Psalm 16:7-9 - Our Good Counsel

“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.” Today, we want to think about how we have “good counsel” from the Lord as we fellowship and spend time with Him! As I was reading verses 7-9, I couldn’t help but think of a passage in the New Testament found in Philippians 4. The Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome writing this letter to the saints in the church at Philippi. Paul was rejoicing and he was content because he believed that God was good and very present wherever or in whatever circumstance he was in. Read this passage and see how much it relates to the same thing that David was writing about in Psalm 16. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:4-13) Both David and Paul had learned to be content and satisfied in Christ alone! They both knew that the Lord was their “good counselor” and would always be present to guide them. Even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself would spend the night in prayer with His Father seeking His will and direction to know which disciples to chose to follow Him and later become the witnesses of His death, burial and resurrection to the world. “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles” (Luke 6:12-13). David's personal fellowship with the Lord was his greatest joy. This was when God instructed and counseled David and told him what to do and how to do it. David even went to "night school" to learn the will of God. (See Psalms 17:3; 42:8; 63:6; 77:2, 6.) "Night" is plural, suggesting "dark nights" or "night after night" learning from God. The word "instruct" carries with it the idea of discipline and chastening, for David learned many lessons when God's loving hand chastened him (Heb. 12:1-12). The Lord at his right hand suggests God as his advocate and defender. (See Ps. 73:23; 109:31; 110:5; 121:5; 1 John 2:2; Acts 2:33; 5:31.) With the Lord as his guide and guard, he had nothing to fear; he would not be moved (Ps. 10:6; 15:5). The future is your friend when Jesus is your Lord. My friend, Jesus is our “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Today He will give you “good counsel” through His Word and the Holy Spirit if you will trust and obey Him! God bless!