1 A Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God, for in You I
put my trust.
2 O my soul, you have said to the LORD, "You are my
Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You."
3 As for the saints who are on the earth, "They are
the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight."
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after
another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their
names on my lips.
5 O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my
cup; You maintain my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I
have a good inheritance.
7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My
heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at
my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My
flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You
allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is
fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16 (NKJV)
In my Bible, this psalm is captioned “The Hope of the Faithful; and the
Messiah’s Victory.” It is cited several times in the New Testament (Acts
2:25-31, Acts 2:32-36, Acts 13:35-37), where the Apostles Peter and Paul
applied it to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For believers, Christ’s
resurrection is our blessed hope. Without the resurrection, our faith would be
empty (1 Corinth. 5:14). But because Christ is
risen, we trust that we too will be raised.
David declares in this psalm that he has put his trust in God (v. 1). This is the basis of
faith---believing that He is Almighty God with power to save all who trust in
Him. When we do, He cares for us and in Him, we have a “good
inheritance.” By contrast, those who hasten after “another god” will never
be satisfied and instead will have their sorrows multiplied. Who or what
are you trusting in today? Make sure it's only in the Lord Jesus. Nothing else
will fill you with hope, peace and abundant life.
David also proclaims "You are my Lord" (v. 2). This come out
of a sincere heart that really knew God.
By contrast, there are some who call Him “Lord” and yet Jesus declares
of them: “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Matthew 7:21-23). This is
one of the most frightful passages in the Bible speaks of those; don't let it
refer to you. Be sure that you truly know Jesus as your personal Savior and
Lord. Then commit your way unto Him and He will show you the path of
life. With Christ, there is the blessed promise of joy forevermore with Him.