Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19960218.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Sixteen: Facing Death With God's Grace
(Psalm 16:1-11)
  1. Introduction
    1. Though perhaps no one here is expecting to die soon, it is a fact that should the Lord tarry and the rapture not occur for another 150 years, everyone in our Sunday School class today will physically die!
    2. However, physical death is an enemy according to 1 Corinthians 15:26. None of us enjoys dying! How then can we face death should we arrive at death's door, and do so victoriously?!
    3. Psalm 16:1-11 is a lesson on facing and overcoming the dread of dying as follows:
  2. Facing Death With God's Grace, Psalm 16:1-11.
    1. David opened this psalm with a request to the Lord for God to preserve him from an entity that David considered fearful, for the last sentence of verse one literally translates: "I seek refuge with You." We know from the context in verse 10 that David was here concerned about physical death, Ps. 16:10, something he considered a foreboding enemy!
    2. In view of facing his physical death, David built up his faith in God Who is sovereign over it as follows:
      1. Encouragement One - Dwelling on a Former Relationship with God. David dwelt on his established relationship with God, having made God his "Master" -- literally a translation of Adonai, Biblia Hebraica, ed. Rudolf Kittel, p. 985. Thus, he reassured himself before the Lord that he was a previously committed believer in Israel's Jahweh, the "I Am." (Ps. 16:2a)
      2. Encouragement Two - Dwelling on God's Care Of Us Due To That Relationship. With this assurance of a committed relationship with God in his past, David affirmed that his welfare upon facing the challenge of dying was a matter of God's concern, Ps. 16:2b.
      3. Encouragement Three - Dwelling on Former Circles of Fellowship For Confidence. David also recalled the fellowship he enjoyed with other godly people, indicating once again the validity of his own relationship with the Lord, Ps. 16:3. This gave him the assurance of facing death with confidence of its divinely blessed outco me contrary to the future lot of the ungodly, Psalm 16:4-5.
      4. Encouragement Four - Dwelling on God's Past Earthly Blessings For Confidence. David recalled the blessings he had enjoyed with fellowship with God in his present, earthly life, 16:6. This further gave him confidence that the Lord would continue to bless him in facing death, Ps. 16:7-8.
    3. In view of these encouragements, David drew edifying conclusions with which to face dying, Ps. 16:9-11:
      1. Verse 9 is introduced by the word lacheyn, meaning, "According to such (just-stated) conditions . . . " so that what David says in verses 9-11 is based upon his conclusions in verses 1-8!
      2. Accordingly, he comes to the following marvelous conclusions in facing his physical death:
        1. Conclusion One - David's heart rejoiced as he considered the security of his soul after death, 9b.
        2. Conclusion Two - David's honor (glory) would not end at death, but there was an honorable conclusion to his existence even though death would come and deteriorate his body, Ps. 16:9c.
        3. Conclusion Three - David knew that his body would rest securely, anticipating the resurrection, Ps. 16:9d-10a. This hope is based upon the resurrection of Messiah, the Holy One whose body would not see decay, Ps. 16:10b; A. 2:25-28!
        4. Conclusion Four - Since God had made known to David the path of a blessed life in this earthly life, he was confident that after this life, when he was with God in Paradise, he would have both abundant joy and everlasting pleasures at God's right hand, Psalm 16:11.
Lesson: The way to face death is (1) to believe on Christ as personal Savior from sin NOW, and then (2) to fellowship with Him being wholly committed to the will of God NOW (3) which will result in a separation from fellowship with the u ngodly and blessed communion with fellow saints NOW! Then we will see (4) blessings in THIS life from the fellowship with God. THEN WHEN FACING DEATH LATER, WE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AT THESE THINGS AS CONFIDENCE BUILDERS THAT WE (1) ARE SAVED, AND (2) THAT GOD WHO HAS ENJOYED FELLOWSHIP WITH US IN THIS LIFE WILL CONTINUE IT WITH US (a) DURING THE DYING PROCESS AND (b) BEYOND INTO HEAVEN (c) AND THE COMING RESURRECTION!