Faith in the Presence of God
Alfred Barry, D. D. Psalm 16:1-11 Preserve me, O God: for in you do I put my trust.… This term suggests that the Psalm is one of strongly marked, incisive thought. It is a Psalm doubly notable — 1. Because it contains one of the brightest and most unhesitating expressions of faith in the presence of God, as extending through and beyond death, and preserving the life both of soul and body. It therefore stands in marked contrast with the desponding doubts of such passages as Psalm 88 — basing itself on the conviction, which our Lord declared to underlie the whole covenant, that "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 2. Because it is quoted most explicitly in the New Testament as a Messianic prophecy, an inspired utterance, which was no doubt in some degree applied by the Psalmist to himself as having unity with God, and therefore defying death, but which could be in its full meaning spoken of the Messiah alone (Acts 2:25-31; 13:85). For in Him alone was the, unity with God to be perfect — so that He should be at once "the son of David," and yet "God with us" — therefore in Him alone was it impossible that humanity could be "holden of death," either in the "prison" of Hades (1 Peter 3:19) or the "corruption" of the grave. (Alfred Barry, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: {Michtam of David.} Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. WEB: Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge.