperfections. So, David warns us not to chase around any other gods lest our sorrow will increase. Whatever the other gods are. We often call them idols like money, fame, fortune, political and social notoriety. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about being rich or famous. The danger is that too often people tend to elevate these earthly possessions above God. Too often, these “things” end up replacing God in their lives, becoming their gods.

 Again, in verses 7 and 8, of Psalm 16, David lifts up the God who counsels him. He says that he sets the Lord always before him “because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” David testified to his faith and his trust in the God of Israel.
It is human nature to make our own plans and then ask God to bless them. Instead, David reminds us that we should seek God’s will first. “You will make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Ps. 16:11)

By constantly thinking about the Lord and his precepts, we will gain insights that will help us make right decisions and live the way God desires.  That is the ultimate benefit of living in a good relationship with God.

Let us Pray.  Forever Loving God, we praise and glorify your Holy Name. We thank you for your kindness, your mercy, your grace, and your faithfulness. We pray for an outpouring of your Holy Spirit to inspire us and empower us as we seek to follow you and live according to your Word. Open our minds and our hearts that we may receive you in your fullness and remain faithful regardless of the circumstances in our lives. May we trust you with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding, but in everything to acknowledge you and obediently follow the path you have laid out for us. Amen and Amen.

Written by Rev. Franck Aguilh