Psalm 16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 16

This psalm has something of David in it, but much more of Christ. 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. For David died, and was buried, and saw corruption. I. David speaks of himself as a member of Christ, and so he... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 16:1-7

This psalm is entitled Michtam, which some translate a golden psalm, a very precious one, more to be valued by us than gold, yea, than much fine gold, because it speaks so plainly of Christ and his resurrection, who is the true treasure hidden in the field of the Old Testament. I. David here flies to God's protection with a cheerful believing confidence in it (Ps. 16:1): ?Preserve me, O God! from the deaths, and especially from the sins, to which I am continually exposed; for in thee, and in... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 16:8-11

All these verses are quoted by St. Peter in his first sermon, after the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of pentecost (Acts 2:25-28); and he tells us expressly that David in them speaks concerning Christ and particularly of his resurrection. Something we may allow here of the workings of David's own pious and devout affections towards God, depending upon his grace to perfect every thing that concerned him, and looking for the blessed hope, and happy state on the other side death, in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 16

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 16 Michtam of David . This is a new title, not met with before, though it afterwards is prefixed to "five" psalms running, the fifty sixth, the fifty seventh, the fifty eighth, the fifty ninth, and the sixtieth psalms. Some take the word "michtam" to be the name of a musical instrument, as Kimchi on Psalm 4:1 ; others the name of one of the tunes, as Jarchi; and others the tune of a song which began with this word, as Aben Ezra observes, to which this psalm was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 16:1

Preserve me, O God ,.... Prayer is proper to Christ as man; he offered up many prayers and supplications to Cost, even his Father, and his God, and as the strong and mighty God, as the word F9 אל "Deus fortis seu potens", Muis; "Deus omnipotens", Cocceius, Michaelis. here used is commonly rendered by interpreters; with whom, all things are possible, and who is able to save; see Hebrews 5:7 ; and this petition for preservation was suitable to him and his case, and was heard and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 16:2

O my soul , thou hast said unto the Lord ,.... Some take these to be the words of David speaking to the church, who had owned the Lord to be her Lord, and had declared what follows; others think they are the words of God the Father to his Son, suggesting to him what he had said; but they are rather an apostrophe, or an address of Christ to his own soul; and the phrase, "O my soul", though not in the original text, is rightly supplied by our translators, and which is confirmed by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 16:3

But to the saints that are in the earth ,.... Who are sanctified or set apart by God the Father in election; whose sins are expiated by the blood of Christ in redemption, and who are sanctified or made holy by the Spirit of God in the effectual calling; and who live a holy life and conversation: these are said to be "in the earth", not to distinguish them from the saints in heaven, to whom the goodness of Christ extends as to them, unless it be to distinguish them from the angels in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 16:4

Their sorrows shall be multiplied ,.... Not the sorrows of the saints and excellent ones, by seeing the idolatry of men, as Aben Ezra interprets it; but the sorrows of such that hasten after another god ; a false god, an idol, to serve and worship it; for, generally speaking, idolaters are more forward, eager, and hasty to attend a false worship, than the worshippers of the true God are to attend his service: now their sorrows are many, even in their worship, by cutting their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 16:5

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup ,.... This is said by Christ as a priest, and in allusion to the Levitical priests, who had no inheritance in the land of Canaan with their brethren, but the Lord was their part and portion, and their inheritance, Numbers 18:20 ; and it expresses the strong love and affection Christ had for the Lord as his God, the delight and pleasure he had in him, and the satisfaction he had in the enjoyment of him and communion with him, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 16:6

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places ,.... The allusion is to the measuring of land by lines, and appropriating each part to the proper owners; and lines design the land that is measured out by them, and here the church and people of God, the chosen ones who are given to Christ, as his portion and inheritance; and the sense is, that Christ's portion lies among or in pleasant persons; such as were so to him, as he saw them in his Father's purposes and decrees; and as they are... read more

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