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
One day, when I was just a little kid, I remember admitting to my older cousin that I was scared of the dark. He took me by the hand to the next room, sat me down and informed me that he was going to turn off the lights. At first, I panicked. But he reminded me, “Megan, look around. The room will be exactly the same when I turn off the lights." He turned off the lights, and sure enough, he was right. The dark hasn’t bothered me since.
We are so often terrified by what might be (and probably never will be) than what actually is. We can even turn good, successful things into reasons to be afraid. We operate out of this sense of fear, becoming alarmist and closed-off – like little kids hiding from the dark. But this passage reminds us that even when things are at their most frightening, God is our refuge and protection. Our future is safe in God, who is there no matter what and we need not be afraid.
Prayer
God, you are our protector and guide. No matter how frightened we are, send us your Holy Spirit that we might function out of hope and joy, not fear. Amen.