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Illustration for Psalm 16: The Joy of God's Presence

Psalm 16

The Joy of God's Presence

ProtectionComfortJoy

David says that God is his greatest treasure — better than anything else in the world. With God by his side he feels safe and full of joy. David even believed that God would not let death be the end of the story.

  1. 1Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge.
  2. 2I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing."
  3. 3As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
  4. 4The sorrows of those who run after another god will multiply; I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.
  5. 5LORD, You have assigned my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.
  6. 6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
  7. 7I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
  8. 8I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
  9. 9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
  10. 10because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will You let Your faithful one see decay.
  11. 11You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

What it means

Apart from God, nothing in this world can truly satisfy us. But with Him, we have everything — a safe refuge, real joy, and life that never ends. He is the very best thing we could ever have.

A little prayer

Lord, You are my greatest treasure — apart from You I have nothing good. Show me the path of life. In Your presence I find joy that lasts forever. I take refuge in You. Amen.

Memory verse

“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 16:11 (BSB)

It names the source of joy as a presence rather than a circumstance, which is why it survives a bad week.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. David calls God his greatest treasure. What would most people your age put in that spot?
  2. The psalm says the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places — like being given a good piece of land. What good things have you been given that you did not choose?
  3. It talks about God giving counsel even at night. What do you think about when you cannot sleep?
  4. What does 'full of joy' feel like, and when did you last feel it?

Try this

Treasure sort

Gather five things you would grab if you had one minute to leave the house. Lay them out. Then read verse 5 and talk about what it would mean for God to be on that list — or to be the list.

You will need: Five objects from around the house.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)