Psalm 16 – Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.

2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.

5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!

7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever. (NLT)

It is traditionally believed that this psalm was written by David as he lived among foreigners during the time that Saul was seeking to have him killed.  Surrounded by those who worshiped other gods, David affirms his faith in the one true God.  This psalm has a profound spiritual application for Christians.  For me, the most striking verse of this psalm is found in verse three: “The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!”

Like David, we often find ourselves surrounded by people who worship something other than the one true God.  We find ourselves surrounded by people who worship money, status, power, sexual relationships, chemicals, possessions, and the list goes on.  Surrounded by such people, who are our heroes?  We live in a culture that makes heroes out of movie stars, athletes, and the rich.  This is not to say that there are not godly people who fall into those categories, but what is the requirement to be one of our heroes?  David stated that the godly people in the land were his true heroes, but who are ours?

Webster’s Dictionary defines a hero as: someone admired for their achievements.  When searching for a hero, David looked to the achievements of the godly.  Now consider David – he was a great warrior! What kind of achievement was he looking to when he considered heroes?  Was he looking at military success?  I think not, for I believe his answer is found in verse seven: “I will bless the Lord who guides me.” I believe that David saw success in those who were led by the Lord.  Whether it was a humble shepherd, or a mighty general, those who allowed their lives to be led by the Lord were David’s heroes.

Today, let us take a moment to consider our heroes.  If we use David’s criteria, we just might find a few new heroes we have been overlooking! 

Posted by Ramón Torres