Psalm 16 ~ Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

Psalm 16

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
² I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
     I have no good apart from you.”

³ As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.

⁴ The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

⁵ The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
⁶  The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

⁷ I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
⁸  I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
¹⁰ For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
     or let your holy one see corruption.

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We all have times in our lives when we feel we need Refuge. Solace. Comfort.

Looking at Scriptures, it is surprising to find the best known people in Scripture, really strong ones, are concerned with finding this refuge. Primarily, it is David seeking the refuge of God. Who wouldn't want to be David? I know I'd raise my hand to be David. Apple of God's eye, even today.  Isaiah did not endure a difficult life, yet sought this refuge. The Children of Israel, wandering in the desert, did not look for this refuge as much as the Psalmist.

David acknowledges the need for the LORD. No other refuge is Good.

Matthew 7:24-25
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Jesus believed this. And He took His disciples to Caesarea to hear Peter declare Him as LORD. Upon hearing worship from Peter, Jesus told His chosen about a Church - yet to be built. In words yet to be recorded. Spoken from His Mouth. Against a very present Roman Empire. This is how Jesus told them He planned to build: 

 Matthew 16:17-19 
 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 



Exodus 33:22 
and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 

Psalm 18:1-3 
I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 

Psalm 19:14 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. 

Psalm 31:3 
For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me 


Isaiah 2:10 
Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty.


 Isaiah 26:4 
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. 


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