Ps. 16:5, 6 Thou holdest my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Other versions add the phrase ‘boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.
When God chooses our lot, our place to serve, each place comes with a predetermined set of ‘boundaries’ or ‘limits’ to our sphere of influence and ‘power’. Part of our resting and trusting in the sovereignty of God is accepting these ‘lines’ that He has laid out for us.
Also part of our faith-walk is rejoicing in these limitations. God has placed each of us under various authorities. We are all expected and required to obey the laws of the land on all levels: federal, state, county and city laws. We are encouraged and expected to obey and submit to the influence and spiritual leadership of our pastors. We are certainly bound to obey the rules and policies of whatever organization, company or service branch to which we belong. Each of these is ‘boundary lines’. According to King David, the ‘lines have fallen for me in pleasant places’.
We get into trouble when we ‘cross’ into areas that were not meant for us to cross. I do NOT have the authority, influence or position to walk into the President of the United States office and demand that the President listen and follow my advice. It’s an extreme example, yet is true. In the same way, I am not privy to make input on personnel decisions within our own organization unless I am invited to give my opinion. Yet, the ‘lines have fallen for me in pleasant places…’ There are areas that I can influence, the rest I must entrust to God and to the leaders that He has placed over me.
Recognizing the goodness and sovereignty of God in all the decisions that are made allows me to sit back and to rejoice and to give thanks. These boundary lines are pleasant. I don’t have to carry the ‘weight of the world’. When I disagree with a decision that has been made, I take comfort that God loves that person more that me. I take comfort in the truth that “I am NOT God.” I do NOT know the end from the beginning and I DO NOT KNOW what is best for others.
In learning how to drive, the driving instructor would say to me, “Stay in your lane…” The lane markers were boundary lines for safety: both others and mine. Each of us has our ‘lanes’ that we need to stay in.
I pray that you would recognize and rejoice in the limits that God has placed around you. These are ‘pleasant lines’. This also has implications for sexual purity. A beautiful woman walks into your line of sight, what do you do? If you ogle over her and ‘admire her beauty’, you are knocking on the door of visual lust and adultery. Her beauty is NOT yours (unless she is your wife). She belongs to another. Stay in your lane in the area of sexual beauty and expression. These lines are ‘good and pleasant’.
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Thank God for you Brother B… these verses came to mind:
IRT Boundaries. It reminded me that I need to be content with today’s boundaries that the Lord has given to me even while I cry out to God like Jabez to expand them (1 Chron 4:10 “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!…”). Sometimes I get caught up in the “real estate acquistion” of expanding boundaries and forget to be a faithful steward of my God-given territory today (Psalm 37:3-4 “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
IRT Purity and Control of the eyes… I will say again (especially if you were ever a Plebe… “KEEP YOUR EYES IN THE BOAT!”
- Prov 24:25 “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.”
- Job 31:1 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.”
Thanks AJ. Such a good command from Plebe year to keep in mind.