Bible Commentaries
Psalms 16

Introduction

Psalms 16:0

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

Verses 1-4

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 16:1-4 1Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. 2I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.” 3As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. 4The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

Psalms 16:1 “Preserve me, O God” This is the only imperative (BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal imperative) in Psalms 16:0. It is an urgent prayer request. From Psalms 16:10-11 it becomes obvious that the psalmist is facing death. He requests life but knows that even death will not separate him from God (cf. Romans 8:31-39).

In this Psalm Deity is called by

1. El, Psalms 16:1 (general title of God in the ANE)

2. YHWH, Psalms 16:2, Psalms 16:5, Psalms 16:7, Psalms 16:8

3. Adon, Psalms 16:2

See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY.

▣ “for I take refuge in You” This is the theme of many Psalms! For “refuge” see notes at Psalms 5:11.

Humans are made in the image and likeness of God Himself (cf. Genesis 1:26-27). We were created for fellowship (cf. Genesis 3:8). We can find peace, rest, joy, purpose, and safety only in Him!

Psalms 16:2 This is the psalmist's profession of faith. Psalms 16:2 seems to summarize a previous prayer or confession.

NASB“I have no good beside You” NKJV“My goodness is nothing apart from You” NRSV“I have no good apart from You” TEV“all the good things I have come from You” REB“from You alone comes the good I enjoy” NET Bible“my only source of well-being” JPSOA footnote“I have no good but in You”

One is tempted to read into this phrase the NT doctrine of justification, but in the OT a better parallel is Psalms 73:25-28. YHWH is the psalmist's only “good.” The idols of the nations are false. The gracious, merciful, covenant God honors those who trust Him and live according to His covenant requirements (i.e., OT Mosaic covenant; NT the gospel, cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27). The result is a life and an afterlife of fellowship with God.

Psalms 16:3-4 There are many questions about how to understand this verse. The Jewish Study Bible says of them (p. 1297) that “These are among the most obscure verses in the Psalter.”

1. Who are “the saints” (BDB 872) Some (NEB, NJB) scholars take the last words of Psalms 16:2 and bring the negative into Psalms 16:3, which makes “saints” refer to “the sacred spirits of the earth” (i.e., the idols of Psalms 16:4). See note below.

2. Who are “the majestic ones” (BDB 12) Because of parallelism they are either positive (i.e., godly ones, cf. TEV) or negative (i.e., Canaanite idols, NJB).

It is possible to take these two titles as referring to the covenant people in Psalms 16:3 who become idolaters in Psalms 16:4. Many translations separate verses Psalms 16:3 and 4 into separate strophes. The question is, “Do Psalms 16:3-4 form a contrast or an extended description?”

Psalms 16:3 “saints” This is the Hebrew term Kadosh (BDB 872), which is used for

1. the faithful followers of YHWH Deuteronomy 33:3; Psalms 34:9; Daniel 8:24

2. spiritual beings (i.e., angels) Job 5:1; Job 15:15; Psalms 89:5, Psalms 89:7; Daniel 8:13 (twice); Zechariah 14:5

SPECIAL TOPIC: SAINTS (HOLY) (קדוש)

Psalms 16:4

NASB, NKJV, NRSV“sorrows” TEV“troubles” NJB“teeming idols” LXX“infirmities” REB“endless trouble”

The word “troubles” (עצבות, BDB 781) is very similar to “idols” (עצבים, BDB 781, NJB). The context is obviously about idolatry. Exactly who is referred to in Psalms 16:3 is uncertain.

It is possible to see the term “another” (אחר, BDB 29 I, Psalms 16:4) as “other gods” (אחרים, cf. Isaiah 42:8; NET Bible, p. 866, #29).

For an extensive discussion see NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 860-862 or UBS Handbook, pp. 141-142.

▣ The psalmist who takes refuge in YHWH refuses to

1. pour out a drink offering of blood (of animal sacrifices or a metaphor for wine)

2. take their names on his lips (cf. Exodus 20:3-5)

Verses 5-6

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 16:5-6 5The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. 6The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

Psalms 16:5-6 Possibly the drink offering mentioned in verse Psalms 16:4 reminded the psalmist of the idiom of “cup,” which denoted one's destiny (cf. Psalms 11:6; Psalms 23:5; Psalms 75:8; Psalms 116:13). Usually it has a negative connotation but not here.

The “lot” alludes to the dividing of the land of Canaan into tribal allocations by Joshua, by lot (cf. Joshua 13-19), which is the prophetic fulfillment of YHWH's promise to Abraham (cf. Genesis 12:1-3). The Levites and Priests inherited only 48 cities (cf. Joshua 20-24). They were said to have the Lord Himself as their inheritance (cf. Numbers 18:20; Deuteronomy 18:1). However, in the Psalms this designation is expanded to all faithful followers (cf. Psalms 73:26; Psalms 119:57; Psalms 142:5; also Lamentations 3:24).

Psalms 16:6 continues this imagery by “lines have fallen to me.” The psalmist asserts that his inheritance is beautiful (i.e., Jeremiah 3:19).

Verses 7-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 16:7-11 7I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. 8I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 11You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalms 16:7-11 The psalmist asserts his faith in YHWH's

1. counsel, Psalms 16:7a (cf. Psalms 32:8)

2. instructions, Psalms 16:7b

3. powerful presence, Psalms 16:8; Psalms 16:8, Psalms 16:11

4. victory, Psalms 16:8b

The result is that he rejoices in his security in YHWH (cf. Psalms 16:9), even in death (Psalms 16:10-11).

1. He will not abandon the psalmist in Sheol, Psalms 16:10 (cf. Job 14:14-15; Job 19:25-27)

2. He will make known to him the path of life (cf. Psalms 139:24; Proverbs 15:24; i.e., an idiom for daily faithful living; for a similar phrase see Psalms 101:2, Psalms 101:6)

3. He will be with him personally, even in Sheol (cf. Psalms 139:7-8)

4. He provides in abundance all the psalmist needs

Even in times of distress the faithful follower can know that YHWH is with him/her, for him/her, and will never leave him/her! This faith in YHWH's faithfulness is our hope, joy, peace, rest, and victory!

Psalms 16:8b “at my right hand” YHWH's right hand (see SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (ANTHROPOMORPHISM)). The right hand is proverbial for power and strength. The Messiah is described as seated on God's right hand which denotes the place of power, preeminence, and authority.

The combination of several elements in this Psalm made it Messianic for the Apostles, Peter and Paul

1. right hand imagery, Psalms 16:8, Psalms 16:11

2. life beyond the physical existence

3. title “Holy One”

See fuller note at Psalms 16:10.

Psalms 16:9

NASB, NKJV“my glory” NRSV, NJB“my soul” LXX“my tongue” JPSOA“my whole being” REB“my spirit”

The Hebrew word “glory” (כבודי, BDB 458 II) may be a scribal error for “liver” (כדבכ, BDB 458, cf. Genesis 49:6; Psalms 30:12), which, like the heart, denoted the whole person (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 587-588; NET Bible, p. 866, #11). Notice that “heart,” “liver/glory,” and “flesh” all are parallel and denote the psalmist himself.

Psalms 16:10

NASB, NKJV“Your Holy One” NRSV, JPSOA“your faithful one” NJB, REB“your faithful servant” LXX“your devout” NET Bible“your faithful follower”

The Hebrew has “your godly one” (חסיד, BDB 339). This word is used often to describe those covenant people who loved, served, and obeyed YHWH (cf. Psalms 4:3; Psalms 12:1; Psalms 32:6; Psalms 86:2; Micah 7:2). When used of YHWH it is translated “kind” (cf. Psalms 18:25; Psalms 145:17) or “gracious” (cf. Jeremiah 3:12).

Because this verse is quoted by both Peter (cf. Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31) and Paul (cf. Acts 13:35) to refer to Jesus' resurrection, in this Psalm the term is translated “Holy One” (NASB, NKJV). I am not sure how to view this verse in Psalms 16:0. In context it obviously refers to a godly, faithful Israelite (note the parallelism of Psalms 16:10). It could then have been understood by an Apostle as

1. prophetic

2. typological

3. multiple fulfillment

The Apostles looked back into the OT and saw many signs and foreshadowing, as well as specific predictions, of the life, work, death, resurrection, and coming again of Jesus Christ! I trust their inspiration.

NASB, REB“the pit” NKJV, LXX“corruption” NRSV, JPSOA“the Pit” NJB“the abyss”

The MT has “Pit” (BDB 1001) and it is parallel to Sheol (cf. Job 33:18; Isaiah 38:17-18). For Sheol see SPECIAL TOPIC: Where Are the Dead? and the notes at Psalms 6:5; Psalms 9:13. Both were ways of referring to death.

The LXX is quoted by both Peter and Paul in Acts to confirm the resurrection of Jesus. There are several places in the OT which assert, or at least hint at, a resurrection (cf. Job 14:14-15; Job 19:25-27; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 49:15; Psalms 56:13; Psalms 73:24, Psalms 73:25; Psalms 86:13; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2). Ezekiel 37:0 seems to refer to a restoration of the nation, not individual resurrection.

Thank God for the full revelation of the NT.

1. Jesus' empty tomb and post-resurrection appearances

2. Paul's discussion of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:0

The afterlife is a progressive revelation!

The life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus changed the Apostles' worldview. Their OT perspective was modified. They began to search the OT for prophecies, typologies, and hints of this new reality. Jesus Himself may have started this by revelatory interpretations about Himself from the OT to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who passed them on to the group in the upper room (cf. Luke 24:25-27).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Define the word “saints.”

2. Are the “saints” the same as “the majestic ones”?

3. How is Psalms 16:4 related to idolatry?

4. Define the OT use of the term “portion.”

Is it parallel to “lot”?

5. What organ of the human body was believed to be the origin of thought and feelings?

6. Is this a Messianic Psalm because Psalms 16:10 is quoted in Acts 13:35?

7. Why is biblical faith described as a “path”?