Psalm 16
Psalm 16 Meaning
Psalm 16 is a song of confident trust. David takes refuge in God, calls Him his chosen portion and cup, and finds that the boundary lines have fallen for him in pleasant places.
It rises to a hope that reaches beyond the grave: God will not abandon his soul to the realm of the dead, but will show him the path of life and fullness of joy in His presence.
Key verses from Psalm 16
“Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.”
Psalm 16:1
“The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.”
Psalm 16:5
“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
Psalm 16:8
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Psalm 16:11
How Psalm 16 points to Jesus
The apostles quote this psalm at Pentecost as a prophecy of the resurrection: God did not let His Holy One see corruption. In the risen Jesus, the path of life and everlasting joy is opened to us.