You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

In the previous devotion, we mentioned that Peter referred to David and this particular psalm as speaking prophetically of the Messiah. Addressing those assembled in Jerusalem for Pentecost, he quoted Psalm 16 extensively as a confirmation that Yeshua was the promised Messiah and that it was determined for Him to suffer and be resurrected. That being so, it stands to reason that the final words in this psalm also point us to the Messiah, meaning that He is the One who shows us the path of life, and in whose Presence we experience the fullness of joy. In short, these concluding words speak of the abundant life we have in the resurrected Messiah.

Yeshua said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). That is to say, because He conquered the grave, those who believe in Him will not be held captive by death but will arise to eternal life. Furthermore, because He is  “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), we can enjoy an abundant life in this existence. Yes, life in the world to come will be glorious, but we don’t have to wait until then to experience the joy of the LORD; we can experience it here and now. As He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

The point is that, while we long for His return and that which it encompasses, we don’t have to live defeated and in despair until then. He makes it very clear that, though we are bound to suffer trial and tribulations, we can nevertheless navigate this life with victory and with gladness. We won’t find joy in the suffering necessarily but we find joy in His Presence as He goes with us through the suffering and the challenges. We are not alone in our battles; as we die more and more to self, the closer we cling to Him and experience all the pleasures that are at His right Hand.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill 

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