God’s Word for You
Acts 2:25-28 you will not abandon me to the grave
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Friday, August 30, 2019
25 David said about him:
‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad,
my tongue rejoices,
and my flesh will live in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life.
You will fill me with joy with your presence.’
Peter is quoting Psalm 16:8-11. This is a prophecy from David about the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In a broad context, Peter is making the point that the resurrection of Jesus was foretold in the Scriptures. The Savior was not abandoned to the grave; his body did not decay. He rose from the dead, and hundreds of people witnessed his resurrection.
‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.’ David trusted in God because God was always with him, guiding him, protecting him, and advising him through his word and through his preachers.
‘Therefore my heart is glad, my tongue rejoices, and my flesh will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.’ The resurrection of Jesus does not mean that David would be abandoned forever. The resurrection of the Savior means that we will be raised, too.
‘You have made known to me the paths of life. You will fill me with joy with your presence.’ The paths of life are the means of grace, the gospel in word and sacrament. The certainty that we will be filled with joy is one of the great things that the Scriptures teach us about heaven. Peter said, “You believe in Jesus and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8). That joy is the confidence of the life and reunion we will have in heaven. Jesus said, “Father, I want those you have given me to be where I am, and to see my glory” (John 17:24). That glory we will see is the true presence of God we will experience continuously in heaven. And here, David’s promise is that in that eternal life, with reunion with all God’s people and in the constant presence of God, we will have joy, peace, rest, and all the comforts of heaven, forever.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.