Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for April 15, 2012

Guest speaker: Kevin Dodge

“Suffering is Mitigated by Confidence in the Resurrecton” – Psalm 16:1-10

We can have confidence in God in the midst of suffering because God’s providence extends beyond the grave.

Psalm 16:1
David uses the term El for God. This term was used in all the surrounding cultures to denote the chief god, but, in Israel, to denote the one and only God.

Psalm 16:2
Here, David uses the term Yahweh for God. This name for God was introduced to Israel by way of Moses at the burning bush. It means “I am that I am” and speaks of the perfection, completeness, and self-existence of God. (Exodus 3:14)
David then refers to God as his Lord, Adonai, meaning master.
David understands that he has no righteousness of his own.

Psalm 16:3
David delights in the saints, the people of God.

Psalm 16:4
David relies on God’s grace and not on appeasement, as the pagans surrounding Israel do.

Psalm 16:5-6
This is an allusion to the book of Joshua, in which the tribes received their promised inheritance. David was of the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:3-15).

Psalm 16:7
The night is when one meditated on the law, the scriptures.

Psalm 16:8-9
David has confidence that he will dwell securely because he has put God in first place in his life. The right hand has significance in a military setting; a combatant holds a shield in his left hand and holds a sword with his right. The left has protection from his shield but the right is more vulnerable because he can be struck when he has his sword raised. So, with God on his right, he has protection there also.

Psalm 16:10
This psalm was quoted by Peter in the book of acts. It is foundational to the Christian faith.

Luke 24:44-45
Jesus informs His disciples that the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms have written about Him. They must be understood in the context of His coming.

Acts 2:22-32
Here, Psalm 16:8-10 is put in its right context.

We will all experience suffering but we can have confidence that at the end of our days our souls will rest securely in the hope of the resurrection from the dead.