Joy of life in God’s presence

Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-11. April 10, 2023 - Monday in the Octave of Easter

Psalm 16 is a prayer for protection. The psalmist declares his faith in the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and rejects any other gods together with those who worship them. The psalmist seems to belong to the tribe of Levi that had no allotted portion in the Promised Land because the Lord was their inheritance (Num 18:20). Moreover, he declares his faith in God’s Providence stating that the Lord controls his fate or destiny (see Ps 16:1-6).

Then, the psalmist speaks about his night prayer and constant awareness of God’s presence. This meditation practice fills his mind with wisdom and his heart with confidence (Ps 16:7-8). This part of the psalm reminds me of the well-known spiritual book titled “The practice of the presence of God”. The book presents a sharing of Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century Carmelite friar, of his deep spiritual life developed amid his daily work. The book was compiled by Father Joseph de Beaufort, became a spiritual classic, and helped many people to develop their relationship with the Lord.

The last part of the psalm confidently declares the psalmist's trust that not even death will be able to harm him. The Lord will lead him along the path of life to the fullness of life namely abiding in God’s presence. It is interesting to notice that the Lord who throughout the psalmist’s life was at his right-hand leads the psalmist to “the delights at [God’s] right hand” (Ps 16:11). In the first case, the right hand signifies God’s support. In the second case, it refers to an exalted position of authority.

We can easily understand why Saint Peter quoted this psalm in his first sermon after the Pentecost (see Acts 2:22-32). From the Christian perspective, the psalm is the prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension at the right hand of the Father. The apostle indicates that David being a prophet “foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption” (Acts 2:31). Then, he declared that what David prophesied happened. The Father raised Jesus from the dead and exalted His Beloved Son at His right hand (see Acts 2:32-33).

Psalm 16 remains a source of wisdom and encouragement to all the faithful. As we follow Jesus on the path of life by carrying our crosses, we experience his constant presence at our right hand. And so not even death can do us harm because Jesus Christ “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim 1:10). He leads us to the joy of everlasting life in God’s presence.