The Joy | Psalm 16
What is your version of the good life? Comfort: no stress, no struggle. Success: money, status and achievement. Freedom: I can do what I want, when I want, with who I want. Pleasure: I feel good, I look good and everything I have is good. Control: I can define my own truth and write my own story. A Pew study found that the top four ingredients for a good life are: good health, romantic partner(s), close friendships and a fulfilling career. A New York Post article asked, “How many good days do you have in a year?” The article is based on a nationwide (state by state) study that found that the average number of good days in a year was 252 days. Florida topped the list with an average of 272 days. The study found that the average time that a person thought they were going to have a good day was by 8:30 am; sometimes you can just tell what kind of day it is going to be. The ingredients for a good day were health, good food, strong relationships and a sense of purpose. All of those are great things, but any version of the good life without God in the equation doesn’t lead to true and lasting joy. It is like trying to quench your thirst with sand or your hunger with nails.
Psalm 16 was written by David around 1044 BC. It comes from the depths of his heart and soul. He wrote it while he was on the run from King Saul. He was not yet a king living in a palace, but living like a fugitive, with the daily threat of being captured, tortured, and killed. It has been called the ‘golden psalm’ because of its great value. This psalm contains the secret to having the fullness of joy and living the good life. Psalm 16 tells us that we can find the path of life that leads to joy by running to our refuge, remembering our blessings, and resting in our person.