Psalm 16, written by King David, is a prophetic song about Jesus. Specifically, everlasting life with Jesus and how we can delight in the joy of that confident hope. Let’s dig in…
Psalm 16
A Michtam of David.
1 Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
Psalm 16 NLT
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
What is a “Michtam”?
This is one of 6 with this title — Psalms 56-60 are also “Michtams”. Pastor Sandy Adams explains…
There are three possibilities… The word could mean “jewel” or “golden.” In other words, these were psalms that were especially precious to David. It also could mean “engraved.” These psalms were not to be forgotten. They were carved in stone – written in indelible ink – saved to a hard drive. The third possibility is that they were to be “hidden” or “secret” psalms. It could be that they had a secret – a below the surface meaning. All three are true of Psalm 16. It’s actually a song prophetic of Jesus.
Sandy Adams
Deeper Points
- According to the Dictionary, the word “refuge” means “a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.” You can be assured that if you run to God for refuge, He will protect you. That requires putting your complete trust in the Lord and NOT in this world. Things and people of this world WILL let you down. You become an overcomer because Jesus overcame the world.
- David acknowledges that God is his Master and that everything good comes from Him. The same goes for us! As Paul wrote…“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT). Remember, too, that nothing in this world can, or should be, your master. That position is reserved for God.
- Godly people are true heroes. Who are your heroes? For me, I have to give it to the persecuted Christians of today — the martyrs.
- If you’ve read any of the Old Testament, you must have realized that God hates idolatry. There are many different gods to be worshiped in today’s world. Consider the idolatry of worshiping careers, pride, vanity, things, yourself, celebrities, and people. Then there are the religious gods… For instance, the Hindus worship 330 million gods! Incidentally, the Roman Catholics don’t just worship Jesus, but His mother Mary and a bevy of saints — 10,000 of them to be exact! That’s almost as bad as the Hindus! If you worship any gods besides or instead of Jesus, don’t blame anybody but yourself for your troubles.
- David then recognizes that everything he has comes from God. We need to realize this also. Furthermore, you may think that you worked hard for what you’ve got, but you need to know that God allowed you to work, giving you the skill, education, and/or opportunity to earn a living. Have confidence that the One True God will provide.
- At night David meditates on God. There’s no better sleeping pill than to read the Bible and think about God and his protection, provision, and mercy.
- Peter quotes verses 8-11 in his Pentecost sermon…
God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him:
‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
26 No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
28 You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.
32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.
Acts 2:22b-32 NLT
Jesus in Psalm 16
Again I turn to the folks at Spoken Gospel…
This is such an important psalm for three reasons.
First, the Apostle Peter quotes this psalm in his first Gospel message (Acts 2:25). God allowed David to see prophetically what would happen to one of his descendants, Jesus (Acts 2:30-31a). Jesus “was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay” (Acts 2:31b).
Jesus now sits at God’s right hand (Acts 2:33a) and has given all who believe in him a new inheritance—himself in the person of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33b).
And that’s the second reason we need this psalm. It promises that we will share eternity with God himself (Revelation 21:3). Heaven is not simply a place but an experience of God’s presence. Because of Jesus we will find fullness of joy and eternal pleasure at God’s right hand. When we trust Jesus, all of who God is becomes ours (Ephesians 1:3).
Third and finally, we need prayers of confidence and trust like this one. When you start to feel helpless, or question what will bring you ultimate joy, pleasure, and contentment, pray this prayer. Trust that Jesus, the son of David, has been rescued from the grave, has given you himself in the Holy Spirit, and is coming back to bring you to himself.
Spoken Gospel
How to Pray Psalm 16
This is just to give you an idea of how to pray this psalm back to God. Read this, then read the psalm again. In fact, read it in a few different Bible versions using the free Youversion Bible app. Then, write it out in your own words. Read it to God at night and feel His peace that surpasses all understanding!
Dear Lord, Jesus, keep me safe as I come to You for refuge. You are my Master and I know that every good thing in my life comes from you. Help me to find and get to know godly people… those who can be true heroes in my life so I can learn how to be bold like them.
I will never worship the man-made gods of this world. Thank you for my inheritance of everlasting life, and for guarding everything you have given me. Bless You, Lord, my Provider of guidance and wisdom. I will meditate on your word day and night. I rest in safety because you are my Sheperd. I rejoice that I have eternal life. Show me the way of life and grant me the joy of your presence in my heart as I look forward, with confident hope, to living with you in Heaven forever. In Jesus name, Amen.
Psalm 16 parapharsed by Giselle Aguiar
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
