Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool… Isaiah 66:1
What a grand and majestic picture this imagery offers. Isaiah began by bringing us into the throne room of heaven (Isa. 6:1). Now he closes on the same note and gives us the full circumference of God’s presence and authority. God’s throne is lofty in heaven. God’s gaze is lowly on earth. God’s Word is fearful among men.
—Sam Thorpe, Jr.
Seek ye the Lord while yet His ear, Is open to your call; While offered mercy still is near, Before His footstool fall. —W. Cameron
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Psalm 16:5-6
One of the greatest indicators that a believer is walking with the Lord is an appreciative spirit. Sometimes we are so taken up with the difficulties and challenges of life that we have forgotten all about the tremendous blessings we already possess. David was no stranger to difficulties, but as he reflected on the lot of land that was measured out to him and his heritage, he maintained an attitude of gratitude.
—Sid Halsband
Such blessings from Thy gracious hand, our humble prayers implore; And Thou shalt be our chosen God and portion evermore. —P. Doddridge
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:14
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thess. 5:24
God’s Word says, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him” (Ps. 91:15). “Fear thou not…I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee” (Isa. 41:10). “I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). “I will come again” (John 14:3). Take courage child of God, you can trust your heavenly Father to fulfill all He has promised to do. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen” (2 Cor. 1:20).
—E. V.
It is no secret what God can do, What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you. —Stuart Hamblen
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means… 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Visiting the seaside at Broadstairs, Kent on a stormy wet day, I was buffeted by winds and soaked with sea spray. I retreated to a sheltered street—fittingly called “Serene Place”. Sometimes we can best appreciate inner tranquility after we have experienced the storms of life. If your life is currently stormy, be assured a great calm is to follow if you place your faith in the will and wisdom and presence of the Lord. —Brian Powlesland
While I hear life’s surging billows, peace, peace is mine! Why suspend my harp on willows? Peace, peace is mine! I may sing with Christ beside me, though a thousand ills betide me, Safely He hath sworn to guide me, peace, peace is mine. —J. Denham Smith
David summarizes the entire psalm in his opening decree: “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust” (v. 1). In the first eight verses David details how he came to know the Lord as His full “portion” in life; in the last three verses he explains why he could joyfully trust the Lord in the face of death. Jehovah was David’s inheritance; apart from Him nothing had value or importance (v. 2). Consequently, while on earth, David enjoyed fellowship with “the excellent ones” (other righteous believers), who felt the same way he did about the Lord (v. 3). Companionship with these faithful saints was wonderful! On the contrary, David was determined not to commune with those who honored or served false gods (v. 4). Why? Because God had bestowed David with the best inheritance he could have ever imagined, Himself. This meant David was experiencing the best possible life, a life of full gratification in the Lord (vv. 5-6). While considering the Lord as his abundant portion, David is prompted to praise the Lord for His counsel and instruction, which had safely guided him through previous calamities (v. 7). Because of the Lord’s presence and strong hand, David was confident he would stand firm in His faith despite the attempts of his enemies to extinguish his life (v. 8).
David was confident God would preserve his life and that his body would not see decay in the grave at that time (vv. 9-10). Both Peter and Paul quoted David to confirm that there was a prophetic meaning to his statement relating to the future resurrection of Christ, the Holy One of Israel (Acts 2:25-28, 13:35-37). Clearly, these verses transcend David’s own experience, for his body did see corruption (his tomb is still in Jerusalem today). In David’s situation, God granted him deliverance from his enemies, but he could not escape death; it was inevitable. However, as it concerns Christ, this passage promises a glorious resurrection from death; therefore, as Hamilton Smith suggests, the entire psalm can be seen as tracing Christ’s life of faithful obedience which led Him into a solitary grave:
Psalm 16 is a prophetic description of the Lord Jesus in His lowly path through this world. He is viewed not in His divine equality with God, though ever true, but in the place of perfect dependence as the servant of Jehovah. It presents the inward life of faith before God, rather than the outer life seen before men. It is a life that has God for its object, so that it is a life lived to God, as well as before God.[i]
The New Testament attests to the resurrection of Christ, speaking of this spectacular event over one hundred times. Paul proclaims that without His resurrection we would not have eternal life or, by extension, hope (1 Cor. 15:12-19). Thus, both the cross and the resurrection of Christ compose the gospel message today (Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 15:3-4). Without Christ’s resurrection, saints would just be forgiven dead people with no hope of living for Christ now or having a future heavenly life with God. But this was not David’s confidence; he understood there was a “path of life” which permitted a glorious and joyful entrance into the eternal presence of God (v. 11). Likewise, believers can be confident death will never sever their fellowship with God (2 Cor. 5:8). Death has been conquered and its Victor is exalted and enthroned in heaven (1 Cor. 15:54-57). Truly, the Lord is our portion.
[i] Hamilton Smith, The Psalms, STEM Publishing, http://stempublishing.com/authors/smith/PSALMS.html
About the Author, Warren Henderson
Warren Henderson is an aerospace engineer. He now serves the Lord with his wife Brenda in “full time” ministry. They are commended from Believers Bible Chapel in Rockford, Illinois. Warren is an itinerant Bible teacher and is involved in writing, evangelism, and church planting. Warren Henderson has published many books including Be Holy and Come Near, In Search of God and The Evil Nexus: Are You Aiding the Enemy?
All our acceptance, all our completeness is because we are in Christ. Our blessings in Him are either superlative or else they do not exist at all. Everything we have, everything we are, everything we can possibly aspire to is provided because by faith we are in Him. Let us then serve Him in godly contentment in this little while that remains to us.
—Mark Fenn
O God of matchless grace, We sing unto Thy name; We stand accepted in the place That none but Christ could claim; Our willing hearts have heard Thy voice, And in Thy mercy we rejoice. —Hannah K. Burlingham
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
All believers are “in Christ”, but not all believers have this sentiment, “for to me to live is Christ”. Such a life is a surrendered and sanctified life, lived only for Christ. This occurs when our thoughts, words and actions are all for the glory of Christ. This means the person and virtues of Christ will be reflected in our daily life, in the home, at work, school, the church and in our leisure time. An inspirational Christian image pictures a bullock standing between a plough and an altar, with the caption, “Ready for either”. Ready to work or to be sacrificed for Christ! Then we will enter into Paul’s statement, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” —Milton Haack
All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give; I would ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. —Judson W. Van de Venter
Thomas…said unto him, My Lord and my God. John 20:28
…and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been [freshly] slain… Revelation 5:6
What a delightful response from the heart of Thomas, “My Lord and My God”. It was only after he had seen the marks of Calvary’s love that his heart burst in worship and adoration. What caused the four living creatures and the twenty four elders to sing, “Thou art worthy…for thou wast slain” (Rev. 5:9)? It was only after they had seen the freshly slain Lamb of God. What ought to cause our hearts to well up in worship this day? Only, when by faith, we too, see the marks of Calvary. —Jim Comte
Those deep, deep wounds will tell the sacrifice that frees us, From sin and death and hell! —C. A. H.
…We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Hebrews 8:1
In this ever changing world it is good to be assured our Lord is still on the throne. The writer to the Hebrews has brought before us the uniqueness and supremacy of Jesus, the Son of God. Now he reveals not only who He is as to His person but where He is! His exaltation has taken Him to the highest place in heaven. Yet in this supreme place of glory, He is there on our behalf. As our High Priest, He is able to provide us with every resource to meet every need. —Jim Paul
Give me Thyself today I dare not walk alone, Speak to me by the way and all things are my own, The treasure of Thy grace; the secret hiding place; The vision of Thy face; the shadow of Thy throne.—Author Unknown
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Romans 12:12
Utter despair grips the heart if there is no hope. A patient with cancer has hope of a cure until the doctor finally says, “I am sorry to tell you this but your cancer is now terminal”. But the believer has hope, regardless of present circumstances. He has the hope and assurance that God is with him and working on his behalf. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). If death comes knocking at his door, the believer still has hope. Death but opens the door into the glory of heaven. In view of this, we can be patient and endure trouble, constantly praying to our heavenly Father, filled with hope. —Donald L. Norbie
Jesus, before Thy face we fall—our Lord, our life, our hope, our all! For we have nowhere else to flee, no sanctuary, Lord, but Thee! —S. Medley
