JOY IN HIS PRESENCE, NOW AND FOREVER
I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is gladH8055 and my tongue rejoicesH1523; my body also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joyH8057 in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Psalm 16:8-11
16:10 These words expressed the confidence of the lesser David but were applied messianically to the resurrection of the Greater David (the Lord Jesus Christ) both by Peter (Acts 2:25–28) and Paul (Acts 13:35).
MacArthur Study Bible
David found his security and joy in the Lord and shares that testimony in Psalm 16. Verse 10 is Messianic prophecy concerning the resurrection of Jesus but is also true of believers. Even though our physical earth-suits will die and decay, who we are immediately enters the presence of the Lord; and when He returns, our bodies will be raised and transformed into glorious, incorruptible bodies (1 Corinthians 15:52)! Even now, we are dwelling together with the Lord through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is instructing and guiding us in the way that we should live. As we walk in obedience to His instruction manual for our lives, the Bible, He brings us totality of peace, love, and joy. “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” (John 15:10). From God’s seat of authority, He bestows eternal joy to His treasured ones who are saved by His grace. I have joy right now because God, in His great magnificence, uses me when I am yielded, listening, and obedient. I trust and know that this life is only a “weigh” station on my journey to my everlasting home. I look forward to streets of gold and gates of pearl, to the sheer beauty of being in His presence. I will enjoy being able to move freely, dancing before the Lord while playing an instrument to praise Him. In my glorified body, I will need no glasses. Perhaps I will not have an overbite and will have wisdom without the gray hair!
Have you surrendered to the Lord’s call to follow Him? In addition to the security of knowing Heaven will be your forever home, do you also enjoy basking in the Lord’s presence here and now in your day-to-day life? Like David, have you “set the Lord always before you”? Are you practicing the command of Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”?
Father, thank You for the security of being in Your presence both now and forever.
Worship with The Martins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqiLWWxZulM