View Psalms 16 in the note window.
David professes his trust in God, his adherence to him and love of
his people, ver. 1 - 3.
His satisfaction in God, ver. 4 - 7.
He speaks in the person of Christ, of Gods presence with him,
of his resurrection and the glory that should follow, ver. 8 - 11.
Michtam of David.
Title of the psalm. Michtam - This seems to be a title belonging to the
musick or the song, which, with the rest, is now lost and unknown.
As David was both a member, and an eminent type, of Christ, he speaks
of himself sometimes in the one and sometimes in the other capacity:
and therefore having spoken of himself as a member of Christ, in the
former part of the psalm, he proceeds to consider himself as a type
of Christ, and being inspired by the holy Ghost: towards the close he
speaks such things, as though they might be accommodated to himself in a
very imperfect sense, yet could not properly, belong to any but to Christ,
to whom therefore they are justly appropriated in the New Testament.
2: To thee - Thou dost not need me or my service, nor art capable of
any advantage from it.
3: But - I bear a singular respect and love to all saints, for thy
sake, whose friends and servants they are, and whose image they bear.
This more properly agrees to David, than to Christ, whose goodness was
principally designed for, and imparted to sinners.
4: Sorrows - Having shewed his affection to the servants of the true
God, he now declares what an abhorrency he has for those that worship idols.
Offerings - In which the Gentiles used sometimes to drink part of the
blood of their sacrifices. Names - Of those other gods mentioned before.
5: The Lord - I rejoice in God as my portion, and desire no better,
no other felicity. Cup - The portion which is put into my cup, as the
ancient manner was in feasts, where each had his portion of meat, and
of wine allotted to him. Lot - My inheritance divided to me by lot,
as the custom then was.
6: Lines - My portion, which was measured with lines.
Are fallen - In a land flowing with milk and honey, and
above all, blessed with the presence and knowledge of God.
7: The Lord - Hath inspired that wisdom into me, by which I have
chosen the Lord for my portion, and am so fully satisfied with him.
Reins - My inward thoughts and affections, being inspired and moved by
the holy spirit. Instruct - Direct me how to please God, and put my
whole trust in him. Night - Even when others are asleep, my mind is
working upon God, and improving the silence and solitude of holy
meditations.
8: I have set - I have always presented him to my mind, as my witness
and judge, as my patron and protector. Hitherto David seems to have
spoken with respect to himself, but now he is transported by the spirit
of prophecy, and carried above himself, to speak as a type of Christ, in
whom this and the following verses were truly accomplished. Christ as man
did always set his father's will and glory before him. Right - hand - To
strengthen, protect, assist, and comfort me: as this assistance of God was
necessary to Christ as man. Moved - Though the archers shoot grievously
at me, and both men and devils seek my destruction, and God sets himself
against me as an enemy, yet I am assured he will deliver me out of all my
distresses.
9: My glory - My tongue, which is a man's glory and privilege, above
all other living creatures. Rejoiceth - Declares my inward joy. For this
word signifies not so much eternal joy, as the outward demonstrations of it.
My flesh - My body shall quietly rest in the grave. Shall rest - in
confident assurance of its incorruption there, and of its resurrection
to an immortal life: the flesh or body is in itself, but a dead lump of
clay; yet hope is here ascribed to it figuratively, as it is to the
brute creatures, (Ro 8:19).
10: Hell - In the state of the dead. Holy one - Me thy holy son,
whom thou hast sanctified and sent into the world. It is peculiar to
Christ, to be called the holy one of God. To see - To be corrupted
or putrefied in the grave, as the bodies of others are.
11: Life - Thou wilt raise me from the grave, and conduct me to the
place and state of everlasting felicity. Presence - In that heavenly
paradise, where thou art gloriously present, where thou dost clearly
and fully discover the light of thy countenance; whereas in this life
thou hidest thy face and shewest us only thy back - parts.
Right - hand - Which he mentions as a place of the greatest honour, the place
where the saints are placed at the last day, and where Christ himself is
said to sit, (Ps 110:1).
Pleasures - All our joys are empty and defective: But in heaven there is
fulness of joy. Our pleasures here are transient and momentary; but
those at God's right hand are pleasures for evermore. For they are the
pleasures of immortal souls, in the enjoyment of an eternal God.
