Opening Prayer
Lord, show us the glory of our inheritance and confirm our hope. Amen.
Text: Psalm 16
Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You”—And to the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips. You, O Lord, are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Devotion
This psalm was fulfilled in Christ, when He rose from the dead. But the Head who is raised up does not let His members remain in death. As many as are united with Jesus in living faith can sing this psalm about themselves and shall thereby stir their soul to rejoice in the Lord. What is the wealth and glory of the world compared with the fellowship of life with God? “Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god,” but whoever can say: “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup,” has received an “inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away” (1Pe 1:4). In fellowship with all the saints and the glorified he shall be satisfied with the purest joy in the Lord’s presence forever.
As surely as Jesus lives, all His believers shall live with Him. As surely as He has gone into heaven, we shall be gathered to Him in the delightful mansions at God’s right hand. This we shall remember and praise the Lord who has given us such a glorious inheritance and laid out the lines in the pleasant places. His Spirit shall remind us of it when we wander in the darkness. Yes, in the night of deepest darkness He shall tell us of these things in our innermost heart. Be assured that the Lord shall uphold your inheritance, dear Christians. He Himself has brought it about that you can say: “The Lord is my wealth, I have set the Lord always before me.” How shall you be moved when He is at your right hand? Or how shall death be able to hold you when you are a member of the Body of Christ? Be obedient to God’s Spirit. Remember your hope! Train yourself in setting the Lord always before you! Don’t let unbelief, the spirit of bondage, or worldly cares smother the joy that the Holy Spirit gives you in your innermost heart by proclaiming to you the path of life and reminding you of your glorious inheritance.
Closing Prayer
God, preserve me, for I believe in You. Let me no longer grieve Your Holy Spirit, by whom You have sealed me for the day of redemption. Help me to be glad in hope, patient in tribulations, and persistent in prayer. Do not let me give up, but gladly reach my glorious inheritance. Amen.
Hymn
Grant me grace, O blessed Savior,
And Thy Holy Spirit send,
That my walk and my behavior
May be pleasing to the end;
That I may not fall again
Into death’s grim pit and pain
Whence by grace Thou hast retrieved me,
And from which Thou hast relieved me.
For the joy Thy birth doth give me,
For Thy holy, precious Word;
For Thy baptism which doth save me,
For Thy blest communion board;
For Thy death, the bitter scorn,
For Thy resurrection morn,
Lord, I thank Thee and extol Thee,
And in heav’n I shall behold Thee.
Kingo: Like the golden sun ascending L 346:9-10 ELH 354:9-10 tr. G. A. T. Rygh;
tune: Werde munter