December 17, 2006 | Author: Pat Bell  

Sacrificed, Risen and Ascended

“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.”

Psalm 16:9-10

Study Overview

Christ, the Messiah, came teaching, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, casting out demons, giving voice to the mute, raising the dead and comforting those in need.  Yet, his mission on earth was to become the perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Accomplishing this through death on the cross, he was buried, was raised to life and ascended back to God the Father. 

Background

In many psalms, David expressed his dependence on God for comfort, peace, safety, rest, and strength, using terms like haven, refuge, mighty arm, sovereign, creator, sustainer, and redeemer to describe God and/or his relationship with God.  Christ is all of these things to us, yet in his darkest hour he stood as a meek, gentle, pure and unblemished lamb and was sacrificed for you and me.  In Ps. 26, David refers to “washing his hands” and “going about your altar, O Lord”, which parallel the actions of the priests as they prepared animal sacrifices before the temple (“the house where you live, O Lord”).  Christ became that “once and for all” sacrifice, replacing the animal sacrifices under the old law.  Contemplate the great love demonstrated in that willing, obedient act on the part of Christ, and on the part of the Father seeing his beloved Son suffer on the cruel cross. 

But do not despair!  Death on the cross is not the end but the beginning of a new and glorious age.  An age in which all believers may “taste” the closeness to God similar to that which David experienced.  Actually, Christians should have an even closer relationship because the very Son of God is seated at God’s right hand making intercession for us, and the Holy Spirit residing within us gives us strength to overcome our doubts and fears, directs our footsteps and comforts us each day.

Read Psalm 16

The sub-head of this psalm says “a miktam of David”, also used in Psalms 56 – 60.  This is an obscure title thought to mean ‘to cover’, perhaps to cover the lips as to indicate a silent prayer that David might have uttered.  Ps. 16 reflects David’s deep affection for the Lord.  In Derek Kidner’s An Introduction and Commentary – Psalms 1-72, he notes that David seems to cast every lot of his being on the Lord: security (v. 1), welfare (v. 2), associates (v. 3), worship (v. 4), and ambitions (v. 5).  Believers also have the privilege of casting our lot on the Lord - yea, He demands that we do that very thing.  Having done that, we then have that “delightful inheritance” (v. 6) which brings with it counsel (v. 7), stability (v. 8), resurrection (v. 9), and endless bliss (v. 11).

Luke quotes some of the language of Ps. 16 (read Acts 2:22-36 for context), as did Paul (Acts 13:35-37).  While the application of this portion of the psalm to the resurrection of Christ certainly fits, it can, and perhaps should be, viewed in a broader sense.  David recounted how the Lord has blessed him, has instructed him, and how his heart is glad and his body will rest secure.  He continues by expressing his faith that the Lord will not let it end there by looking through death and the grave to eternal pleasure at the Lord’s right hand.  This hope of resurrection and immortality is beautifully affirmed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

Discussion

1.  David could only point to Christ; however, we see Christ, his life and teachings in scriptures.  How does this different perspective impact our relationship with the Lord compared to David’s?  Should it be stronger? More personal?

2.  In this and many other psalms, David asks the Lord to keep him safe.  Are your prayers generally more focused on your well-being or on praise and thanksgiving?  Do you sense the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life?                           

3.  David said, “I will praise the Lord, who counsel’s me” (v. 7).  Do you allow the Lord to counsel you?  How?  Do you accept His counsel and, if so, how is that demonstrated?  Do you first make plans then ask God to bless them, or do you ask God to guide/counsel you in the planning process?   

4.  David had a strong sense of God’s presence in his life.  Discuss God’s/Christ’s presence in your life?  How is it manifested?  What is the outcome of this presence?  How would your life be different without it?

5.  What does David mean when he says “…he is at my right hand” (v. 8)?  What imagery do you see?  Do you have God at your right hand?

Class Wrap-Up

At the conclusion of class, ask someone to lead a prayer of thanksgiving for: (1) Christ and his sacrifice, (2) for his resurrection, and (3) for the promise that we too will share in that resurrection, then ascend with him to heaven.

End class by singing, “Low in the Grave He Lay”:

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior, | Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose, | With a mighty triumph o’er His foes, | He arose a Victor from the dark domain, | And He lives forever, with His saints to reign. |  He arose! He arose! | Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior, | Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior, | He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

Assignment

During the week, start each day by thanking God for the glorious resurrection of Christ and the significance of that event to you as his child.