Psalm 16 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 16 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
Verse 2I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
Verse 3As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
Verse 4Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
Verse 5The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
Verse 6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
Verse 7I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
Verse 8I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Verse 9Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
Verse 10For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
Verse 11You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Devotion
The history of the western world bears out the truth of Psalm 16:4a, "Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows."
Many of us can remember a time when November 11 was called Armistice Day, a day to commemorate the end of what was called "The Great War" (World War 1). Certainly there was great multiplication of sorrows during the bloody years that led up to the cessation of that war on November 11, 1918! And those sorrows came about because many of the nations of the world chose to worship earthly power, glory, and revenge rather than place their faith in God.
But, thankfully, there finally came the armistice -- but, as the word "armistice" implies, it was only a temporary "cessation" of the violence and bloodshed which continues to multiply sorrows individually, communally, nationally and globally. On this Veterans Day, let us pray for peace and work for peace.
Prayer
God of peace, forgive our war-like ways which have brought and still bring a multitude of troubles upon our world. Inspire the leaders of this world's nations to devote their talents to work for lasting peace, so that we may live in the joy which such peace shall bring. Amen.