Jump Start # 1422

Psalms 16:6 “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”

  Today’s verse is nice. It brings good thoughts to our minds. This is a reminder that not all of the Bible deals with storms, sins and suffering. Not everything nor is everyone in a constant state of trouble. Not everything is black. Gloom and doom is not the only song that is sung.

Our passage is a reflection of a heart that recognizes that God has been there and God has been helpful. Later in this passage, David says, “my heart is glad and my glory rejoices.” He understood that his life was held securely by the Lord.

The NIV translates our verse, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places…” The boundary lines. We understand boundary lines. In sports, whether it’s a baseball game, tennis match, soccer game, or football, there are boundary lines. In bounds and out of bounds. Boundary markers, often a large stone or a group of stones piled on top of each other, marked the edge of property lines. There was stern warning in the O.T. about moving those stones. A dishonest person, with a devious mind, could in the middle of the night, move stones and steal land from his neighbor. God condemned such actions.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. David is not talking about sports. He isn’t thinking about property lines. The boundary lines he has in mind are simply what we call life. David looks at his life and understands that God has been good to him. The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. This spirit and attitude makes one thankful. It shows that David was content and happy. What a refreshing thought that is. So many do not feel that way. They feel cheated. They feel that life has not been fair to them. They feel that they were owed certain things in life and it didn’t turn out that way. So they march through life with a chip on their shoulders. They are not content. They are miserable, complaining and angry. Some go so far as being angry with God.

What is interesting about all of this is remembering what we know about David’s life. It wasn’t easy. He wasn’t born in a palace. He did not have a silver spoon. The last of many brothers, and considered the runt of the boys, his childhood was simple and plain. He steps up to face a giant, when his own family ridicules him. A national hero, he must run from King Saul for decades. Multiple times, Saul tries to kill David. How easy it would be to think that the boundaries for David were tough. Even the famous shepherd Psalm, Psalms 23, has David going through dark valleys of death. Yet, he doesn’t fear. God is with him. The staff and the rod comfort and assure him. David’s focus was upon the Lord. The Lord had not let him down. The Lord was good to him. The Lord was always there for him.

My, wouldn’t our outlook take on a different perspective if we understood that our boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. Consider some of our pleasant places:

• This country is blessed with opportunities and enjoyments. Have you been overseas? I don’t mean Europe, but a third world country? Have you walked down a street and seen folks peeing on a building in plain sight of everyone? Have you seen folks washing their dishes in a river, just a few feet away from a water buffalo that is standing in the same water? No one from the government has chosen our lot in life. No one has said that you must do this. With a flip of a switch, we have lights, fresh water, and cool air. Most don’t have to pray for our daily bread because our pantries and frigs are stocked with enough food to get us by for many days. We have cars. We have cell phones. We have internet. We have a zillion channels on cable. Life is good.

It wasn’t too long ago, that church buildings were heated with a pot belly stove. Those sitting near burned and those far away froze. It’s not that way today. Copy machines, powerpoint, email, live streaming, CD’s, my, we have things nice. Our boundaries have fallen in pleasant places.

• Imagine being in ancient Israel and having to bring a cute young lamb to the priest to kill. That cute lamb had to be without blemish, which for many meant, keeping it around the house. Out in the fields it could be injured or killed and there went your sacrifice. So, you kept it nearby. The kids would play with it. They would put ribbons around it. They would name it. Then comes that dreadful day when you had to take that lamb to the priest. How would you explain that to the children? What would they think? We don’t do that today. The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places.

• Many of us worship in large congregations where there are amazing elderships who are walking as real shepherds. The opportunities to learn and grow are everywhere. What a wonderful church family that loves you and supports you. My, the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places.

• Many of us have great families. We have many quality friends. The people in our lives are incredible. They are the ones who care about us. They pray about us. They enjoy our company. My, the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places.

Do you follow the tone of David’s words? We can focus upon the many problems in the world or our lives or we can see the Lord. We can complain about how life hasn’t been fair to us, or we can see that the Lord has placed our boundary lines in pleasant places. To know the Lord, to taste forgiveness and to realize that your name is recorded in His book, my, the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. Let us complain less and praise more. Let us stop pointing fingers and fold our hands in prayer. Let us see that God could have abandoned all of us. He could have walked away from us. We have trashed His laws, broken His heart and greatly disappointed Him. The wrath of Heaven could have fallen upon us, but it hasn’t. The name of Jesus has been sent to save us.

My, the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places.

And for that, dear Lord, I thank You!

Roger