Memo 1106: "Keep Me Safe As I Go"

There are so many beautiful psalms that it's hard to identify any one that stands out from the rest. What often makes them special is the message they bring to us in our times of need, or the words we need to praise or pray to the Lord. Let's look at Psalm 16 this week as we continue to search for behaviors and attitudes that will help us live the abundant life:

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." ... Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. ... You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:1-2, 5-8, 11).

There's so much in those verses, so let's get started looking at the title of this week's entry, "Keep me safe as I go."

OVERVIEW

David started out by declaring that "apart from you [God] I have no good thing—you are my portion and cup." It's always good to remember that when we are in Christ, we have the most precious possession of all. Many use this to disparage who they are, reminding themselves of their worthless state, but I view it differently. God is with me, He's in me, and that makes me unique, with a valuable deposit of God's gifts and grace that I am to share.

Then David stated that "his boundary lines and inheritance have fallen [to him] in special places." Your assignment and mine are a delight. We're where we need to be, doing what we need to do. We don't have to do this and live in it, we get to do so. It's a privilege and one that we are to enjoy, which is why David used the word delightful.

What's more, God is with us like He was with David. His Spirit lives in us and He counsels and instructs us even in our sleep. He wants us to know His will, both the big picture and smaller steps to make it happen. He isn't trying to trick or mislead us. Because of this, David said, "I always keep my eyes on the Lord" and proclaimed, "I will not be shaken." Of course, that meant shaking would come but David stated in faith that it wouldn't affect him.

SAFE TRAVELS

Yet the point I want to emphasize this week is how the psalm starts and ends. David started by praying, "Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge." That didn't mean David was hiding someplace in a fortress. He didn't play it safe as the means by which God would keep him safe. How do we know that? We know because David ended the psalm by praying, "You make known to me the path of life."

People use paths to get one from place to another and David was saying, "I expect to be moving, Lord, to be doing things and going places. Keep me safe as I go. You're my protection, my shield, my mobile fortress as I serve you and the people." The same should be true for us, so let's summarize your PowerPoint for Living this week as follows:

The abundant life for you isn't playing it safe, but trusting the Lord for safety as you walk out God's will for you. And God won't hide His will. He wants you to know it so you can fulfill it, and that means you can count on His guidance—even while you sleep.

Are you hiding from being who you are and what you are to do, thinking that will keep you safe? Or are you praying, "Keep me safe as I go, Lord"? Are you shrinking your world and opportunities, trying to stay safe or are you expanding them because God is your refuge and protector? God knows how to keep you from trouble and how to preserve you in trouble as you walk out His will. Determine once and for all that your times are in His hands and act accordingly as you seek to fulfill your purpose today and every day. Have a blessed week!