Dear Friends,
In the final strophe in the prayer in Psalm 16 David expresses his confidence in life beyond the grave! These verses are quoted by Peter in Acts 2:25-28 and applied the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the reason the psalm is called a Messianic psalm.
Psalm 16:9-10 NIV
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
“Therefore” is the link between what is stated before with what is stated after. All the joyful celebrations in 16:1-8 reach a climatic peak!
David rejoices in the Lord’s protection of his body. David begins glorifying the Lord by expressing worship in his words. It is good to give praise to the Lord. We have infinite reasons to praise Him. David is meditating on the security of his body. He uses the word for trust in this statement. Faith in the Living, All-powerful God gives David certain hope for his future. As D.L. Moody wisely said, “Faith gives us living joy and dying rest.”
David continues to express his hope in his future body. The Lord will not forsake him in the grave! In other words, he anticipates a new body fashioned to live forever in the Lord’s abiding presence. Surely, we can see why Peter quotes it as he shares the news of Jesus’ resurrection out of the grave and death.
Acts 2:25-32 NIV
David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
Be Encouraged by the resurrection of Jesus out of the grave!
Pastor Rick