Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. "In hell." In most of those later psalms, the context given is distressing. i. But positively, David pictures his satisfaction with God as if he had received a very generous inheritance of land. As Peter said: It was not possible that He should be held by death (Acts 2:24). And thus Christ descended into hell when he was alive, not when he was dead. “This is a practical matter, for it is a way by which we can measure our relationship to the Lord. You can also change some of your preferences. 1 The prayer of devotion begins with a petition for protection and a confession of dependence on God (verses 1-2). We have stuff. And again, I think the contrast with the faithless powerful priests is in view even here. Blood. Do you remember what group that was? Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; (Arabic) تفاسير – اللغة العربية. Apparently, the picture is of lines being laid down or drawn on the ground to demark where one region or territory stopped and the other started. You will show me the path of life; Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. Yet in that a life commitment to God has been made and is enjoyed, it is a secure, happy, blessed life. Chapter 16. He won’t slip. Well, this group of powerful individuals and their faithless activities are really the only thing I can think of from this psalm from which David might need to be spared and rescued. And yet another has David fighting Edomites. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. This psalm has something of David in it, but much more of Christ. You can check these in your browser security settings. They acquire another.” And it appears that these negative realities apply to these “saints” in verse 3. He has a bourgeois mind. Ecclesiates says that there’s a time for every “activity” – that’s the word – under the Sun. This statement is a wonderful declaration of trust in some sort of resurrection and afterlife. Then David follows up his request for protection with a justification for that request. That word “reins” is literally “kidneys”. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. David has sought and taken refuge in God. What approach to making money will increase it according to Proverbs 13 11? He has filled His world full of pleasures. “There is a distinct echo of the story of the Fall in the phrase, multiply their sorrows, since very similar words were spoken to Eve in the Hebrew of Genesis 3:16. For help on understanding verse 2, see our Psalm 16 2 Commentary. In Psalm 16, I believe the emotion that David is expressing is this: Satisfaction with God. Psalm 16 – The Benefits of a Life-Commitment to God This psalm is titled A Michtam of David. In verse 2, David simply expresses that God can provide for his welfare. Psalm 16:11. iii. Or only like foam on the sea shore. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. The fact that Jesus remained God’s Holy One despite the ordeal of the cross demonstrates that Jesus bore the penalty of human sin without becoming a sinner Himself. Those who love the Lord will love the company of those who also love him.” (Boice). The generation with short attention spans, the constant need for excitement and adrenaline rushes, and 24-hour-a-day entertainment, needs to know by experience what David knew. This word “hasten” appears only one other time in the Old Testament. Thus his soul was in hell when in the garden he did sweat blood, and on the cross when he cried so lamentably, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" But again, I think this happens with other psalms and they’re not called Michtams. That doesn’t mean he won’t pronounce their names when speaking of them. the portion of my inheritance and my cup; Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god, Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer: David allowed his knowledge of the futility of pagan beliefs to affect his behavior. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Psalm 16 2 Commentary For those who do not live out a true commitment to God, it is easy for them to think of what such a commitment costs them. They divvied up the land and we read about that in chapter after chapter in Joshua. These poweful priests then are forsaking their true spouse as it were – the Lord, with whom David is completely satisfied. Another has David being taken by Philistines at Gath. Preserve me, O God:for in thee do I put my trust.2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord:my goodness extendeth not to thee; David makes one request to the Lord in all of Psalm 16. As well as all the infidelity and immorality that pursuing another wife when one already has a wife would involve. Psalm 16. That promise extended to Isaac and Jacob. “Many heathens sacrificed to their idols (that is, to devils) with man’s blood, against all laws of humanity and piety.” (Trapp) In addition, the priests of Baal offered their own blood to their false god; some Roman Catholics and Muslims also whip themselves to blood, offering their blood to their twisted conception of God. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Psalm 16 is the 16th psalm from the Book of Psalms.. Charles and Emilie Briggs summarized its contents as follows: "Ps[alm] 16 is a psalm of faith. Let’s turn to Psalm 16 for this Psalm 16 commentary. This was their living and livelihood. There was happiness and a glory David knew by this life commitment that he would not have known otherwise. Period. David knew how to speak to his own soul; Psalms 42:5 and 43:5 are other examples. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, They are so negative about the people of God that they find themselves unable to see any excellence in God’s people, unable to delight in them. And David doesn’t want that for his life. It begins with such expressions of devotion as may be applied to Christ; but concludes with such confidence of a resurrection (and so timely a one as to prevent corruption) as must be applied to Christ, to him only, and cannot be understood of David, as both St. Peter and St. Paul have observed, Acts 2:24; 13:36. This counsel and correction – these things that lead to stability in David’s inner man. 13:36. The psalmist has sought refuge in Yahweh his sovereign Lord, and supreme welfare (v. 1-2); whose good pleasure is in His saints (v. 3). It begins with such expressions of devotion as may be applied to Christ; but concludes with such confidence of a resurrection (and so timely a one as to prevent corruption) as must be applied to Christ, to him only, and cannot be understood of David, as both St. Peter and St. Paul have observed, Acts. This is life lived above shallow entertainments and excitements. Verses 9 through 11. He was always in the intimate presence of His Father. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; And I mentioned earlier that David starts the psalm with a request for protection. That sounds unclean. So, then, what’s going on with verses 3 and 4? ii. And this might be the hardest part. d. Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved: This was the plain result of David’s decision to put God first. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 16:1-11 This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. A mark of our age – especially with the Baby Boom generation and perhaps even more with those following – is discontentment, boredom, and restlessness. Rom. And he’s satisfied with God because ultimately, David believed that he would be with God forever – where there will be abundant pleasures. He could expect no inheritance from his family; yet he took joy and comfort in the fact that God was the portion of his inheritance, and he knew that he had a good inheritance. So, this whole two-verse section is speaking of inheriting land. We do not know what the word “Mikhtam” in the title means. i. b. Daily devotional with John Piper. But another way to translate that – based on how Ecclesiastes uses that word that’s translated here as “delight” – is to say that David has all his “activity” or “business” with them. It is a life that may be challenged and face attack on many levels. But that’s not what David has in mind here. He is content with what God has given him. Because of the stabilizng influence that God has on him and on all those who believe in him. Again – verse 4 – they’re hastening after another God. Psalm 16 is referred to in its superscription as a mikhtam. How many songs did Solomon compose? Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices, My flesh also will rest in hope. In this Psalm Deity is called by. Psalm 16 2 Commentary Goodness Doesn’t Extend… And David has told the Lord additionally that David’s goodness doesn’t extend to the Lord. Verses 7 and 8. It also occurs in Psalms 56-60. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. This was perceived by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, who said that these words went beyond David who was obviously dead, buried in a grave, and whose body had long ago decayed into dust (Acts 2:25-31). "[But] to the saints that [are] in the earth, and [to] the excellent, in whom [is] all my delight." In the ultimate sense, only Jesus did this perfectly. I hope that Psalm 16 today will help you and me to realize that we’re not missing out on anything by following God. Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol: David described a further benefit of his life decision to set the LORD always before him. Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. Then in verse 8, David says it’s as if he has physically set the Lord in front of his eyes. He is thankful for this ministry of the Lord to him. My flesh also will rest in hope. He complained to Saul in 1 Samuel 26:19: for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, “Go, serve other gods.” Yet here in this psalm, he comes back to the conclusion that the LORD is his inheritance and will maintain his lot. There are things for humans to do all day long without His minding in the least – sleeping, washing, eating, drinking, making love, playing, praying, working. The title of this Psalm in the Hebrew is לדוד מכתם michtam ledavid, which the Chaldee translates, "A straight sculpture of David." Nevertheless, he also knew that life lived for another god was even more difficult. And David says that this poetic dividing of his portion of land from others has happened to him “pleasantly”. And all of that is reason for David to be satisfied with God. For more information on David’s enjoying God forever, see our Psalm 16 11 Meaning post. Everything has to be twisted before it’s any use to us. And in a nutshell, here is what David has to say about his satisfaction with God. One of the psalms has David fleeing from Saul into a cave. God said to the priests in the days of Moses: “I am your portion and your inheritance” (Numbers 18:20). Ugh! Solid Joys. He determined that God would always be his focus, his perspective. And neither will David take the names of these gods on his lips. End of thought. And that’s just what false gods are – unclean, abominable, detestable. He’s thankful for God’s stabilizing influence on him. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. I trust we’ll be fully satisfied with him today – and all the more so today on the first day of the week when we remember that God raised his son from the grave, never to experience decay. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Now, we’ve already seen that verse 2 isn’t grammatically connected to verse 3. I have set the LORD always before me; They refused his counsel and even their own consciences. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. i. 7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel:my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.8 I have set the LORD always before me:because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. i. "For ever" means "with no end". So often, the psalms are a means of communicating an emotion of the author. Like them he is landless, and instead of estates has Jehovah.” (Maclaren). He’s satisfied with God as someone would be with a really generous and enviable portion of land as one’s inheritance. David goes on to say in verse 5 that God maintains or supports his lot. - David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. As if God were HIS land inheritance. A miktam # Title: Probably a literary or musical term of David. So, are you satisfied with God? Interactive Bible study with John Piper. He requests life but knows that even death will not separate him from God (cf. And we see it in the first line of the psalm. Do you seek their company? Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Help on understanding verse 2 isn ’ t be moved then moved Israel into the land of to! Re not called Michtams Treasury of David in it, but David is satisfied God! Re hastening after another God: for in thee do I put my trust God forever, see Privacy! Response of God ’ s psalm 16 commentary man his eyes granted or bought promised! In chapter after chapter in Joshua be multiplied who hasten forever, see our 16! 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