Path of Life: Psalm 16:11

Background

This encouraging Psalm shows what life in Christ is like. David experienced many hard times. He learned the joy found in the presence of God. David knew what it was like to find his strength in the Lord. Even though David made many mistakes, he was still known as a man after God’s own heart.

Exposition

“You make known to me the path of life”

Jesus speaks of two paths in the New Testament (Matt. 7:13–14). One path is wide and leads to destruction. This is the way of the world. The other path is narrow and leads to eternal life. Few will find it.

“You will fill me with joy in your presence”

This narrow path of life comes with joy that can only be found in the presence of God. God calls us to walk this narrow path with Him as our refuge. In God we find a safe and secure place that is filled with peace and joy.

“With eternal pleasures at your right hand”

The pleasures that come to us are eternal and not temporary. God has eternal blessings for Christ’s followers that are far better and anything this world can offer.

Application

My wife shares stories of her childhood when she would visit her grandmother. Her great grandmother’s house was located through the woods behind her grandmother’s house.

A narrow walking path with dense trees and bushes connected their houses. She has fond memories of walking that path on various summer days.

When she arrived at her great grandmother’s house, she anticipated the sweet fellowship of sitting on the back porch and enjoying delicious snacks and good conversation with her great grandmother. That narrow walking path reminds her of great childhood memories.

God calls us to the narrow path of life that leads us to a lifetime of His presence. We can enjoy daily fellowship with Him as we spend time with Him through prayer and reading the Bible. God’s Word can transform our thoughts and bring about a peace in our busy lives.

Choosing the narrow path may not always be the popular choice. It may not always make sense to the ones around us. However, the joy we find in Jesus will always last.

Happiness is temporary because it is determined by our external circumstances, but nothing can extinguish the joy that is found in living with God’s presence in our lives.