PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Do you have a favorite Meal?
(Ps. 16:11)
“in your presence there is fullness of joy”
“Fullness” is used elsewhere to describe someone who eats until he/she is completely satisfied:
“If you go into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your bag.” (Deut. 23:24 ESV)
“The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely.” (Lev. 25:19 ESV)
That’s the joy available, David says, when we live in the “presence” of God.
The “presence” Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden (Gen. 3:8)
The “presence” God promised to send with Moses (Ex. 33:14).
The “presence” which David found to be everywhere he turned (Ps. 139:7).
Do you have a "Happy Place"?
David is thinking of these places when he writes Psalm 16. He closes the psalm with these words:
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Ps. 16:11 ESV).
The word “pleasures” is associated in this psalm with geography.
David uses the same word earlier in v. 5-6:
“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” (Ps. 16:5-6 ESV)
The word “pleasant” is the same word translated “pleasures” in v. 11. Here, David testifies that the joy/pleasure/pleasantness he feels in the presence of God/ at the right hand of God is similar to the joy/pleasure/pleasantness we might feel when in a special spot.
David calls God his “portion,” “lot,” “lines,” and “inheritance.” He’s using words and images from the time when territory was being assigned to the tribes of Israel.
David’s imagining what it must have been like as each tribe viewed the portion, lot, and lines of the territory granted to them as an inheritance.
David’s picturing what it must have been like for each tribe to feel the rush and excitement of realizing that this special space was now theirs. This happy place was now home.
That, David writes, is how he feels about God. Being in the presence of God is like being in the very best of happy places.
But there’s something sad about meals–they end.
There’s something hard about places we love–we can’t stay in them forever.
Similarly, there’s something seemingly disappointing about the presence of God–it seems fleeting and temporary. We taste that joy once in awhile, in special moments, on certain occasions. At a worship service. On a mountain top. But most of our days seem spent distant from that presence and thus distant from that joy.
David, however, knows a truth. It is one of the most fundamental truths of biblical spirituality: the presence of God is available all day long.
This is the testimony of Ps. 139. Again and again David reaches the conclusion that it is impossible to “flee” from God’s “presence” (Ps. 139:7 ESV).
David envisions the longest day possible. A day when he travels to the highest places, as high as heaven. A day when he travels to the lowest places, as low as the grave. A day when he travels as far north, south, east and west as possible. Yet in every hour and in every place he finds the presence of God.
That’s why he could later urge us to “seek his presence continually!” (Ps. 105:4 ESV). God’s presence is not limited to one spot or one hour. God’s presence is available twenty-four/seven. And so is that full joy which accompanies it.
That’s why, David explains, he has “set the LORD always before me” (Ps. 16:8 ESV). That word “set” is used later in Ps. 18:33 to describe a person who is fixed and secure in one spot.
David reveals that he takes intentional steps to secure the LORD “before” him. Literally, to secure the LORD “in his presence” (see Ps. 23:5). David fixes the Lord’s presence in his own presence everywhere he goes. And, in this way, he is able to experience the full joy of God’s presence all day, every day.
But how do we do this? How do we “set the LORD before us”?
Through the rest of the Psalms David and others reveal clues to doing this. In particular, Psalms shares at least four ways in which we experience God’s presence through each day.
We encounter God’s presence in created places:
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1 ESV).
Throughout the day, it is possible to experience the glory and presence of God through created places, creation, the environment. Even if you live in an urban setting, it is possible to slow down and notice the tree near the sidewalk, the flowers planted in a small pot on a porch, or the clouds floating by. Creation becomes a way in which we experience God’s beauty and presence throughout the day. Paying attention to creation is one way we fix God before us.
We encounter God’s presence in sacred places:
“So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.” (Ps. 63:2 ESV).
The sanctuary was a sacred space filled with architecture, art and other items through which David encountered God’s presence. Similarly, sacred places like churches or other spaces may help us to experience God’s presence. Further, we can transform ordinary places like our offices or homes into sacred spots through the use of art, icons, sacred music, and other media which help bring God to our minds. And, we can transform our own bodies into sacred spaces through jewelry, clothing and other items which act as a prompt, causing us to remember God. Sacred spaces become one way in which we fix God before us.
We encounter God’s presence in difficult problems:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Ps. 23:4 ESV).
Difficult moments through the day become an opportunity to once again experience the presence of God. Framing problems in this way through the day becomes one way of fixing God before you.
Finally, we encounter God’s presence in special people:
“May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!” (Ps. 72:17 ESV).
This psalm envisions the king as one of the ways in which God’s blessing is given to the people. That is, this special person becomes a way in which others experience the presence and blessing of God. Similarly, special people whom we encounter during the day can be ways in which we experience God’s presence and blessing.
