Psalm 16

August 21, 2015

Yahweh leads me in joy (Ps 16:9-16:11)

“Therefore my heart is glad.

My soul rejoices.

My body also rests secure.

You do not give me up to Sheol!

You do not let your faithful one see the pit!

You show me the path of life.

In your presence

There is fullness of joy.

In your right hand

There are pleasures forevermore.”

The psalmist’s heart is glad. His soul rejoices. His body rests secure. He is content. He will not be given up to Sheol or the pit, the death of the underworld. Instead the psalmist will have the path of life. In the presence of Yahweh, he will be filled with joy and everlasting pleasure. The contrast is stark as this psalm ends between death versus everlasting pleasure, joy, and happiness.

August 21, 2015

Yahweh is always before me (Ps 16:7-16:8)

“I bless Yahweh!

He gives me counsel.

In the night also

My heart instructs me.

I keep Yahweh always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I shall not be moved.”

The psalmist blesses Yahweh who gives him counsel. Even at night, Yahweh instructs his heart. He keeps Yahweh always before him at his right hand. Thus the psalmist will not be moved to go astray because Yahweh is always with him.

August 21, 2015

Yahweh is my heritage (Ps 16:5-16:6)

“Yahweh is my chosen portion.

Yahweh is my cup.

You hold my lot!

The boundary lines have fallen

For me in pleasant places.

I have a goodly heritage.”

Instead of idols, the psalmist has chosen Yahweh as his portion. Yahweh is his cup. He is sticking with his lot. Thus his boundary lines have fallen into pleasant places. His land is good as he has a good heritage in Yahweh.

August 21, 2015

The idols are not good (Ps 16:4-16:4)

“Those who choose another god

Multiply their sorrows.

Their drink offerings of blood,

I will not pour out.

I will not take their names

Upon my lips.”

Those who do not choose Yahweh will multiply their sorrows. The psalmist will not partake in their blood offerings. He will not let their names pass his lips. These idol gods are the opposite of Yahweh. They are not good. Thus they are evil.

August 20, 2015

A call to Yahweh (Ps 16:1-16:3)

“A Miktam of David.

“Preserve me!

O God!

In you I take refuge.

I say to Yahweh.

‘You are my Lord!

I have no good apart from you.’

As for the holy ones in the land,

They are the noble ones,

In whom is all my delight.”

Psalm 16 is a little longer psalm of personal faith in Yahweh. This is called a Miktam of David. Psalms 56-60 also have this title. It may refer to a wind instrument or a cymbal or tambourine. The Hebrew meaning of Miktam is uncertain. The psalmist or David asks God to preserve him. He takes his refuge in Yahweh, who is his lord. There is nothing good apart from God. The English language unites good and god with just a simple “o” difference. The psalmist delights only in the holy ones, the noble ones who live in the holy land.