Psalm 16 – The Greatest Human Joy

This article was first published in French at TPSG.

Psalm 16 is a rich Psalm that answers a fundamental human question: Where does the greatest human joy lie? Many portions of Scripture address the question, but in this article, we’ll find the answer in the final phrase of the Psalm is, “At your right hand are pleasures evermore.” 

Five Perspectives to Consider

As we dive into this passage, I’m going to try to walk us through what it means for five main people or categories:

• David
• The people of Israel
• Jesus Christ
• The Church
• Us as individuals

Delight in the LORD as Refuge (Ps 16.1-2)

David

In the face of his enemies, David seeks protection from God, his refuge and his sovereign good. Segond 21 translates it, "You are my supreme good.” In the English translation I used, this phrase is translated, “Je n'ai rien de bon à part toi.”

Israel

As the people of Israel meditate on this psalm, they echo David’s sentiments throughout their various trials from neighbouring enemies, and later on during foreign occupation. 

Jesus Christ

Jesus himself reflects his total dependence on the Father throughout his earthly ministry, modelling to his disciples the pleasure he finds in God’s presence by spending sleepless nights in prayer and waking while it is still dark to seek intimacy with the Father. 

The Church

We can also join in singing this song with our Lord, Israel, and David himself, confident that in union with Christ, these words ring just as true for us. As his Bride faces increased persecution throughout the world, she can entrust herself to the LORD who is her refuge. 

Us

If we’re honest, we’ll admit that the veracity of the declaration contained in these verses depends on the season we’re walking through. It is often only when we reach the end of ourselves that we discover our only source of happiness. To the degree that these words do not reflect what we feel in this very hour, they serve as an invitation to take hold of their truths by faith. 

Delight in the LORD’s Holy Ones (Ps 16.3-4)

David

Because of his happiness in the Lord, David expresses intense affection for the saints. In fact, he is so passionate about the Holy One of Israel, that an essential part of his happiness is to surround himself with those who are also captured by such a vision of the LORD. That is why David contrasts his love for the faithful with his disdain for idolaters. But these are not idolaters in general, but rather syncretistic Israelites specifically who claim to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, but who in reality, run after other gods. David doesn't want anything to do with them, nor does he want to pronounce their names.   

Israel

This is the challenge for the people of Israel as they consider their own choices: Will they choose to follow the Holy One by dwelling among holy people, or allow idolatry to contaminate their land and lead them away from covenant faithfulness? 

Jesus

Jesus, of course, delights in the company of his beloved disciples, in whom hhe invests most heavily. It is on them that he bestows the title, “friends,” to those to whom he makes known the will of the Father (Jn 15:15). 

The Church

And that’s the call to the Church to this day. Will we love and cultivate holiness as Christ’s covenant community, or will we sacrifice our moral high ground on the altar of relevance and acceptance from the culture? We need to pray for our churches and pastors to remain grounded in truth and grace as they face the challenges of our generation.

Us

The same holds true for us as individuals. Jesus has not called us to be hermits and live in complete isolation from the world. But we also have to keep in mind the words of James 4:4, 

4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.

So, we need to cultivate friendship with God while also cultivating friendships with godly people. That’s become harder than ever for me recently because it’s been easy to become antisocial during the long confinements of this pandemic. And scrolling through Facebook and chatting over text message simply can’t replace the face-to-face fellowship our hearts so desperately need. Especially if we’re going to avoid falling into the pit of idolatry David speaks out against.

And what’s tough for us in the West is that our idolatry is so subtle! In David’s time, it was crystal clear: Jews were offering sacrifices to pagan Gods! But today, we are tempted to pour out our libations on the altar of pleasure, success, wealth, self-actualization, etc. We need one another and the help of the Spirit to help us identify and tear down these idols from our hearts.

Delight in the LORD as our Portion (Ps 16.5-7)

David

In v. 5, David describes with colourful imagery how much he delights in the Lord. He speaks of the LORD in gastronomic terms, likening him to his favourite meal, along with a cup, his favourite drink, that accompanies it. David sounds like a foodie to describe God in this way!

David then adds in v. 6 that God is his inheritance, his most precious possession. Using the language of covenant and its connection to the Promised Land, David delights in the LORD more than in his own kingdom or any material blessing that might accompany it - palaces, horses, chariots, land. The Bible du Semeur translates this verse so vividly: “Tu as fixé les limites. C’est un jardin plein de délices, oui, c’est pour moi un patrimoine merveilleux.” His most precious inheritance, in which he finds his delight, is friendship and fellowship with God.

David then speaks of the counsel of the LORD that remains beside him even in the night in v. 7. He depended on God to counsel him, to give him the wisdom he needed to reign over Israel. 

Israel

As for Israel, from its birth, God promises them a land flowing with milk and honey - two food items symbolizing abundance and generosity from the LORD. These words of Psalm 16 reaffirm to the nation that while milk and honey, like a great meal and good wine, are a precious gift from their covenant-keeping God, his very presence in their midst is the greatest gift they could ever receive. 

Christ

Jesus perfectly embodies this singular devotion throughout his life, but expresses it perfectly in John 4:34, 

My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

And he, too, like his father David, seeks the LORD’s counsel in all things, from the wisdom he needs in the selection of his disciples at the beginning of his ministry to the courage he needs to endure the cross at the end of his ministry.

The Church

As for his Bride, what greater image of delight and affection than that of having Christ as our eternal Bridegroom, with whom we will rejoice at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. We as a body join together in corporate worship to express our hunger and thirst for his return, and to seek his counsel in prayer. And at this critical time of polarization, we need his guidance more than ever!

Us

And so it is for us as individuals. I love to eat! I could talk about food for hours! But I long for my greatest pleasure to be Christ. And when I find that he isn’t, the remedy may be fasting more in order to express my desire for my greatest hunger to be for his kingdom to come and for his will (and not my own) to be done.

Delight in the LORD as our Security (Ps 16.8-11)

The last four verses are quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:25-28. The temptation might be to jump straight to how it points to Christ. But it’s important to follow the pattern used so far and consider how it speaks to the various groups we’ve been considering:

David

In v. 8b, David speaks of the assurance he derives from having the Lord at his right hand. The right hand is where the defender of an accused person would stand. David knows that God is his advocate before all who question the legitimacy of his throne. Therefore, v. 9 adds, he is filled with joy and security. His enemies seek his untimely death, but he expresses his confidence in v. 10 that the LORD will not abandon him into their hands. The intimate relationship he shares with God will not end when he breathes his last breaths and the shell of his being remains in Sheol. Instead, v. 11 tells us that the LORD will lead him to eternal life in his presence, where he will enjoy in full the pleasures he’s only tasted in part. At God’s right hand - this term appears for a second time, but this time it refers to the place of favour and honour.

Israel

The faithful in Israel find in these verses the assurance that as God’s chosen people, they will ultimately be delivered from their enemies and enter his eternal rest. The Abrahamic covenant promises it, as does the Davidic covenant that speaks of the eternal throne of David’s son. While in exile, while under foreign domination, the remnant clings to these words as a promise to them as a nation.

Jesus

In Jesus we discover both the perfect embodiment and the ultimate fulfilment of these words. His life is guided by the LORD, his defender, even as he endures the accusation of his enemies. The empty grave is his vindication before them, and the accomplishment of the promise penned long ago by David: In the most literal sense possible, our Risen Saviour does not experience decay. He rises from the dead and ascends to the right hand of the Father, where he resumes the joy and pleasure of the intimacy he enjoyed with him in eternity past.

The Church

We can rest assured that Christ is our defender. For we too have an enemy, the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10). But we also have a Great High Priest who always lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25). Jesus never promises that his Church will not suffer persecution. On the contrary, Scripture tells us of its certainty (2 Tim 3:12). But he speaks these words of assurance in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” And one glorious day, we will gather before the throne as the redeemed from every nation, ethnic group, and tongue, and worship the Lamb who was slain (Rev 5:9).

Us

Lastly, these verses direct our attention to our risen Saviour, our ultimate source of pleasure, joy, security, and peace. In the face of the enemy’s accusation and before the prospect of death itself, our hope lies in the one who pleads on our behalf. And if life in this fallen world is at times overwhelmingly difficult, we can look forward to eternity at the right hand of God. What a joy! What a day that will be! Until then, may we fix our eyes (v. 8) on Christ, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the eternal joy before him endured the cross and scorned its shame (Heb 12:2).