In the last verse of Psalm 16, the praying person expresses his confession of faith in God in a few words: You make known to me the path of life. In other words, "You show me how I can live." The one who prays this psalm verse knows that 'life' is more than eating and drinking, toil, money and enjoyment. Life is life with God. That's what he experienced. And so, he can say: God has preserved him, he has experienced happiness in the presence of God and in the church, he has been spared from wrong paths, and his livelihood is secured by the allocation of land. That is why he knows that he remains in this community of God and that death is not the end of life. We do not learn how he gained this trust. Has he been sick and healed? How was he preserved from religious aberrations? Was he a landless temple servant, a Levite who was given a piece of land as a gift? We only know that he has experienced what life is and who gives him this life. He says, "You are my Lord; my happiness is only with you." – Those who can live so close to God are certain that this closeness does not ever end. God does not turn His back when death comes knocking at the door. God remains at the side of the believer.

A wise person once said, "Think of death once a day and then live!" Yes, death is part of life.
The psalmist teaches:

Trust in God is life experience
with eternal value.

This encouraging feeling makes the psalmist full of grateful joy and hope and makes him look far ahead. God is also his highest good, his everything, for the future. God is an integral part of his life. He wants to remain in God's community, feels safe in God's arms.

Even when the questions come that start with 'why' and make people despondent. But the psalmist trusts that nothing and no one can destroy the fellowship with God, not even death.

Death does not have
the last word.

The Psalm teaches us: Looking up broadens our view of our lives. We don't have to get caught up in the many worries and needs that often take our breath away. There is always a fear of the unknown, yes. But the life that God gives is not only the period of time between conception and death that we have in mind.

Faith carries us beyond the limitations that we experience.

In his Pentecost sermon, Peter takes up this psalm (Acts 2:25-28) and points to Jesus, who is alive in his word and promises us: "I live, and you also shall live." (John 14:19).

Prayer:
Lord, guide me safely through life too. Speak to me through your word, through people and events, so that I may know your will, experience guidance and find ways to live my life to the full. Amen.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Anja