Devotion for Friday 28/03/2025

Psalm 16:9-11 (NLT)

9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.

My body rests in safety.

10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead

or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

11 You will show me the way of life,

granting me the joy of your presence

and the pleasures of living with you forever.

These verses in Psalm 16 are another prophetic reference to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Verse 10 is a clear and unambiguous statement that God’s “holy one” will not rot in the grave and he will not be counted among the dead!

Prior to these verses, David rejoices that his inheritance had fallen in pleasant places. He views his inheritance as a beautiful gift from the Lord. Believers, too, have a beautiful inheritance as a gift from the Lord. Ephesians 1:11 explains, "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will."

In its original context, David was writing these verses as a declaration of faith in the goodness of God. Hence, even in the face of death, David is willing to trust God and celebrate His goodness. As much as David trusts God to see him through earthly dangers, he knows his ultimate security is in eternity.

David rejects the idea that he will be "abandoned" in death or merely allowed to rot away. This statement is referenced several times in the New Testament as the gospel writers refer to the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:25–28; 13:35).

The psalm exudes joy as David places his trust in the Lord. Perhaps David wrote these words after the Lord gave His covenant to David (2 Samuel 7:1–17) and guaranteed David would have an everlasting throne.

By far, death is still the greatest fear for all people as we enter into the unknown realm. But we can take heart, there are ample promises and assurances in the Bible that we will be in a better place where the presence of God is forever when we believe.

I just want to close with the triumphant declaration of the apostle Paul in 1 Cor 15:55, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Surprisingly, this exclamation was often wrongly attributed to Shakespeare who has many quotes about death and dying.

We are three weeks away from Good Friday. Let us look forward to the Easter season with joy, courage and confidence in the Lord!