◄ What Does Psalm 16:11 Mean? ►

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 16:11(NASB)

Verse of the Day

What comfort and strength has poured forth from the book of Psalms into the hearts of so many believers, down through centuries of time. The love and devotion that spills out from this beautiful verse, in Psalm 16, warms the heart of all weary wanderers, as David joyfully displays his compelling confidence in His Lord, and writes of his utter trust in the God of his salvation.

Such praise is founded on the sure knowledge that the Lord is not only our protection through all the changing scenes of this life, but that death, which is man's greatest enemy, will be finally conquered. The sweet psalmist of Israel concluded his song of praise with these wonderful words of complete assurance in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting: "For You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever."

David expressed his joyful satisfaction and confidence in the God of his salvation, with a truth that must rejoice the heart of every sinner, saved by grace. He believed the Lord was his Refuge and Strength in every eventuality of life. David had come to so firm a faith in the Rock of his redemption, that assaults of the enemy and even death itself did not infect his peace, and he acknowledged he was held securely in the Father's hand.

David demonstrated a living faith in the Lord because his trust was in God. He was not alarmed by the arrows that fly by day, nor the terrors that stalk at night, despite the distressing dangers he faced, including his own death. The confidence he displayed is reflected in verse 11: "You will make known to me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forever."

David's knowledge and understanding of the character of God, brought him an inner peace that only comes from the Lord. His song of confident praise could be translated into Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians, when he wrote: "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The confident trust David expressed in God, and the comfort he received from his Saviour, paints a prophetic picture that points to Christ's own confidence in His Heavenly Father to raise Him from the dead, when He prayed His final prayer: "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit."

The anticipation of Christ's Resurrection brought Him great joy, for it conquered death, and brought many sons to glory by faith in Him. For the joy that was set before Him, the Lord Jesus endured the Cross. He disregarded the shame, knowing that the path of life-eternal opened the way into His Father's presence, where there is the fullness of joy and eternal pleasures for all who trust in Him.

The same blessed hope that is set before us, gives each of us an abundance of those same eternal pleasures. Assuredly, this is a truth that must rejoice the heart of all God's blood-bought children; a truth that each one of us can treasure in our hearts and rejoice with singing, as we look for our blessed hope and journey towards our heavenly home.

Christ's fullness of joy is not simply contained in a future hope, but is firmly established in this present time. The fullness of God is a truth that is embedded in so many of our Father's precious promises.

Sorrow may well be our lot in this life, for we have been told that in this world we will suffer trials and difficulties, but we must be of good cheer, for we have His indwelling Holy Spirit. As we focus our hearts and minds on the loveliness of our risen Saviour, we receive His fullness of joy, love, and His peace, not only in the world to come, but every day of our earthly life.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your great goodness and for the many blessings that You have showered onto each one of us. Be with me each step of the way and help me to keep my eyes on the Lord Jesus. I pray that I too may receive the fullness of joy that Christ experienced in His earthly walk, for I trust in Your love. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.