The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

EXPOSITION

THE sixteenth psalm is so far connected with the fifteenth that it is exclusively concerned, like the fifteenth, with the truly righteous man. It "depicts the true Israelite as rejoicing in God as the highest Good, and placing affiance in him in the face of Death and Hades" (Kay). The ascription of it to David in the title may well be acquiesced in. It has been called "a golden psalm," and the word "Michtam" in the title has been understood in this sense; but that is more probably a musical term, like "Mizmor," "Maschil," "Shiggaion," etc. It is "full of the spirit of David," and remarkably evangelical in tone; its Messianic character is attested by the Apostle Peter (Acts 2:25; Acts 13:35). It seems to divide itself only into two strophes—one extending from Psalms 16:1 to the end of Psalms 16:6, and the other from Psalms 16:7 to the conclusion.

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Matthew Henry on Psalms 16:1-11Psalms 16:1-11 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryDavid flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, and live up to…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:1Psalms 16:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryPreserve me, O God; i.e. keep me, guard me—protect me both in body and soul. It does not appear that the writer is threatened by any special danger. He simply calls upon God to continue his protecting care. For in thee…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:1-11Psalms 16:1-11 · The Pulpit CommentaryOnce thine, ever thine: the song of a saint, the vision of a seer. This psalm yields many texts for instructive discourse; but it is not on any of them that we propose now to dwell, but on the psalm as a whole. It is on…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:1-11Psalms 16:1-11 · The Pulpit CommentaryLife-long convictions. Happy the man who holds to his faith in God through all changes and chances of this mortal life! Religion to him is a reality. He speaks of what he knows. He commends what he has proved to be good…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:1-6Psalms 16:1-6 · The Pulpit CommentaryGrounds of the prayer for preservation. This psalm is golden in thought, feeling, and expression. The substance of it is comprised in the first verse: "May God preserve him who has no other refuge in which he can hide b…

commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 16:1-11David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, and live up to…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:1-11Once thine, ever thine: the song of a saint, the vision of a seer. This psalm yields many texts for instructive discourse; but it is not on any of them that we propose now to dwell, but on the psalm as a whole. It is on…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:1-11Life-long convictions. Happy the man who holds to his faith in God through all changes and chances of this mortal life! Religion to him is a reality. He speaks of what he knows. He commends what he has proved to be good…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:1Preserve me, O God; i.e. keep me, guard me—protect me both in body and soul. It does not appear that the writer is threatened by any special danger. He simply calls upon God to continue his protecting care. For in thee…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:1-6Grounds of the prayer for preservation. This psalm is golden in thought, feeling, and expression. The substance of it is comprised in the first verse: "May God preserve him who has no other refuge in which he can hide b…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:2O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord. The ordinary Hebrew text, אָמַרְתְּ, "thou hast said," requires the insertion of "O my soul," or something similar. But if we read אמרתי with a large number of manuscripts, with…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:3But to the saints that are in the earth; rather, it is for the saints. It (i.e. my prosperity) is granted me for the advantage of the saints that are in the land; i.e. of all the true Israelites. "I hold it in trust for…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 16:4Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god. This is the only note of sadness in the entire psalm, and it is inserted to add force by contrast to the joyous outburst in Psalms 16:5. If men would not…Joseph S. Exell and contributors