Stirred Not Shaken

by Michele LaPointe

What was David talking about when he wrote in Psalm 16:8b " I will not be shaken? " What seems at first to be a simple statement of confidence turns out to have more profound roots. David writes in the first person but is prophetically speaking of Jesus and to us. David's history of continual sin hints at why these words held great significance in his own life (and now in ours).

David was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse. He cared for the flocks and perfected his music while in the fields. He was selected by Samuel to be the king that Saul had failed to be. David, during this time, defeated Goliath which brought jealousy to Saul's heart. Saul's son, Jonathan, however, became closely bonded with David. Saul began plotting against David trying to ensnare him with his daughters. Jonathan saved David by informing him of this plot. David then had to flee to a cave and live as an outlaw. He had opportunities to kill Saul but spared his life twice. He even retreated to Philistine territory for a while, at which time, Jonathan was killed in a battle at Mount Gilboa. David continued ruling, living a life of sin and prostrate repentance for many years.

Throughout David's life, his sins and struggles were recorded openly through his music. David's bad choices and subsequently cursed family can be read about in 1 Samuel-1 Kings. However, all through his life David consistently and desperately wrote songs and praises to God. The beauty and prophetic nature of this Psalm can shed a light on the darkened twined path that many follow today.

Psalm 16

" Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge. I said to the Lord, " You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing, " (verses 1-2).

Jesus was the perfect man, yet was still dependent on God the Father. Christ Himself cried out to the One Who was His only refuge--His Father in Heaven. David's words, " apart from You I have no good thing, " were echoed by Jesus not as a denial of His sinlessness but of finding His sufficiency only in God. Psalm 73 reiterates, " Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. " Believers who turn with every need to their Father will not be misguided.

" As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom all is My delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on My lips, " (verses 3-4).

God is central in the life of Jesus. However, that did not exclude love for the saints, the true followers of God. In fact, to love God is to love His people. 1 John 5:1-2 tells us, " Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. " Throughout the life of Jesus we witness the pure love of the Father in Jesus' actions and words. David also demonstrated this love many times in his merciful interactions with his enemies. There is a contrast between the true followers of the Father and those who follow other gods though. Our Father will not even mention the names of idolaters. Not having our name on the lips of God the Father separates us in a most nullifying way from the One we most need.

" Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup, You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance, " (verses 5-6).

For Jesus, His portion and cup were entirely of God. God guarded the boundaries of His inheritance and planned every detail of His life, which gave Him a secure future. David compares it to a pleasant estate in a beautiful setting---an inheritance of good things. Living in close fellowship with God allows us brief glimpses of the perfect ordering of our lives. God does not make errors in creating us. His plan is aptly set before our birth.

" 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, " (verses 7-8).

Jesus always praised His Father for His guidance and counsel. Even when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemene sleeplessly pacing and praying, He meditated on God's Word. Jesus knew that the perfect Word from the mouth of His Father lent instruction and certain comfort to His grieving heart. David's prophetic words mirror what we are and how we are to live now as believers. Christ always kept His Father before Him. Every action and word from Jesus was in obedience to God's leading. Once our hearts are transformed by Christ, then these are the same paths we will choose to follow.

One of my Bible concordances speaks of the right hand and it's significance (verse 8):

1. Power- " Your arm is endued with power; Your hand is strong, Your right hand exalted, " (Psalm 89:13).

2. Safety- " Now I know the Lord saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy Heaven with the saving power of His right hand, " (Psalm 20:6).

3.Honor- " The Lord says to my Lord: " Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet, " (Psalm 110:1).

4. Pleasure- " 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, " (Psalm 16:22).

5. Favor- " Let Your hand rest on the man at Your right hand, the Son of man You have raised up for Yourself, " (Psalm 80:17).

6. Support- " You give me Your shield of victory, and Your right hand sustains me; You stoop down to make me great, " (Psalm 18:35).

" Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay, " (verses 9-10).

Jesus could rest secure in the knowledge that He was under the constant care and protection of His Daddy. We have this assurance also if we proclaim Jesus as Savior. We know that believers will be with Christ in Heaven when they die. We will not be just dead and rotting in a grave somewhere. Philippians 1:21-23 explains, " For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. " Believers are here with a purpose--to be Christ with skin, to show God's glory, to point the way to the Father. Until God decides we are to die, it is just as it was with Jesus; we are to obey Him and reflect His love to others.

" 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, " (verse 11).

Jesus had confidence that Abba Daddy would lead Him along the path of life. This path would ultimately lead Him back to Heaven, to His Father's presence. There Jesus would forever experience God's pleasure and joy. This is offered to us as well. What an awesome gift salvation is! We are given the opportunity to experience eternal life with God in Heaven! This is achieved only one way, through one God, the only One, and with continued repentance for our inevitable sins. This is how we become " stirred and not shaken. "

c 10/27/2009 M. LaPointe

Article submitted Sunday, April 25, 2010 & read 161 times.

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» left by Marijo Phelps⁽¹⁹⁹⁾ (1 year 287 days ago.)

Oh, this is a good piece and I am looking forward to reading more of your postings. Through David the Lord gives us much hope. thanks for sharing this with your readers! Marijo (Mary Jo - dad was a creative speller)
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» left by Teresa^(1,655) (1 year 286 days ago.)

Welcome back Michele! It's good to hear from you and of course, you bring an encouraging message. Thank you for sharing. I pray all is well on your end. Blessings, Teresa
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» left by Anonymous (1 year 286 days ago.)

I like how you express the humanity of Christ. Though He is God, when we humbled Himself and became man, he lived as man and showed us how to be completely depend on God the Father and His Holy Spirit.
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