Wholly Devoted
The reprobate sinner has no love for God in his or her heart (Jn 5:42). Instead, men love darkness because their deeds are evil (Jn 3:19; Rom 1:18–32). Love for this world is evident by one’s thoughts, words, actions, and accumulations. Time, treasure, and talent is invested in the quest for rest (e. g. “workin’ for the weekend”; “planning for retirement”). There is no rest in this world, however, apart from Christ (Jn 15:5; Heb 4). The world system simply cannot deliver on the promise to give people satisfaction.
Politics, religion, sports, entertainment, business, education, etc. offer endless idols for people to worship. Those who keep up and even surpass their competition are filled with the sin of pride. When they cannot keep up, or because satisfaction never comes, some turn to the plethora of escape mechanisms: food; travel; drugs; social media; alcohol; sex; material hoarding; etc. Still, there is no escape from the futility of life in this world. Vanity of vanities…it is all vanity (Eccl 1:2).
David wrote Psalm 16, in part, to contrast the idolaters from the “majestic ones.” The latter are the saints who are in the earth (16:3). The saint is one whom God has chosen to make holy (set apart from the world). The purpose of God is to create a people for His own possession (Dt 7:6; 14:2; 1 Pet 2:9), who will worship Him in Spirit and truth (Jn 4:23). Apart from Christ, the natural man can do nothing spiritual, that is, pleasing to God (Jn 15:5; 1 Cor 2:14; Heb 11:6).
Despite the Gospel call preached for all men, everywhere to repent and trust Christ (Mt 24:14; Acts 17:30), there is nothing in the natural man to comply (Rom 8:7). He has no will nor ability to seek God and so great a salvation (Rom 3:10–12; Eph 2:12). Instead, salvation is received as an inheritance (Heb 1:14; 1 Pet 1:4), by those who are called, “heirs of God” and “co-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17).
The will and testament of God (the Bible) has been read, taught, and preached for all to hear. Those in receipt of God’s Spirit (Jn 1:12–13), sent to them from the Father and the Son (Jn 14:26; 15:26), hear the good news and they are made to believe the precious and magnificent promises of God’s Word (Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29; 2 Pet 1:4). Those who hear without the indwelling Spirit consider the message to be foolishness (1 Cor 1:18, 23). They do not believe the will and testament of God revealed in God’s Word.
The child of God manifests a heart of prayer. He praises God for His promise of eternal life in Christ (1 Jn 5:11–13). Awestruck, the saint declares, “I have no good besides You” (Ps 16:2). The man or woman, transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col 1:13), is wholly devoted to Him who has given His all to secure His bride, His church, the Israel of God (Acts 20:28; Rev 5:9).
God Himself is our all in all. Yahweh is my portion (Ps 16:5; 119:57); and every one of His promises is “yes” and “amen” in Christ (1 Cor 1:20). It is by His doing that one is positioned “in Christ” (1 Cor 1:30). This is the saint’s supported lot. It is only by God’s grace that anything good fills “my cup”. It is all good if it is the Lord and His provision for His people (Ps 16:5).
Men take pride in their race or ethnicity. Wretched sinners were their ancestors; but “my heritage” is beautiful because it is comprised of the company and communion of saints in heaven (Rev 5:9; 7:9). Although our heritage is beautiful to us, as the prospect of our eternal inheritance; still, our focus is Christ, alone, because he is our federal Head. We have been given a token, a pledge of our inheritance when He gave us the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 5:5).
The presence of His indwelling Spirit is blessed assurance to the heart made glad. It is the Spirit who gives us the life of God in our souls (Jn 6:63; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). He leads the majestic ones on the path of life (Ps 16:11); and although we have trouble in this world — joy abounds because our God reigns (Jn 14:6; 16:33).
These are the truths of God’s Word that the Spirit teaches the Christian (Jn 14:26; 16:13), who is growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). We learn that God is with us, for us, and in Him we are ever secure. We enter His rest in this life (Heb 4), as we trust Him for every provision and in every situation (Ps 118:8; Prv 3:5–6).
Men fear death because of the uncertainty of what happens afterward (Heb 9:27). It is right for them to be terrified. They are facing a Christ-less eternity. How different is the life of the unbeliever, now and forever. Sorrows here are multiplied; but who can fathom the griefs suffered forever. In addition, there is no mixed devotion. It is an either-or proposition. The natural man simply cannot commit to Christ because he does not belong to Christ (Jn 10:26). Apart from Christ, he can do nothing (Jn 15:5) …and he is apart from Christ (Eph 2:12)!
David knew his only hope is Yahweh (1 Tim 1:1). In the same way, Jesus encouraged His disciples that they were not of this world (Jn 15:19), nor should they store up treasure on earth for this very reason (Mt 6:20). Our investments in the world system have no eternal returns; but our eschatological investments, that is, one’s whole devotion to Christ results in pleasures forever.
Psalm 16 presents the tale of two kinds of people, who worship — idols versus the true and living God. One has sorrow, forevermore. The other has the joy of the Lord (Ps 16:11). There is never rest and satisfaction for the idolater because that which is temporary and fading cannot produce peace. The world sells the idolater an endless shopping list of products and services that “will change your life”; but satisfaction never comes home to stay. The world’s next promise quickly arrives; and it is more of the same.
Faith, hope love, rest, joy, satisfaction, assurance, peace, gladness, and glory belong only to those who trust in Yahweh. Jesus has gone before us through the veil of heaven. He is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6). No one has any lasting good apart from Him, who is our portion, cup, inheritance and our heritage. He is everything to us; and that warrants our full devotion. It is not only wise; but it is wonderful to be wholly devoted to Jesus Christ our Lord.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
August 21, 2024
Psalm 16
