1 Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God, for I have trusted in thee.
2 Thou hast said unto Jehovah, Thou [art] the Lord: my goodness [is] not to thee;
3 Unto the saints which are upon the earth, [even] them, and the excellent, All my delight [is] in them.
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied; they have hastened [after] another; I will not pour out their drink-offerings of blood, and I will not take their names upon my lips.
5 Jehovah [is] the portion of mine inheritance and my cup; thou maintainest my lot.
6 The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea, the portion hath been fair to me.
7 I will bless Jehovah who hath counselled me; also by night my reins have admonished me.
8 I have set Jehovah before me always; because [he is] at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my soul rejoiceth; my flesh also shall lie down in confidence.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in Sheol; thou wilt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life, fulness of joys in thy presence, pleasures at thy right hand for ever.
Notes on Psalm 16
“Michtam of David:” a heading of doubtful import, which means “golden” or “jewel,” or both, according to many. It is without doubt David’s writing, but of Christ, Who is here seen taking His place personally with God among the godly Jews here below. Deigning to be man, He is the perfectly dependent and trusting One (compare Isa. 8 and Heb. 2). He identifies Himself here with the saints and the excellent on the earth, as we know He did when He took His place to be baptized in Jordan, to the astonishment of the Baptist; as to which Matt. 19, Mark 10 and Luke 18 afford inspired illustration, one might say comment. Jehovah is loyally owned as the Lord. This is what Christ said to Him. In the place He had freely taken, the bondman’s place, He would not put Himself on a level with the Master; He said, “My goodness [is] not to thee.” He was here to obey, not to assert co-equality. So He would not be called “Good Master” by one that knew not who He is, only what He became. None the less, but the more, was His heart with the feeblest of Israel who turned to the God of Israel in genuine repentance, though He needed none, but John rather to be baptized of Him. Therefore said He to such, “All my delight [is] in them.”
It is Messiah’s trust in Jehovah through life and death into resurrection and glory. Associated with the saints, He had His hope in God only and for ever, and was shown the path of life, resurrection life, and joy. It is glory in His presence for Christ.