A Study in Psalms Psalm 16

1 ¶ <<Michtam of David.>> Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

• a Michtam - a very special psalm; some translate it as meaning “more precious than gold”

• this is a prophecy of David concerning the Lord, Jesus Christ – note that Jesus Christ, while he walked in the physical world, subjected himself perfectly and sinlessly to God the Father, trusting God to preserve him and in the end, to raise him from the dead to everlasting life

• David put all his faith and trust in God through the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, his redeemer. As such he knew that he was in Christ, and therefore spiritually in the very presence of God.

2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

• recognize in our hearts and confess to God that He is our Lord

• we have nothing to offer God – our goodness is to him as filthy rags “ But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isa 64:6

3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

• Our true goodness, which God has extended or offered to us and which is in us when we trust Jesus Christ as our Saviour, is then able to support and edify our brothers and sisters in Christ who also have the excellence of Christ in them and in whom we should be delighted

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

• those who trust in anyone or anything other than God to make them righteous will suffer both in this life and for all eternity in the end.

5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

• everything BUT God is a vanity, something that is short term and will end, valueless. When we trust in God through his Son, Jesus Christ, we gain eternal life, forgiveness for all our shortcomings and sonship as children of God, born into his family through the blood of Jesus Christ, and joint heirs in God's eternal kingdom with Jesus Christ. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1John3:1 – 2 “ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint–heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Ro 8:16 – 17

• God looks after us and keeps us from falling “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Php 4:19 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 1:24 – 25

6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

• David's heritage was of the house of Israel, through whom the word of God came to the world, and also of the through whom Jesus Christ was eventually born into the world.

• It is a blessing to grow up in a Christian home, where we are taught about the God's love and our Saviour from a very young age. We who have grown up this way should be very thankful.

7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

• to bless means “to make holy; glorify” We who have been given so much by him should glorify him and humbly recognize him as holy

• God teaches us and instructs us at all times and in all places. When we place our trust in God through his son, Jesus Christ, we can be confident that we are walking in his will. God teaches us even in our conscience: “ I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jer 17:10 It's not necessary to struggle to determine his will for us.

Verses 8 – 11 are also a prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ

8 ¶ I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

• Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God the Father; we who are in Jesus Christ are spiritually at God's right hand and cannot be moved from that position

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

• Our position in Christ is one that should make us glad and very thankful

• Our body of flesh, although it is corrupt and will die, will rise again and be made incorruptible – note that hope means “to wait expectantly for something that is going to happen”

10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

• We will not be left in the grave, but will be raised from the dead; Jesus Christ was raised from the dead even before his body decayed, opening the door for us to rise bodily from the dead

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

• Just as God gave Jesus Christ complete direction, guidance and support when he was here in human flesh, so he gives direction, guidance and support to all who are in Christ.

• Our fullest and purest joy is in the presence of God

• True eternal pleasure is in the presence of God

• Verses 8 – 11 are quoted by Peter the apostle in his first sermon, Acts:2:25 – 28 concerning Jesus Christ. He said, “For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”