In the shelter of Your wings, we find our peace,
A refuge from the storm, where fears cease.
You are the source of every good and perfect thing,
Our rock, our fortress, the reason we sing.
Our inheritance, Lord, is in Your hand,
A promised land where milk and honey stand.
In You alone, our satisfaction lies,
Apart from You, every good thing dies.
In the darkest valleys, when shadows loom,
Your wisdom guides us through the gloom.
Your counsel whispers in the silent night,
A beacon of hope, a guiding light.
With You beside us, we shall not fall,
For You are with us through it all.
You will not leave us; this we know,
For Your love is constant; it does not go.
Rejoice in hope of resurrection’s dawn,
The grave could not hold; its power is gone.
In life or death, we are Yours to keep,
In Your promise eternal, we find our sleep.
Let us trust in You with all our heart,
From Your path of love may we never depart.
Seeking Your counsel in every decision,
Finding in You our ultimate vision.
REFLECTION:
I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence. (Psalm 16:8-9)
God is the source of all good things in our lives. He is our safety and refuge, our inheritance and our satisfaction. Apart from God, we have no good thing.
We should trust in God rely on Him in all circumstances. Even in the darkest times, we can find comfort and guidance in God’s wisdom. God is with us and He will not abandon us.
Let us trust in God, seek His counsel, find our satisfaction in Him, and rejoice in the hope of the resurrection.
Heavenly Father,
You are the source of all good things in our lives, Our safety and refuge in strife. You are our inheritance and our satisfaction, Apart from You, we have no good thing in action.
We trust in You and rely on You in all circumstances, In every joy and trial, in all life’s dances. Even in the darkest times, when we feel alone, We find comfort and guidance at Your throne.
You are with us, Lord; You will not abandon, Your presence is a constant companion. Help us to trust in You, seek Your counsel true, Find our satisfaction solely in You.
Let us rejoice in the hope of the resurrection, In Christ’s victory and Your protection. May our hearts be ever faithful and contrite, As we walk with You in Your holy light.
Amen.
Pericope:
First Book of Psalms 1-41
GOD THE SUPREME GOOD
Psalm 16:1-11
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10
R: You are my inheritance, O Lord.
1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; 2 I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.” 5 O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. (R) 7 I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. 8 I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; 10 because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R)
Background:
Psalm 16 is a beautiful expression of faith and trust in God. It is known as a Miktam of David. The term “Miktam” is commonly understood as golden, but its exact meaning is uncertain. Some believe it could mean “to cover”, suggesting that this Psalm was a secret or silent song given in a time of crisis.
The verses you mentioned are as follows2:
Verses 1-2: “Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.””
Verse 5: “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.”
Verses 7-8: “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Verses 9-10: “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.”
These verses reflect David’s deep trust in God. He acknowledges God as his refuge, his portion, and his counselor1. He expresses joy and security in God’s presence, confident that God will not abandon him1. This Psalm is a testament to a life that finds its ultimate rest in God’s protective presence.
It’s important to note that while David wrote this Psalm, it also powerfully predicts Jesus and His work for us. The New Testament writers interpreted verse 10 as a prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection.
Learning Lessons:
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10 offers several valuable lessons for our lives:
Trust in God: Verses 1-2 teach us to trust in God for our safety and refuge. It reminds us that apart from God, we have no good thing. This encourages us to rely on God in all circumstances and acknowledge Him as the source of all good things in our lives.
God as our Portion: Verse 5 refers to God as our portion and our cup, which means that God is our inheritance and our satisfaction. This teaches us to find our contentment and joy in God alone.
Seek God’s Counsel: Verses 7-8 highlight the importance of seeking God’s counsel and keeping our focus on Him. Even in the darkest times, we can find comfort and guidance in God’s wisdom.
Joy and Security in God’s Presence: Verses 9-10 express joy and security in God’s presence. They teach us that true happiness and peace come from knowing that God is with us and that He will not abandon us.
Hope in the Resurrection: Verse 10 is a prophecy about Jesus’ resurrection. This gives us hope in the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
These lessons remind us to trust in God, seek His counsel, find our satisfaction in Him, and rejoice in the hope of the resurrection. They encourage us to live a life of faith, obedience, and trust in God.
Reflection Source:
Conversation with Copilot
