Psalm 16 is a beautiful Davidic Psalm full of memorable lines that express trust in the Lord (“in you I take refuge,” v. 1), confidence in his care (“I have no good apart from you,” v. 2), and contentment with his provision (“the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places,” v. 6). Because of God’s character, David can’t imagine following the ways of the idolatrous (v. 4), but sets the Lord always before him (v. 8). But he saves
perhaps his most evocative lyric for last—“in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
THE OBJECT OF OUR JOY
A confession of joy in the Bible isn’t itself unique: the Scriptures use the vocabulary for joy and rejoicing over 400 times: The Christian faith is a joyful faith! Believers rejoice in God’s word (Ps. 19:8), and his salvation (Ps. 13:5). Abraham, along with other Old Testament saints, looked forward with joy to the day when God’s salvation would come through the promised Messiah (John 8:56), and that same Messiah told his disciples to rejoice that salvation had come, their names having been written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
The New Testament saints are commande to rejoice in all circumstances (Phil. 4:4), even in trials (James 1:2-4). What is unique about Psalm 16:11 is that it teaches us the ultimate object of our joy. The joy that lasts forevermore isn’t found in the positive experiences or material blessings of this life (though these are good things). Rather, the ultimate object of our joy is God—the one who has “all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself…” (WCF 2:2). This is good news: because the God in whom we find our joy does not change or depend on anything outside himself, our joy is certain and secure.
THE SOURCE OF OUR JOY
If Scripture makes clear that God is the object of our joy, it also establishes that he is the source of our joy. The One in whom we rejoice is also the One who produces joy in us. After Christ’s victorious death and resurrection, he ascended into heaven from where he poured out the promised Holy Spirit on his people. As the Spirit works faith in us, he unites us to Christ, the True Vine. As we abide in him and keep his commandments, his joy is in us, and our joy is full (John 15:11). Moreover, this same Spirit, who raised the
Lord Jesus from the dead, now dwells in us, where he conforms us more and more to the image of Christ. He does this in two ways. In the negative, he enables us to put to death the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13). Positively, he gives life to our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11) so that we become fruitful—and one of the fruits that he works in us is joy (Gal. 5:22). The God in whose presence is fullness of joy dwells in us, grafts us into the Son, and works joy in us.
FULLNESS OF JOY
Ending with the word, “forevermore,” Psalm 16 invites us to consider the fulfillment of our joy when Christ returns and ushers in his kingdom with finality. In that never-ending day, “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Rev. 21:3). Until that day, there will be trials, suffering, and tears. But praise be to God!—our joy doesn’t depend on our circumstances, but on him in whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. His word and his salvation are sure. And in the end, he will wipe away every tear (Rev. 21:4) and welcome us, his children, into the joy of our master (Matt. 25:23).
MINISTERS OF JOY
This fall, over 1600 students gather for classes across the campuses of Reformed Theological Seminary and online through its Global program. These men and women commit themselves to the intensive study of Scripture and theology that they might know the God in whom there is fullness of joy and rejoice in his
great works. They do this not only for their own edification, but so that others might know the good news of God, rejoice in his salvation, and find fullness of joy in him.