Always Before Me
OCTOBER 16, 2026
The Psalmist loves a God who is always before me.
SCRIPTURE COLLECTION
Today's Scripture Passage
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Psalm 16:7-8
Related Scriptures:
John 10:28-29
Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalm 46:1-3
Psalm 139:9-10
Isaiah 40:31
Notes & Reflections
As the Psalmist has moved from his longing for preservation, his evidence of saving faith, his deep love to behold and attain such a prize as the one true God, and his enjoyment of his God’s control, he now basks in the bold expectation of his God’s comforting nearness.
His God is not distant in his orchestration or care. He is like a loving father, holding the hand of his son, guiding him as he fears the thought of going down uncertain terrain. He stares into his father’s eyes with trust and intensifying boldness. His gaze is fixed and rests firmly on his father’s wisdom and strength to uphold him through the severest opposition. He is like a man who, upon finding himself in a great storm, finds a brilliant light which will guide him to shelter. He is like a young boy who, though lost in the forest, finds no anxiety in his heart because of his father’s thorough instruction. He knows what to avoid, what to eat, where to find water, where to rest, and how to get home.
As he lies in his bed after every hard and passing day, the words of his God flow through his heart and soul like scaffolding in a tabernacle, which is the frame of his very body. As his bones give stability to his otherwise feeble flesh, so the words and promises of God give stability to his soul and hope of a glorious future.
The Lord is always before him, and he is always before the Lord.
As the waves control the movement of a large ship, so his God’s power moves him toward the destination of great joy. Though life seems to toss him, his God guides the wind and currents of his everyday life. He holds and is being held by the hand which formed him, gave him life, and sustains him, a hand which makes him more stable than a mountain, gives him more strength than a bear, and builds in him the confidence of an eagle in flight.
The Psalmist always has his Lord in front of him so as to avoid becoming distracted by the worthless things around him. He sees his father’s back and stays close to the dust which flies from his father’s steps. This is his delight, and this is his safety.
He is certain of his future, and nothing around him can convince him otherwise.
Does God still give counsel today, and if so, how?
In Psalm 1 and 119 we hear the Psalmist pour out his urging, love, and great delight for the word of God. Scripture is sufficient to make us “complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). It is God who gives us wisdom and encourages us to ask (James 1:5), indeed if you and I want Gods counsel, all we must do is pray and read the scriptures.
Study Questions
QUESTION 01
What does it mean to set the Lord always before you?
QUESTION 02
Where do you most need to remember that God is at your right hand?
QUESTION 03
How does God’s Word steady you when life feels like a storm?
How To Cling Today
Cling to Christ today by trusting that he is a God who is near and who is always with you.
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