Let's turn in our Bibles to Psalm Chapter 16. Psalm Chapter 16. There are better than 20 Messianic Psalms in the entire book of Psalms, and we're going to be looking at the Messianic Psalm that is found in Psalm Chapter 16. This is a Messianic Psalm that is quoted in the New Testament, specifically related to the Lord Jesus Christ, quoted by Peter, also quoted by Paul, and we'll be looking at that portion of Scripture. But we'll be reading now, follow along, as I read from Psalm chapter 16. Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. O my soul, Thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord, my goodness extendeth not to thee, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God. Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel. My reigns also instruct me in 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 shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou allow thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life in thy Presence's fullness of joy. At thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore. May God bless the reading of his word. You'll notice the inscription in Psalm 16, the Mixtam of David. And this is a term that is obscure, seems to suggest the idea of meditations from the mind of David through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We're going to be looking at the path of the pattern pilgrim. In verses 1-4, we're going to be looking at the psalmist's preservation. In verses 5-8, we're going to look at the psalmist's position. Then in verses 9-11, the psalmist's prospect. Now this is a messianic psalm, along with Psalm 56, through 60 that seem to indicate and certainly are quoted in the New Testament referring to Jesus Christ. Now let me take you to two portions in the book of Acts in which this portion is quoted pertaining to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Turn to the book of Acts chapter 2 and verse 25. Acts chapter 2, verse 25. This is Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. Notice verse 25, For David speaketh concerning him, that's Jesus Christ, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. We've just read that. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad. Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope, because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." This is speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection. Notice it says here in verse 31, He, speaking of David, seeing this before he spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption. So here we have a statement referring to the resurrection of Christ. Now David did not totally understand all of the ramifications We're going to be looking at this psalm also from the perspective of David's faith. David, from his standpoint, was actually giving a confession of faith. He was actually giving a confession that he believed in the afterlife, and he believed that God would raise his body from the dead, and that the grave was not all there was. But we know from our understanding through the Holy Spirit, that David's faith was based upon the fact that Jesus Christ would be the first fruit of them that slept. So therefore, we see that because Jesus lives, certainly all in Christ shall live again. Now, turning, before we go back to Psalm 16, let's see Paul quote this passage in Acts 13. and verse 35. Here we have Paul and his message in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia declaring the concept, the doctrine of justification by faith, speaking of the resurrection of Christ as alluded to in verse 33, quoting from Psalm 2, but then he also quotes in Acts 13.35 from Psalm chapter 16, the portion that we're looking at. Wherefore he, that's David, saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption. For David, after he hath served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers and saw corruption." His body is still in the grave. Now, I don't know how you interpret dispensationally. I personally believe that the Old Testament saints will rise again bodily at the end of the tribulation period. I don't believe that Old Testament saints are raised at the rapture. There are some that take issue with that. I believe that Daniel chapter 12 places the resurrection of Old Testament saints at the end of the time of trouble. And then as Israel is redeemed nationally, then the bodies are resurrected. Their spirit, however, goes to be with the presence of the Lord immediately. But notice, it says here in verse 37, But he whom God raised again saw no corruption. That's our Lord's body. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sin." Isn't it wonderful to know that we can have forgiveness from sin in our lives? I don't care what you have done in your life, what your background is. The Word of God says, though your sins be as red as scarlet, they can be made white as snow. And the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the grave was a symbol and a token of the fact that God accepted the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross of Calvary. Isn't it wonderful to know that we can walk out of these doors without guilt, with the knowledge of forgiveness of sins? Let me tell you something, the world cannot offer that. a bottle of alcohol may cause you to forget for a small season. Marijuana, drugs, all of these things will just put a Band-Aid temporarily, but you wake up with a hangover. You wake up needing another hit, wondering what you're going to do next. But you know what? The Lord Jesus Christ in Him alone provides long-term satisfaction and peace through the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, having looked at the two places where the psalm is quoted, I want you to turn back with me, if you will, to Psalm chapter 16. Now, I'm trying not to wander too much here. Wander from the mic, that is. Now, some of you might say, well, Pastor John, you're wandering in other ways, too. I hope not. But I don't have my lavalier on, so I'm sticking to the mic here close by. But I want you to notice now, we have here the path of the pattern pilgrim. And certainly our Lord is the pattern for it. But we have here the psalmist's preservation. Here his testimony of his preservation. Here in verses 1-4, notice, here's what David says, "'Preserve me, O God, For in thee do I put my trust." If you're putting your trust, or if I'm putting my trust in anything else other than the Lord Jesus Christ, I'll tell you what, you're doomed to despair and discouragement. Some people are putting their faith and trust in the stock market. Some people are putting their faith and trust in cults and false religions. Some people are putting their faith and trust in some cultic leader. or some dead person who established some religion and their body is yet in the grave. No, the Word of God says, David said, in thee do I put my trust. And you know what? The Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone, He is the One that provides the pathway of salvation. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by Me. only through Jesus Christ. What are you trusting in? Maybe you're trusting in yourself. Oh, I'm a self-made man. I can make it on my own. I don't need religion. I don't need the opiate of the people, as some would say. No, you're trusting in yourself. You've made yourself as your God. But you know, the Word of God says He's the only One that can preserve us The Hebrew word shamar has the idea of keeping or guarding. Like a sentry would guard a fort. I understand, Tommy, when you were in the military, you did a lot of military guarding. Wasn't it a nuclear site? Now, were you able to sleep whenever you wanted to? Were you able to just kind of grab a cup of coffee and cross your legs and go to sleep in some corner? No, you needed to be vigilant. That was your watch. That was your responsibility. You know what? The Word of God says, He who watches and keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. And you know, I'm thankful that God is my preserver. We're kept, it says 2 Peter, 1 Peter 1-5, we're kept by the power of God. We're preserved. We're guarded as a watchman. And notice, David didn't believe in pulling himself up by his own bootstrap And you know, hey, I'm good enough to get to heaven. Look at verse 2. Oh my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, thou art my Lord, my goodness extendeth not to thee. You know, you can't be good enough to work your way to heaven. David understood that. Some people think, well, you know, at the Day of Judgment, all of my good works are going to be put over here, and my bad works are going to be put over here, and whichever one balances out more, that's where I'm going. No, the Word of God says without Christ, we're doomed to eternal damnation. But God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who paid it all. Our goodness doesn't even extend. We fall short of the glory of God. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That's what David is saying in verse 2. And the Lord is the only one who can preserve him and watch over him and protect him. And you know in verse 3, David is saying basically that I want to hang around with the right kind of men and women. I want to have the right kind of friends. You know what? For some of us here, one of our downfalls is that we have been running with the wrong crowd. We've been perhaps running with people that pull us away from God, away from the Lord. There may be some listening to my voice tonight on the radio. You know that your friends are the ones that are pulling you away from the Lord. And they're encouraging you to go into sins and into activities that you know are wrong. Listen to what David said. but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight." David wanted to dwell with the saints that would drive him to excellence. David didn't want to have any part with those that were ungodly. He wanted the company of godly men and women who also delighted in the Lord. And that was his desire. Now, that doesn't mean that he lived in a bubble. Jesus Christ was a friend of sinners. Where's the balance? Jesus Christ always let His friends know where He stood. He always, always let people hear the truth from His lips. There was never guile. There was never deception. Jesus Christ was available and approachable to all. But He never dipped His colors or compromised his stand or walk in reaching them. People knew where he stood, and they knew that he lived the life, and they wanted what he had because it was real. And David wanted to live his life for the Lord. In verse 4, David made the statement, all of these people that follow other gods, they're going to be filled with sorrow. Look at verse 4. Their sorrows, speaking about people that are not walking with God, their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God. You know what? People today are running after the God of pleasure. People today are running after false gods. The God of money. The God of getting high. The God of illicit activity and sensualism. And the Word of God says, you want to mess your life up in a royal, double-time way, you follow after the false gods because you're headed to a brick wall 90 miles an hour. The Word of God says here, their sorrows shall be not just... they're not going to hit them. It's going to be double-tapping. It's going to be multiplied. It's going to be a multitudinous problem. It's going to come from every side. those that hasten after another God. And here David is saying, I don't even want to have any part in false gods, not even with their offerings, no sacrifices, and I don't even want to mention their names out of my mouth because they're falsehoods. And I want my lips to give out truth. That's what David is saying. He says here, drink offerings of blood. I'm not going to offer that. nor take up their names into My lips. I want My lips to speak truth, and I want My hands to perform righteousness." And it's for that reason David was able to say, Lord, You're my preserver, because he abode under the shadow of the Almighty. Now, do you want that protection and that preservation that the Lord can give? Then come to Him. Make Him the Savior and Lord of your life. Turn away. No man can serve two masters. You'll love one and hate the other. You can't serve God and the things of this world. So we've seen the psalmist's preservation in verses 1-4. Now I want you to notice the psalmist's position here. And he declares himself, he's a child of God, and as a child of God, he has God's threefold promise. God gives him three promises in verses five through eight. First of all, I want you to notice promise number one. David says, I'm an heir. I'm an heir. As a child of God, I've been adopted into God's family, and I am an heir to everything that the Lord has. Like we sang in our chorus this evening, He owns the cattle to a thousand hills. Look at verse 5. I'm an heir. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, and of the cup thou maintainest my lot. Here we have language similar to the divine allotments that were given to the tribes of Israel in the Promised Land. You remember in the Old Testament. And he's almost using that same type of language that, Lord, You're going to measure out my inheritance, and it's going to be just, and it's going to be righteous, and I'm an heir. Just think of it. You're an heir. People today that are Following after the things of the world, you heard the story, and it is a story, fictitious, of a person that wanted to be buried with all of his gold. So he made arrangements with the undertaker to have all of the gold that he had put in the casket. And when he went before the gates of heaven, and again, this is illustrative, fictitious, not doctrinally, biblically accurate, but when he stands before the gate of heaven, he throws all of his gold that he had over his shoulder right at the gates of heaven, expecting that all of this gold would purchase him an inheritance in heaven. The keeper of heaven's gate looked in the bag and said, that's pavement around here. That's not going to get you into heaven. only the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, a fictitious story like that simply says this. Many people are hoarding gold of this world and it's going to avail nothing in the day when they stand before God. Because the only thing that's going to get you into heaven is what have you done with Jesus Christ? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ? If you're a child of God, you're an heir to all things. And every chance I get, I have a lot of contact in my tent making with people that, quite frankly, are very well-to-do. And sometimes they're talking about investments and they're talking about homes and all of this, and I tell them, well, you know, my father's a millionaire. And they look at me and go, is that right? And it gives me an opportunity to tell them about the riches that I have in Christ Jesus. And you know what? They're non-stock market related. Good diversification. And it's never going to rust or corrupt or erode. And it's not handled by unscrupulous brokers or unscrupulous CEOs. And it's secure in heaven. And I'm an heir. And so are you as a child of God. In verse 6, David gives a second statement as to his position. Not only is he an heir, but in verse 6 he says, I've got a heritage. I've got a heritage. Notice, he says this, The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yea, I have a goodly heritage. You know, people today are bragging about their genealogies and people are going to Google and going to Yahoo and going to all of these websites and search engines trying to figure out their family tree, you know, the missing link, as it were, and all of these things. And I've gotten calls from people from up north saying, you know, we're related somehow and all of this, you know. And they take a pride in their heritage. You know, I'll tell you what, where my pedigree is, I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. He's my Heavenly Father. You're my brothers and my sisters. And that's the greatest heritage that I can brag about. People gather together and they say, I'm a daughter of the American Revolution. Well, that's fine if you are. Melody has that thing. She hates going to the meetings. She never does. But she can claim that and that's wonderful and all of that. But the truth of the matter is that we belong not only as heirs, but we have a godly heritage. And you know, when I look back and I see how God has worked in my life, there have been trials and there have been testings and all of that in my life just as you've had them in your life But you know what? I look around me, and I look at folks like you that we're together in the service of the Lord, and I can say, the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Why? Because I know that I'm in the will of God. And when you're in the will of God, you have peace deep inside of your soul. And that's the peace that we can have. And some of you are maybe running from God that are listening to me tonight. and you're running from God, and you know in your heart of hearts that you're not right with God. You know, a good conscience is the softest pillow in the world to help you to sleep. Don't take somnics. Don't worry about Valium. And don't worry about all these things. Be right with God. Oh, the best medicine. He was an heir. He had a heritage. And notice in verses 7 and 8, he had God's help. He had God's help. And what better? He had God's help in counsel, and he had God's help, verse 8, in having courage to stand up. Notice God's help in counsel. God gave David the counsel that he needed for help when he needed it. I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel. Oh, I've got to run to see a counselor. I've got to run to see my analyst. I've got to run to see my psychologist. $250 an hour. Listen, how about going to the paraclete? How about going to the comforter? The one who has been called alongside. Listen, you need to come to Christ first of all. Then you need to be controlled by the Holy Spirit of God by confessing all known sin. David said here, Lord, You've given me counsel. You know where you get the counsel? Right from this book. When's the last time you spent time in this book, seeking God's help and God's answers? That's where it's found, right here, you see. It says, You've given me counsel. My reins also instruct me in night seasons. The Hebrew reads reins is actually the word kidneys. In the Old Testament language, the kidneys were considered, as it were, the seed of the emotions, like the mind. And somebody could come up to you and say, I love you with all my kidneys. Can you imagine that? People today have kidney transplants and kidney dialysis and such. But here, David is speaking of the concept that he has the Lord guiding him, his mind, his meditation, his thoughts instruct him in night seasons. The Lord gives him guidance. How many times I've lay alone, perhaps in the middle of the night, thinking upon certain things. I don't know about you, but hey, I've done mechanical work on cars or had projects and I was stumped when I went to bed. And tell me if this has ever happened to you. In the middle of the night, you shoot up and you sit up right in the middle of the bed and you have the answer as to what's wrong with that car or you figure it out uh... that checkbook i've found out what i was doing wrong or how many of you ever had that experience i'm not insane am i and you know what it was your mind was was working on it subconsciously And all of a sudden, POW, like an electrical bolt, and you get up there, and that's indeed right. That's exactly it. There have been times when I've said, what was that person's name? What was that person's name? Or what is that account? Where in the world am I going to locate that in my file? And I've tried north, south, east, and west to access that account, and I don't know how in the world. Then all of a sudden, in the middle of the night, pow! Well, you know, the Lord works through our minds, as we think. And the Lord says, Lord, in my mind, you instruct me in the night season. So the Lord gives counsel. But you know what? He also gives courage to go on. In verse 8, we have His help. in His giving us counsel in verse 7, and He gives us courage. Notice, I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand. I shall not be moved. The word moved means to be shaken, to be dislodged. Because you have God's counsel and God's help, You can have courage to keep on keeping on. I shall not be moved. Now, let me just quickly close with this because our time is up. I want to show you the third aspect of the path of the pattern pilgrim. He has God's preservation. He has the right position, the psalmist's position in verses 5-8. But notice the psalmist's prospect. Do we have a lot to look forward to, folks? How many times have you heard me say in the Strength for Today broadcast, the best is yet to come? Well, look at verses 9 through 11. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices, my flesh also shall rest in hope, for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell." Here the word sheol has the concept of the grave here. In other words, I know I'm not going to be like a dog. I know I'm not going to be just in the ground. But on the contrary, you're not going to allow me to see corruption in Job 19. Turn to this passage very quickly. Go to Job chapter 19. one of the earliest of the patriarchs of the Old Testament. And look at his confession of faith in verse 25. Job 19.25, For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God. You know what David is basically saying in verse 10? that I have a future life. And that I'm not just going to rot away. Now, we understand through the New Testament that in truest focus, this is referring to Jesus Christ, the source of all life, who only has immortality. But David receives his hope of the resurrection through the first fruit, the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is an actual prophecy of Jesus Christ, but we need to understand that these Psalms were written with a historical background, you see. And the historical background looks at David's thoughts and feelings as he was going through trials. And he says here, Lord, I know I have a future. And notice, here's what he says here in his prospect. Thou wilt show me the path of life. Listen, will you bow your head tonight and say, Lord, I need your help. Show me the path of life. Now you may have botched up your life royally up to this point, but are you willing to turn around and say, now Lord, I'm turning over the wheel I'm not going to let you be my co-pilot. No, Lord, you're going to be the pilot. Lord, you show me the path of life. And listen, in thy presence is fullness of joy. This world promises a lot. So does the devil, but he never pans out. You come to Christ and he'll show you what true joy is. And as it says in the Gospel of John, his joy, this world, no man, can take away at thy right hand our pleasure forevermore. Unto the ages of the ages the path of the patterned pilgrim is to look to God as his preservation. Recognize your position as a child of the King and realize your prospect that the best is yet to come. This world isn't your home. Don't build A mansion on a rest stop. Live your life for the eternal. Live in mind. Let's pray. You may be here this evening and you're without Jesus Christ as personal Savior. If you were to die right now, you don't have peace in your heart that you'd go to heaven. And if that's your case, I'd like to remember you in prayer. Some of you may be listening to this message through the internet or through our tape ministry, and we'd encourage you to contact us where we can help you. But you right here now, you'd say, pray for me because I'm not right with God and I need to be saved. Let me see your hand. How many would say, I'm not saved, pray for me? Let me see your hand. I'll not embarrass you. But you need to recognize that that's step one. Has the time ever come in your life where you've called upon the name of the Lord as your only hope, as your sole source of righteousness, not looking to your works, not looking to baptism, church membership, religious ritual, but Jesus who took your sins on the cross, Him alone? Pray for me, I'm not saved. Now if you are all here present, a child of God, I'd encourage you to walk in light of His three promises. You're an heir, you have a heritage, you have His help. Now let's walk in light of that and yield ourselves to the Lord. Thank you for your special guidance. And while our heads are bowed and eyes are closed, and Lord, you're witness to our testimonies, how many here would say, Pastor John, there's a burden in my life. As best as I know how, I want to walk in the pathway that my Lord has for me. Let me see your hand. I want to walk in that pathway that the Lord has for me. I trust that all of us would be able to make that statement. But I appreciate the sincerity of your heart. What's it going to take to get you there? You will determine that pathway. Father, bless us now as we would go to prayer. Thank You, Father, for this psalm that was fulfilled through our Lord Jesus Christ. so that David's hope might be fulfilled, and ours as well. Bless us, Lord, and use this study for your honor and your glory as we serve you. In Jesus' name, amen.