Sunday Scripture

 

I've been posting Sunday Scriptures on both of my blogs this December, taken from an Advent study I did in 2013 with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download; it's not too late to head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This third week's verses are focused on Joy.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 18.

Today's Scripture is Psalm 16:11.

S= "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy: at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."  (Psalm 16:11)

O= This psalm is titled by C.I. Scofield in the Scofield Study Bible "The path of life and joy."  Psalm 16 is considered to be a Messianic psalm, a prediction of the resurrection of the King.  It is one of the few passages in the Old Testament dealing with resurrection.

Believer's Bible Commentary explains concerning verse 11: "In the final verse, our blessed Lord has complete confidence that God will show Him the path of life -- the path from death back to life again.  This path would eventually lead Him back to heaven, to God's presence.  There He would experience fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore."

But in my view, I think we can see a message in this verse for believers as well: 

🌲 God will show us the path of life;

🌲 In God's presence there is fullness of joy;

🌲 At God's right hand there are pleasures forevermore. 

I was happy to read that Charles Spurgeon also found a message for believers in this indisputably Messianic psalm.  He wrote, in a sermon titled "Life and the Path to It":

"Yet we feel no hesitation, as believers, in taking [these words] to ourselves, at least to a very large extent, remembering that our Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “Because I live, ye shall live also,” and that He prayed, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory.” This proves that we also shall tread the path of life which He has trodden, that the presence of His Father, in which He is glorified, is that same presence which will make our heaven, that the right hand of God, at which He sits, is the place to which He will also exalt us, and that the pleasures for evermore, in which He Himself rejoices, are the very pleasures with which He will indulge our souls, for it is His purpose that His joy shall abide in us that our joy may be full."

A= God promises to show me the path of life.  He will give me guidance and direction day by day, even moment by moment as I consistently look to Him.  Am I doing this?

In God's presence there is fullness of joy.  Even in very difficult times, His presence is always with me, and joy can also be my constant companion as I look to God and not my circumstances.  Am I doing this?

And I know that "pleasures evermore" await me in heaven.  I am so blessed, not only to have God's presence and guidance here in this life, but to have heaven to look forward to.  Am I living as befits a citizen of heaven?

If I'm honest, I will have to admit that I cannot answer a wholehearted "Yes!" to any of these questions.  My answer to each would be more like, "Yes, but not consistently."  Obviously, I need to pray about these things and make them part of the fabric of my everyday life.  I have work to do.

P= "Lord, I thank You so much for the clarity of Your Word!  I praise You that it so clearly teaches Your people how you would have them to live!  I find so much instruction for my life here in this verse today.

"How I thank You for the guidance and direction You promise to give for my life as I am faithful to look to You consistently.  I pray that You will help me to seek your wisdom daily -- even moment by moment as necessary.

"And I praise You for Your constant presence with me.  You will never leave me or forsake me.  Help me every day to look to You and not to my circumstances.  Many times, life doesn't look or feel very joyful, but I can have joy in my heart as I look beyond the circumstances to the fact that You have a good purpose in them.   And You are in full control.

"I thank You that my citizenship is in heaven.  I am just passing through -- just a pilgrim in this life.  Help me to conduct myself every day as a citizen of that better country.  I thank and praise You for all that You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is my simple Scripture study for today!  I hope that some will find it a blessing.