Psalm 16
The Hope of the Faithful and the Messiah's Victory
*Written by David.
*"A Mitcham of David. "Mitcham", refers to the deliverance from death.
Verses 1-8: The attitude of the righteous in life is described here.
Verses 9-11: The attitude of the righteous in life is death is described here.
Verse 1: In life David's attitude is one of trust.
Verse 2: Gratefulness for God's goodness is seen here. The first "Lord" is the name of God(Hebrew word for the name Lord here is Yahweh) The second "Lord" is a title meaning "Ruler, Master"(Hebrew word for the title Lord here is Adonai). "My goodness is nothing apart from You". David is saying "My well being is entirely dependant upon the Lord".
Verse 3: Delight in God's people.
Verse 4: Separation from idolatrous worship. The principle of God's Holiness kept David from giving into the temptations of idolatrous worship. David had nothing to do with false gods or the people that followed the false gods. Just as false gods were every where in David's time, so are they today. We are to do as David did and have nothing to do with false gods or the people pursuing the false gods. Yes, we are to witness to these people; however, we are not to inter-mix with their worship of the false gods. Inter-mixing with the people who worship false gods, leads to COMPROMISE. God holds His righteous people to higher biblical standards. Just as oil and water do not mix together, true biblical christianity can not mix with the beliefs of false gods. God is a jealous God and He will not share His righteous people with false gods. The first 3 commandments of the 10 commandments deal with what God expects of His righteous one's toward Him:
- You shall have no other god's before Me (Exodus 20:3).
- You shall not make any graven idols (Exodus 20:4).
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (Exodus 20:7).
Verse 5-6: "Lot" means circumstances or the place God has put a person. We do well to recognize as David did the daily provisions of God. Satisfaction in God's gracious provisions.
Verse 7: Praise for the Lord's counsel. God is David's counsel. God should be the counsel of the righteous.
Verse 8: Stedfastness in spiritual devotion. The righteous should be unmovable. The righteous are not to be so easily persuaded by the false gods and false religions of this world.
Verse 9: Even in death the righteous rejoices and is hopeful. "My glory" is the core of David's being. "My glory" refers to that distinctive way in which man is created in the image of God.
Verse 10: David is confident that God will preserve him even in death.
Verse 11: "The path" leads to the source and center of all life, which is God. David knew that abundant life, fulfillment, delight and joy are found in the presence of God.
*Radical, passionate, life-changing devotion to God should burst forth in the lives of the righteous.
