Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

This passage also applies to the prayers of Christ at his last supper and in the garden before his death where he drank the cup of suffering that was to become the cup of salvation and blessing for us, his inheritance. “ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between god and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.”(Mt. 26:27,28) It was a cup of suffering for Jesus to purchase our salvation as he prayed for God’s instruction that night: “ My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suf- fering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine” (Mt. 26:39) Many times our sufferings be- come the source of greatest blessing and spiritual inheritance for us. We are now his people, his kingdom because of that cup. It is best to let Peter explain these verses as he quoted them directly on the Day of Pentecost to prove the resurrection of Jesus in the first sermon ever preached: “ However, God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life again, for death could not keep him in its grip. King David said this about him: ‘I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will give me wonderful joy in your presence.’ (Ps. 16:8-11) After quoting the verses directly from Psalm 16 he explains their true meaning: “ Dear brothers, think about this! David wasn’t referring to himself when he spoke these words I have quoted, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on David’s throne as the Messiah. David was looking into the future and predicting the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that the Messiah would not be left among the dead and that his body would not rot in the grave. This prophecy was speak- ing of Jesus, whom God raised from the dead…”(Acts 2:24-32) Paul preached from this verse to show the inhabitants of Antioch, Pisidia that Jesus was the res- urrected Messiah: “ For God had promised to raise him from the dead, never again to die…another psalm explains more fully, saying, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’ (Ps. 16:10) Now this is not a reference to David, for after David had served his generation according to the will of God, he died and was buried, and his body decayed. No, it was a reference to someone else-some- one whom God raised and whose body did not decay. Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is for- giveness for your sins…” (Acts 13:34-38) One of the great lessons of this psalm is to realize that many of the scriptures in the Old Testament are ultimately pointing to our Lord Jesus Christ. Our New Testament worship rests firmly on the foundation that Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive forever more. III THE RESURRECTION SONG ! 8-11

THE BENEFITS OF THE RESURRECTION -

• He is now my GOD and refuge! (1) • He has given me so many GOOD things! (2) • I am surrounded by GODLY people! (3) • He GUARDS my inheritance and cup of blessing! (5) • He has GIVEN me a pleasant land! (6) • He GUIDES me and instructs me! (7) • I am filled with GRATITUDE and praises! (9) • I am rescued from the GRAVE and eternal death. (10) • He has GRANTED me the joy of his presence forever! (11)

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