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1 Michtam of Dauid. Preserue me, O God: for in thee doe I put my trust.

2 O my soule, thou hast sayd vnto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodnes extendeth not to thee:

3 But to the Saints, that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

4 Their sorrowes shalbe multiplied, that hasten after another God: their drinke offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take vp their names into my lippes.

5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

6 The lines are fallen vnto mee in pleasant places; yea, I haue a goodly heritage.

7 I will blesse the Lord, who hath giuen me counsell: my reines also instruct me in the night seasons.

8 I haue set the Lord alwaies before me: because hee is at my right hand, I shall not be moued.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory reioyceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou wilt not leaue my soule in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt shewe me the path of life: in thy presence is fulnesse of ioy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore.

Viewing the original 1611 KJV with archaic English spelling
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Commentary for Psalms 16

This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.

- David 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 it. He devotes himself to the honour of God, in the service of the saints. Saints on earth we must be, or we shall never be saints in heaven. Those renewed by the grace of God, and devoted to the glory of God, are saints on earth. The saints in the earth are excellent ones, yet some of them so poor, that they needed to have David's goodness extended to them. David declares his resolution to have no fellowship with the works of darkness; he repeats the solemn choice he had made of God for his portion and happiness, takes to himself the comfort of the choice, and gives God the glory of it. This is the language of a devout and pious soul. Most take the world for their chief good, and place their happiness in the enjoyments of it; but how poor soever my condition is in this world, let me have the love and favour of God, and be accepted of him; let me have a title by promise to life and happiness in the future state; and I have enough. Heaven is an inheritance; we must take that for our home, our rest, our everlasting good, and look upon this world to be no more ours, than the country through which is our road to our Father's house. Those that have God for their portion, have a goodly heritage. Return unto thy rest, O my soul, and look no further. Gracious persons, though they still covet more of God, never covet more than God; but, being satisfied of his loving-kindness, are abundantly satisfied with it: they envy not any their carnal mirth and delights. But so ignorant and foolish are we, that if left to ourselves, we shall forsake our own mercies for lying vanities. God having given David counsel by his word and Spirit, his own thoughts taught him in the night season, and engaged him by faith to live to God.

Verses #8-11|, are quoted by St. Peter in his first sermon, after the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, #Ac 2:25-31|; he declared that David in them speaks concerning Christ, and particularly of his resurrection. And Christ being the Head of the body, the church, these verses may be applied to all Christians, guided and animated by the Spirit of Christ; and we may hence learn, that it is our wisdom and duty to set the Lord always before us. And if our eyes are ever toward God, our hearts and tongues may ever rejoice in him. Death destroys the hope of man, but not the hope of a real Christian. Christ's resurrection is an earnest of the believer's resurrection. In this world sorrow is our lot, but in heaven there is joy, a fulness of joy; our pleasures here are for a moment, but those at God's right hand are pleasures for evermore. Through this thy beloved Son, and our dear Saviour, thou wilt show us, O Lord, the path of life; thou wilt justify our souls now, and raise our bodies by thy power at the last day; when earthly sorrow shall end in heavenly joy, pain in everlasting happiness.

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

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