THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

XVI. Gaining Assurance Of God's Eternal Preservation Though Facing Death

(Psalm 16:1-11)

I. Introduction

A. A believer can face the threat of death, a special challenge that requires God's unique direction and nurture.

B. David addressed this matter in his own experience in Psalm 16:1-11, so we view this psalm for our edification:

II. Gaining Assurance Of God's Eternal Preservation Though Facing Death, Psalm 16:1-11.

A. The introductory notes in the English Bible comprise the first part of verse one in the Hebrew text (Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 985), so we stay with the verse numberings in the English Bible for clarification.

B. Accordingly, we translate Psalm 16:1-11 as follows:

1. "Preserve, keep (shamar, Ibid.; B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 1036-1037) me, O Elohim (Creator God), because I seek refuge (hasah, Ibid., p. 375) in You," Psalm 16:1.

2. "I said to Jahweh (Covenant God), 'You (em. pr.) are my Master ('adon, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 10-11); apart from (bal, Ibid., Kittel, p. 986) You I have no welfare (tobah, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 375)," Psa. 16:2.

3. "In reference to (le, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 510-518) the sanctified ones in the land, they (em. pr.) are the majestic ones ('adir, Ibid., p. 12) in whom is all my delight (hepes, Ibid., p. 343)," Psalm 16:3.

4. "The hurt, injury, pain ('asebet, Ibid., p. 781) of them who run after other gods will increase -- I will not pour out their libations of blood and I will not take up their names [in idol worship] on my lips," Psa. 16:4.

5. "Jahweh, You have assigned my inheritance (heleq, Ibid., p. 324) and my cup [of blessing] (kos, Ibid., p. 468); You (em. pr.) firmly grasp (tamak, Ibid., p. 1069) my allotted land (goral, Ibid., p. 174)," Psa. 16:5.

6. "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant [places] (na'im, Ibid., p. 653); surely even ('aph, Ibid., p. 64-65; denoting something greater) I have a comely (shapar, Ibid., p. 1051) inheritance," Psalm 16:6.

7. "I will bless Jahweh Who counsels me; surely even ('aph, cf. v. 6) at night my kidneys (kilyah, Ibid., p. 480; H. A. W., T. W. O. T., 1980, v. I, p. 440-441; fig. of the innermost aspects of personality) correct, admonish (yasar, Ibid., p. 415f) me [God even counsels to correct me in my innermost being]," Psa. 16:7.

8. "I have continually (tamid, Ibid., p. 556) set Jahweh before Me; since He is at my right hand (yamin, Ibid., Kittel; Z. P. E. B., v. Three, p. 28 - used here of a friend standing at one's right hand to guard his stronger side where foes most likely attacked), I will not totter, shake (mot, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 556-557)," Psa. 16:8.

9. "According to such circumstances (laken, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 486-487), my heart is glad (samah, Ibid., p. 970) and my glory [the noblest part of a man, kabod, Ibid., p. 458-459) rejoices (gil, Ibid., p. 162); surely even ('aph, cf. v. 6-7) my flesh [body] (basar, Ibid., p. 142) will dwell (shaken, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 1014-1015) securely," Psalm 16:9.

10. "Because You will not abandon my life principle (nepesh, Ibid., Kittel; R. B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 56-59; emotional, mental, spiritual, physical life) to Sheol (the grave, B. K. C., O. T., p. 804), You will not let Your Holy One see decay [the Messiah, via His resurrection, cf. Acts 2:25-32]," Ps. 16:10.

11. "You will make known to me the path of life; abundance of joy (simhah, Ibid., p. 970; see its related verb samah in v. 9) is in Your presence; with everlasting (nesah, Ibid., p. 970) pleasures (na'im, cf. v. 6) at Your right hand," Psalm 16:11.

Lesson: In this "typico-prophetically Messianic" psalm (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Psa. 16:8-10) where David tells of his own experience, but ultimately refers to the Messiah, (1) he expected God to preserve him, so he sought refuge in Him, v. 1. (2) The EVIDENCES that God would preserve him were that (a) David had yielded to God as Master [including faith in Him for justification, Romans 4:4-8] (v. 2a), (b) he relied on Him for all his welfare (v. 2b), (c) he respected other godly believers (v. 3a,b), (d) he avoided injury by not holding to false gods (v. 4), (e) he rejoiced in God's assigned lot in life (v. 5-6), (f) he blessed God for correcting him even in his inner man (v. 7) and (g) he always extolled God, relying on Him for success, so he expected not to be shaken, v. 8. (3) Thus, David was gladly confident that God would preserve him even in death (v. 9-10a), for God would not abandon him to the grave, but raise him in association with Messiah's resurrection (cf. 1 Thess. 4:14-18) v. 10b, and make known to him the path of eternal life and great blessing in the resurrection, v. 11. (1 Cor. 15:20-26).

Application: If we are ever threatened by death, may we who trust in Christ apply David's edifying words in Psalm 16:1-11, for God is committed to preserving us via the rapture even if we die due to our spiritual position in Christ.