Fifty Two Weeks / Psalm 16

Personal Again

With 150 different Psalms it is somewhat ironic that perhaps the two that are the most personal to me would be right next to each other. But they are.

In 1985 our family moved to Zimbabwe. I went there to teach in a Bible School. Three years earlier had you told me we would be moving to Africa I would have been… I don’t know what I would have been. Dubious? Incredulous? Ridiculous? All of the above? 

Nevertheless, by the end of 1984 we found ourselves preparing to move to Zimbabwe and that preparation included speaking in a few churches about our call. In looking for a text for my sermon on us going to Africa I was ultimately drawn to… that’s right, Psalm 16.

This isn’t a typical missions passage but it spoke to where we were because growing up I had never thought of wanting to move to Africa to minister, but along about 1982 the Lord orchestrated several events to begin to awaken this desire in both Margaret and me.  By the time things fell into place for this opportunity to open up in Zimbabwe it was absolutely the desire of both or hearts. It was completely natural that we should identify with the psalmist saying, “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

We were only in Zimbabwe for three years but we learned a wonderful lesson. This passage doesn’t just apply to those who are called to full time ministry or to go overseas. This passage is for all believers. It is for all who put their lives in the Lord’s hands and allow Him to set their boundary lines. So many of us are so intent on creating our own boundary lines and the truth is that we don’t really have any idea how to find pleasant places. We don’t really know what will truly make us happy or bring us joy. If we allow Him to set the course of our lives then the time will come when we will look around and realize that our boundary lines have indeed fallen in pleasant places; surely this is a delightful inheritance.

This Psalm is quite famous also for being quoted by Peter in his sermon on the day of Pentecost. He used the prophecy “you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay” to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

I will close by pointing out the last two lines: “you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Remember who is at God’s right hand. Yes, this same Jesus who rose from the dead. Remember also that to be in His presence is our destiny. Talk about a delightful inheritance.