SERMON

Finding a Lasting Security (Psalm 16:7-11) being a sermon delivered on Sunday 17th January, 2021 at St. John’s Church Osusu Aba

Season: Epiphany 2

Preamble:

You are gladly welcome to the 3rd Sunday of the first month of the year. It is obvious we all are very expectant and optimistic of what the year holds for us. All the good things you desire are found in Christ Jesus, who is the provider and supplier of all our needs. 

In a world replete with uncertainties and fear of the unknown like ours, we all need security and protection from the vicissitudes of life: kidnapping, arm robbery, witchcraft and occultic powers, poverty etc. That’s why some of us are forced into putting our hands into what we think can secure us. But then, whatever form of security we find outside Christ is transient and temporal. This brings us to our topic:Finding a Lasting Security, Psalm 16:7-11

Security is from the root word secure. To be secured connotes safety from harm or danger. To be sure and confident of tomorrow. Security could be:

Physical

 Spiritual

 Financial

mental or intellectual. 

The Psalmist provides us with a lasting security as contained in Psalm 16:7-11:

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,

because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

This psalm was written by David, the man after God’s own heart. It is one of the personal psalms of David. Personal in the sense that, the use of personal pronouns such as “my” “me” “I” are used a dozen times. The psalm focuses on the goodness of God. The Psalm may have been written shortly after the Lord gave His gracious covenant to David and assured him of an enduring throne (2 Sam 7). That covenant was eventually fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David (Luke 1:32-33). Hence, some refer the psalm to one of the Messianic Psalms.

The Psalmist expresses confidence in God who will not abandon and confesses that all the blessings he has come from God. His heart finds security in God because he sets God before him.

Finding a Lasting Security from Psalm 16Acknowledge that you have comes from Him

Set the Lord before you

What happens when you set the Lord before you:

You will have joy and peace

You will be secured

You will not be abandoned to the grave. The grave in Hebrew is shoel- a place of the dead. Literally a place of helplessness and hopelessness. God will not leave you at the mercy of your enemies. He will deliver you from the intentions and expectations of blood thirsty men like Herod Acts 12:11

He will show you the path of life, and direct you on where to walk on. This year the Lord will direct your path. He will give you visions and revelations on what to do. 

You will enjoy uninterrupted divine presence. See Isaiah 43:2,3

Conclusion

Finding Jesus is the sure way to finding a Lasting Security in this world. Every other security is temporal and transient. Hear this song:

With my savior ever near to guide me

I am safe whatever May betide me;

From the storm and tempest he will hide me

In the hollow of his hands

In the hollow…

In his arms of love he doth enfold me

Words of peace his voice divine hath told me

I am safe for God himself doth hold me

In the hollow of his hands