Here we begin a very important series of Psalms, showing Christ in connection with the Jewish remnant of the latter days.
In this sixteenth Psalm, He is seen as a Man (pattern for all, but none beside Him), dependent upon God.
"Preserve Me, O God, for in Thee do I put My trust. Thou (My soul) hast said to Jehovah, Thou art the Lord My goodness (extendeth) not to Thee; to the saints that are on the earth and to the excellent (thou hast said), 'In them is all My delight.'
So fully did He take the servant's form, that His divine glory is veiled, yet could not be entirely hid; having every title to God-head, He takes the place of dependence and trust. And with this, alone and solitary in all human perfection, as He was when He took manhood in Bethlehem's manger, and walked this world till He reached the cross, He took His place with the saints on earth, and will do so again. (See Matthew 25:4040And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40)).
Having His delight in the earthly saints in the day for which the Psalms were written, He does not fail to notice the rejectors, of God (verse 4); their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another. Jesus was and is entirely separate from the wicked.
Does not the expression, "drink offerings of blood," show that they are murderers in heart? Drink offerings to God were to be of wine (Numbers 15:5,5And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb. (Numbers 15:5) etc.,) never of blood.
Precious it is to the Christian heart to observe the thoughts of Jesus seen on His way to the cross, as the separate, holy Man, the entirely dependent One, as in this Psalm. Yet He speaks as one with the Jewish remnant,—and the example for the godly in Israel.
As one of them He looks away from the scenes of conflict, and sees God (Jehovah, the personal God of the Jews), as the portion of His inheritance and of His cup. The lines (or portions) are fallen unto Him in pleasant places. He blesses Jehovah who gives Him counsel, even in the nights. And who but Jesus could fully say (verse 8), "I have set Jehovah continually before Me; because He is at My right hand, I shall not be moved"?
His heart rejoices, his glory (or honor) exults; His flesh moreover shall dwell in hope (or rest in safety), for Jehovah will not leave His soul in Sheol, neither will He allow His holy One (or Gracious One to see corruption.
Resurrection is His hope, as Man, and Jehovah's right hand where are pleasures for evermore.
Nothing here but God was His desire, and death His prospect (verse 10), but He—blessed forever be His name!—goes on,
"Unmoved by Satan's subtle wiles,
Or suffering shame and loss,
Thy path uncheered by earthly smiles,
Led only to the cross.
Thy love, by man so sorely tried,
Proved stronger than the grave;
The very spear that pierced Thy side
Drew forth the blood to save."3