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Psalms 16:8
Verse
Context
Sermons
Zac Poonen
John MacArthur
Joshua Daniel
Jim Cymbala
Mike BickleSummary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
With God's presence and aid he is sure of safety (Psa 10:6; Psa 15:5; Joh 12:27-28; Heb 5:7-8).
John Gill Bible Commentary
I have set the Lord always before me, Not his fear only, or the book of the law, as Jarchi interprets it, but the Lord himself; or, "I foresaw the Lord always before my face", Act 2:26; as Christ is set before men in the Gospel, to look unto as the object of faith and hope, to trust in and depend upon for life and salvation; so Jehovah the Father is the object which Christ set before him, and looked unto in the whole course of his life here on earth; he had always an eye to his glory, as the ultimate end of all his actions; and to his will, his orders, and commands, as the rule of them; and to his purposes, and counsel, and covenant, to accomplish them; and to his power, truth, and faithfulness, to assist, support, and encourage him in all his difficulties and most distressed circumstances; because he is at my right hand: to counsel and instruct, to help, protect, and defend: the phrase is expressive of the nearness of God to Christ, his presence with him, and readiness to assist and stand by him against all his enemies; see Psa 109:31; so the Targum paraphrases it, "because his Shechinah rests upon me"; I shall not be moved: as he was not from his place and nation, from the duty of his office, and the execution of it, by all the threats and menaces of men; nor from the fear, worship, and service of God, by all the temptations of Satan; nor from the cause of his people he had espoused, by all the terrors of death, the flaming sword of justice, and the wrath of God; but, in the midst and view of all, stood unshaken and unmoved; see Isa 42:4.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
All these verses are quoted by St. Peter in his first sermon, after the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of pentecost (Act 2:25-28); and he tells us expressly that David in them speaks concerning Christ and particularly of his resurrection. Something we may allow here of the workings of David's own pious and devout affections towards God, depending upon his grace to perfect every thing that concerned him, and looking for the blessed hope, and happy state on the other side death, in the enjoyment of God; but in these holy elevations towards God and heaven he was carried by the spirit of prophecy quite beyond the consideration of himself and his own case, to foretel the glory of the Messiah, in such expressions as were peculiar to that, and could not be understood of himself. The New Testament furnishes us with a key to let us into the mystery of these lines. I. These verses must certainly be applied to Christ; of him speaks the prophet this, as did many of the Old Testament prophets, who testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow (Pe1 1:11), and that is the subject of this prophecy here. It is foretold (as he himself showed concerning this, no doubt, among other prophecies in this psalm, Luk 24:44, Luk 24:46) that Christ should suffer, and rise from the dead, Co1 15:3, Co1 15:4. 1. That he should suffer and die. This is implied here when he says (Psa 16:8), I shall not be moved; he supposed that he should be struck at, and have a dreadful shock given him, as he had in his agony, when his soul was exceedingly sorrowful, and he prayed that the cup might pass from him. When he says, "My flesh shall rest," it is implied that he must put off the body, and therefore must go through the pains of death. It is likewise plainly intimated that his soul must go into a state of separation from the body, and that his body, so deserted, would be in imminent danger of seeing corruption - that he should not only die, but be buried, and abide for some time under the power of death. 2. That he should be wonderfully borne up by the divine power in suffering and dying. (1.) That he should not be moved, should not be driven off from his undertaking nor sink under the weight of it, that he should not fail nor be discouraged (Isa 42:4), but should proceed and persevere in it, till he could say, It is finished. Though the service was hard and the encounter hot, and he trod the winepress alone, yet he was not moved, did not give up the cause, but set his face as a flint, Isa 50:7-9. Here am I, let these go their way. Nay, (2.) That his heart should rejoice and his glory be glad, that he should go on with his undertaking, not only resolutely, but cheerfully, and with unspeakable pleasure and satisfaction, witness that saying (Joh 17:11), Now I am no more in the world, but I come to thee, and that (Joh 18:11), The cup that my Father has given me, shall I not drink it? and many the like. By his glory is meant his tongue, as appears, Act 2:26. For our tongue is our glory, and never more so than when it is employed in glorifying God. Now there were three things which bore him up and carried him on thus cheerfully: - [1.] The respect he had to his Father's will and glory in what he did: I have set the Lord always before me. He still had an eye to his Father's commandment (Joh 10:18, Joh 14:31), the will of him that sent him. He aimed at his Father's honour and the restoring of the interests of his kingdom among men, and this kept him from being moved by the difficulties he met with; for he always did those things that pleased his Father. [2.] The assurance he had of his Father's presence with him in his sufferings: He is at my right hand, a present help to me, nigh at hand in the time of need. He is near that justifieth me (Isa 50:8); he is at my right hand, to direct and strengthen it, and hold it up, Psa 89:21. When he was in his agony an angel was sent from heaven to strengthen him, Luk 22:43. To this the victories and triumphs of the cross were all owing; it was the Lord at his right hand that struck through kings, Psa 110:5; Isa 42:1, Isa 42:2. [3.] The prospect he had of a glorious issue of his sufferings. It was for the joy set before him that he endured the cross, Heb 12:2. He rested in hope, and that made his rest glorious, Isa 11:10. He knew he should be justified in the Spirit by his resurrection, and straightway glorified. See Joh 13:31, Joh 13:32. 3. That he should be brought through his sufferings, and brought from under the power of death by a glorious resurrection. (1.) That his soul should not be left in hell, that is, his human spirit should not be long left, as other men's spirits are, in a state of separation from the body, but should, in a little time, return and be re-united to it, never to part again. (2.) That being God's holy One in a peculiar manner, sanctified to the work of redemption and perfectly free from sin, he should not see corruption nor feel it. This implies that he should not only be raised from the grave, but raised so soon that his dead body should not so much as being to corrupt, which, in the course of nature, it would have done if it had not been raised the third day. We, who have so much corruption in our souls, must expect that our bodies also will corrupt (Job 24:19); but that holy One of God who knew no sin saw no corruption. Under the law it was strictly ordered that those parts of the sacrifices which were not burnt upon the altar should by no means be kept till the third day, lest they should putrefy (Lev 7:15, Lev 7:18), which perhaps pointed at Christ's rising the third day, that he might not see corruption - neither was a bone of him broken. 4. That he should be abundantly recompensed for his sufferings, with the joy set before him, Psa 16:11. he was well assured, (1.) That he should not miss of his glory: "Thou wilt show me the path of life, and lead me to that life through this darksome valley." In confidence of this, when he gave up the ghost, he said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit; and, a little before, Father, glorify me with thy own self. (2.) That he should be received into the presence of God, to sit at his right hand. His being admitted into God's presence would be the acceptance of his service and his being set at his right hand the recompence of it. (3.) Thus, as a reward for the sorrows he underwent for our redemption, he should have a fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore; not only the glory he had with God, as God, before all worlds, but the joy and pleasure of a Mediator, in seeing his seed, and the success and prosperity of his undertaking, Isa 53:10, Isa 53:11. II. Christ being the Head of the body, the church, these verses may, for the most part, be applied to all good Christians, who are guided and animated by the Spirit of Christ; and, in singing them, when we have first given glory to Christ, in whom, to our everlasting comfort, they have had their accomplishment, we may then encourage and edify ourselves and one another with them, and may hence learn, 1. That it is our wisdom and duty to set the Lord always before us, and to see him continually at our right hand, wherever we are, to eye him as our chief good and highest end, our owner, ruler, and judge, our gracious benefactor, our sure guide and strict observer; and, while we do thus, we shall not be moved either from our duty or from our comfort. Blessed Paul set the Lord before him, when, though bonds and afflictions did await him, he could bravely say, None of these things move me, Act 20:24. 2. That, if our eyes be ever towards God, our hearts and tongues may ever rejoice in him; it is our own fault if they do not. If the heart rejoice in God, out of the abundance of that let the mouth speak, to his glory, and the edification of others. 3. That dying Christians, as well as a dying Christ, may cheerfully put off the body, in a believing expectation of a joyful resurrection: My flesh also shall rest in hope. Our bodies have little rest in this world, but in the grave they shall rest as in their beds, Isa 57:2. We have little to hope for from this life, but we shall rest in hope of a better life; we may put off the body in that hope. Death destroys the hope of man (Job 14:19), but not the hope of a good Christian, Pro 14:32. He has hope in his death, living hopes in dying moments, hopes that the body shall not be left for ever in the grave, but, though it see corruption for a time, it shall, at the end of the time, be raised to immortality; Christ's resurrection is an earnest of ours if we be his. 4. That those who live piously with God in their eye may die comfortably with heaven in their eye. In this world sorrow is our lot, but in heaven there is joy. All our joys here are empty and defective, but in heaven there is a fulness of joy. Our pleasures here are transient and momentary, and such is the nature of them that it is not fit they should last long; but those at God's right hand are pleasures for evermore; for they are the pleasures of immortal souls in the immediate vision and fruition of an eternal God.
Psalms 16:8
The Presence of the LORD
7I will bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my conscience instructs me. 8I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell securely.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(Steps Towards Spiritual Perfection) - My Soul
By A.W. Tozer4.9K46:45Spiritual PerfectionGEN 22:14PSA 16:8ISA 55:11MAT 6:33ROM 8:311CO 2:9REV 22:13In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a personal relationship with God. He highlights the tendency of people to rely on others for spiritual nourishment, but encourages individuals to seek God for themselves. The speaker uses the analogy of a hungry man seeking a teacher for knowledge, but still feeling empty in his heart. He emphasizes that true fulfillment comes from having a personal encounter with God and allowing Him to heal and satisfy the heart. The speaker concludes by referencing a biblical passage that speaks of God calling His beloved to rise up and experience the joy and beauty of His presence.
Learning the Fear of God (Telugu)
By Zac Poonen2.7K48:501SA 21:13JOB 1:1JOB 31:1PSA 16:8PSA 23:5PSA 34:11ACT 10:382TI 2:19JAS 3:8
This sermon emphasizes the importance of fearing God and turning away from sin, drawing insights from the book of Job as the first book written by God in the Bible. It highlights the significance of immediately confessing sin, being sensitive to evil, and seeking the anointing of the Holy Spirit to do good, deliver the oppressed, and have God with us always.
Keys to Spiritual Growth - Part 6
By John MacArthur1.9K39:30PSA 16:8
This sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth by glorifying God in various aspects of our lives. It highlights the need for unity in the body of Christ, the use of spiritual gifts, and the pursuit of moral purity as key elements in growing spiritually. The ultimate goal is to be like Jesus Christ and experience the joy that comes from living a life to the glory of God.
Living for Eternity 1 - Part 3
By Joshua Daniel99409:50PSA 16:8MAT 8:16EPH 5:15JAS 4:8JAS 4:14
This sermon emphasizes the importance of seizing every moment that Jesus gives us, reflecting on how Jesus was always ready to address needs and challenges, unlike our tendency to be unprepared. It highlights the need for a firm grip on spiritual matters, just like a skilled athlete has on their equipment, and the significance of living in the immediate presence of God. The speaker shares a personal story of seeking God's intervention for healing, showcasing the power of living closely with the King.
Book of Acts Series - Part 42 | He's Alive
By Jim Cymbala74238:50Book Of ActsPSA 16:8ECC 3:1MAT 6:33ACT 9:1ACT 24:24ACT 28:30In this sermon, the speaker encourages listeners to engage with the historical narratives in the Bible by using their imagination and asking questions. He uses the example of Paul's trial before Felix and Festus to illustrate this point. The speaker highlights the two-year period of relaxed detention that Paul experienced after enduring hardships and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and accepting the different seasons in life. He also praises Paul for his rational and logical defense during the trial, noting that he spoke for himself without the aid of a lawyer.
Living in Union With Christ in Dangerous Times - Part 3
By Josef Tson72155:41PSA 16:8PRO 23:26ROM 6:11ROM 8:5ROM 8:14ROM 13:14EPH 2:10
This sermon emphasizes the importance of having the right mental picture or worldview, focusing on the concept of living in Christ and understanding the battle against sin. It delves into the process of victory over sin through union with Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, highlighting the need to build a clear mental picture of being in Christ to overcome temptations and live a life pleasing to God.
Beholding the Gladness of Jesus, Part 2
By Mike Bickle5450:56JesusIntimacy With GodGod's GladnessPSA 16:8HEB 1:9Mike Bickle emphasizes the gladness of Jesus, arguing that many believers perceive God as primarily angry or sad, which hinders their intimacy with Him. He asserts that God's true disposition is one of joy and gladness, which is essential for understanding His love and affection towards us. Bickle encourages believers to behold God's gladness, as this revelation transforms their own hearts and spirits, leading to a deeper relationship with Him. He highlights that God's emotions, particularly His gladness, are crucial for the prayer movement and for fostering a vibrant faith. Ultimately, Bickle calls for a shift in perception, urging believers to recognize that God delights in them, even amidst their weaknesses.
The Lord's Work Done in the Lord's Way
By K.P. Yohannan0Dependence On GodIntimacy With GodPSA 16:8PRO 3:5JHN 15:5JAS 4:8K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the necessity of drawing near to the Lord in order to effectively carry out His work, highlighting that true ministry must stem from a deep relationship with God. He reflects on a day of worship and prayer, where the presence of the Lord became profoundly real, reinforcing the importance of knowing God's ways. Yohannan warns against the mistake of attempting to do ministry without this intimate connection, as it ultimately detracts from bringing glory to God. The message calls believers to prioritize their relationship with the Lord above all else.
Remember Jesus Christ
By J.R. Miller0RemembranceDevotion to ChristPSA 16:8ISA 26:3MAT 28:20JHN 15:13ROM 12:21CO 11:252CO 3:18PHP 4:8COL 3:2HEB 12:1J.R. Miller emphasizes the importance of remembering Jesus Christ, as He desires to be cherished in our hearts. This remembrance is not only a call to love Him deeply but also a means to maintain our devotion and loyalty in all aspects of life. The Lord's Supper serves as a powerful reminder of His sacrifice, but we are encouraged to keep Christ in our thoughts even outside of sacred moments. By carrying the memory of Christ in our hearts, especially during trials, we can find strength and transformation into His likeness. Ultimately, constant remembrance of Christ leads to peace, faithfulness, and a profound sense of His presence in our lives.
In the Beginning God
By J.R. Miller0Daily DevotionGod's SovereigntyGEN 1:1PSA 5:3PSA 16:8PSA 88:13PRO 3:6ISA 26:3MAT 6:33PHP 1:21COL 3:17JAS 4:8J.R. Miller emphasizes the necessity of placing God at the forefront of our lives, encapsulated in the phrase 'In the beginning God.' He argues that without God, life lacks completeness and direction, and that true consecration begins with recognizing God's ownership over us. Miller encourages starting each day with God, asserting that a prayerless day is fraught with peril and loss. He illustrates that every aspect of life, including business and personal relationships, should be conducted with God in the first place, ensuring that our lives are blessed and guided by His presence. Ultimately, he reminds us that only through God's guidance can we achieve the fullness of life intended for us.
Christ Risen
By C.I. Scofield0PSA 16:8MAT 28:1LUK 24:33JHN 1:39JHN 20:24ACT 2:231CO 15:41TH 4:14C.I. Scofield preaches on the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the triumph that began with His sacrificial death and the authentication of His resurrection through various witnesses, including Paul. The resurrection affirms the truth of Jesus' claims, confirms our justification through His sacrifice, and assures believers of their own resurrection. It is a pivotal event in human history, providing hope and victory over death.
Consciously Set the Lord Before Your Eyes
By Erlo Stegen0FaithfulnessDivine GuidancePSA 16:8PRO 3:5MAT 26:39ACT 2:25Erlo Stegen emphasizes the necessity of consciously setting the Lord before our eyes, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, who maintained His focus on God even during suffering. He urges believers to make a deliberate choice to prioritize God in every aspect of life, ensuring that He is our guide and source of stability. Stegen warns against relying on our own understanding or worldly influences, advocating for a life led by God's will. He illustrates the importance of this decision with the story of an Indian chief who regretted his choices at the end of his life, highlighting the urgency of choosing the right path now. Ultimately, setting the Lord before us allows us to face challenges with confidence and clarity.
Second Conversation
By Brother Lawrence0PSA 16:81CO 10:31PHP 4:6COL 3:231JN 4:19Brother Lawrence preaches about the importance of living a life governed by love for God, finding joy and satisfaction in seeking Him above all else, even in the most mundane tasks. He shares his journey of struggling with doubts and fears, but ultimately finding peace and freedom in God's love. Brother Lawrence emphasizes the simplicity of conversing with God continually, seeking His assistance in all things, and acting out of love for Him in every aspect of life.
Fourth Conversation
By Brother Lawrence0PSA 16:8MAT 6:33ROM 12:11CO 10:311CO 13:13PHP 4:6COL 3:231TH 5:16HEB 11:6JAS 1:2Brother Lawrence preaches about the manner of going to God, emphasizing the importance of hearty renunciation, continual conversation with God, and sanctification in common business. He highlights the significance of prayer, praise, and the presence of God in preventing discouragement and guiding our actions. Brother Lawrence stresses the need for a total surrender to God, trusting in His grace and making every action an act of love for God. He encourages a life of faith, hope, and charity, united with the will of God, and persevering in the practice of these virtues to become perfect worshippers of God.
First Letter
By Brother Lawrence0PSA 16:8PSA 139:7PHP 4:6HEB 13:5JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence shares his method of attaining a habitual sense of God's presence, emphasizing the importance of giving oneself wholly to God, renouncing all else for His love, and living as if there is none but God and oneself in the world. He describes the practice of constantly keeping the mind in God's holy presence, worshiping Him, and driving away any distractions that may interrupt thoughts of God, leading to a holy freedom and familiarity with God. Through faithful practice, the presence of God becomes natural and habitual, resulting in a closer relationship with Him and the ability to ask for and receive His graces.
Sixth Letter
By Brother Lawrence0PSA 16:8PHP 4:6COL 3:21TH 5:16JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence emphasizes the importance of practicing the presence of God in every aspect of life, highlighting the peace and security that comes from being constantly connected to God. He encourages perseverance in this practice, even when faced with challenges or distractions, stressing the need to trust in God completely and engage in a continuous exchange of love with Him.
Tenth Letter
By Brother Lawrence0PSA 16:8PSA 73:28PRO 3:5COL 3:2JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence emphasizes the importance of sacrificing our will and trusting in God, even in times of difficulty. He encourages seeking God's presence in all aspects of life, acknowledging Him as a faithful Friend who never fails us. By prioritizing God's love above all earthly relationships, we open ourselves to receiving greater blessings and divine connections. Brother Lawrence urges constant remembrance and adoration of God, highlighting the profound impact of living in constant communion with Him as the essence of a Christian's life and profession.
True Religion—our Business
By Thomas Watson0PSA 16:8Thomas Watson preaches about the importance of making true religion our business, emphasizing the duty of every Christian to prioritize true religion as the grand business of their lives, following the example of Paul who devoted himself to knowing Christ and propagating His truth. Watson explains that true religion involves being knit to God, worshiping Him rightly, and serving Him with all aspects of our lives. He provides seven key aspects of making true religion our business, including devotion, attention, thoughts, main end, trade with God, redeeming time, and serving with all our might.
On Heaven
By Thomas Reade0PSA 16:8PSA 16:11ISA 57:2HEB 12:141PE 1:151JN 3:2REV 21:4REV 21:27Thomas Reade preaches about the joys and glories of heaven, emphasizing the rest, peace, perfect holiness, unmixed happiness, and never-ending bliss that await believers. He describes heaven as a state of rest where the weary find peace, an abode of peace where harmony and love reign, and a state of perfect holiness where believers are purified and made like God. Reade also highlights heaven as a place of unmixed happiness, never-ending bliss, and the assemblage of all that is lovely and excellent, where believers will dwell in eternal harmony and adoring praise.
Our Lord as a Believing Man
By Alexander Whyte0PSA 16:8PSA 22:1ISA 50:5EPH 2:8HEB 12:2Alexander Whyte preaches about the unparalleled faith of Jesus Christ, emphasizing His deep study and belief in the Messianic Scriptures, His life of unceasing prayer, and His ultimate victory on the cross. Whyte highlights how Jesus, as the author and finisher of faith, had the fullest assurance in His Father's promises, even in His darkest moments in Gethsemane and on Calvary. He encourages believers to walk in a constant persuasion of their excellent state in Christ, magnifying the grace of God through their faith and trust, and ultimately being saved from all sin by believing in God's promises.
Detachment
By W.R. Inge0PSA 16:8PRO 3:6ISA 41:10PHP 4:13COL 3:17W.R. Inge preaches about the importance of carrying God with us in all circumstances, emphasizing that when we submit our will entirely to God, He is united with us in all our purposes and designs, making us unstoppable. In every situation, whether in solitude or among a crowd, we should strive to maintain a constant connection with God in our minds, will, and affections. True peace and unity come from having God with us at all times, allowing us to navigate through life's challenges without being hindered by anyone or anything.
He Remains
By Charles E. Cowman0JOS 1:9PSA 16:8ISA 41:10MAT 28:20HEB 1:11Charles E. Cowman preaches about the enduring presence of God in our lives, emphasizing that even when earthly joys, treasures, and strengths fade away, God remains constant and unchanging. He encourages recognizing the unseen presence of the Master, who is a warm-hearted Friend and all-powerful Lord, bringing soothing, calming, and warming comfort to our hearts. This truth of God's abiding presence is a source of joy and hope for those facing tears, loss, weariness, and challenges in life.
Doing What Christ Demands
By Mary Wilder Tileston0PSA 16:8MAT 16:24PHP 1:211TH 5:9REV 12:11Mary Wilder Tileston, in her sermon, emphasizes the importance of self-surrender to God, inspired by the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. She highlights the need for Christians to be willing to make sacrifices, whether big or small, in response to all that Christ has done for them. Tileston points out that true strength and nobility in life come from this self-surrender, as exemplified by the life of St. Stephen, and that death, when faced with this surrender, is akin to peacefully falling asleep in Christ.
Seek Him in Everything
By Mary Wilder Tileston0PSA 16:8JER 1:7ACT 17:27COL 3:171TH 5:16Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of being obedient to God's commands and being in His presence at all times, regardless of the circumstances. She highlights the need to seek and find God in every moment and every situation, as true peace and fulfillment come from following His will. Tileston stresses that God is pleased not just by our actions, but by the spirit in which they are done, with a constant readiness to obey His will in even the smallest details.
Peace in the Bustle of Life
By Mary Wilder Tileston0PSA 16:8ROM 8:152CO 9:8JUD 1:24Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about God's ability to abundantly provide grace for His children, ensuring they have more than enough for every good work. She emphasizes the importance of seeking God's help to free us from worries and self-will, allowing us to fully surrender to Him as His obedient children, constantly crying out to Him as our loving Father. Despite the challenges and distractions of daily life, God's grace sustains us, keeping us from falling irrecoverably and providing a sense of His presence even in the busiest and most demanding moments.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
With God's presence and aid he is sure of safety (Psa 10:6; Psa 15:5; Joh 12:27-28; Heb 5:7-8).
John Gill Bible Commentary
I have set the Lord always before me, Not his fear only, or the book of the law, as Jarchi interprets it, but the Lord himself; or, "I foresaw the Lord always before my face", Act 2:26; as Christ is set before men in the Gospel, to look unto as the object of faith and hope, to trust in and depend upon for life and salvation; so Jehovah the Father is the object which Christ set before him, and looked unto in the whole course of his life here on earth; he had always an eye to his glory, as the ultimate end of all his actions; and to his will, his orders, and commands, as the rule of them; and to his purposes, and counsel, and covenant, to accomplish them; and to his power, truth, and faithfulness, to assist, support, and encourage him in all his difficulties and most distressed circumstances; because he is at my right hand: to counsel and instruct, to help, protect, and defend: the phrase is expressive of the nearness of God to Christ, his presence with him, and readiness to assist and stand by him against all his enemies; see Psa 109:31; so the Targum paraphrases it, "because his Shechinah rests upon me"; I shall not be moved: as he was not from his place and nation, from the duty of his office, and the execution of it, by all the threats and menaces of men; nor from the fear, worship, and service of God, by all the temptations of Satan; nor from the cause of his people he had espoused, by all the terrors of death, the flaming sword of justice, and the wrath of God; but, in the midst and view of all, stood unshaken and unmoved; see Isa 42:4.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
All these verses are quoted by St. Peter in his first sermon, after the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of pentecost (Act 2:25-28); and he tells us expressly that David in them speaks concerning Christ and particularly of his resurrection. Something we may allow here of the workings of David's own pious and devout affections towards God, depending upon his grace to perfect every thing that concerned him, and looking for the blessed hope, and happy state on the other side death, in the enjoyment of God; but in these holy elevations towards God and heaven he was carried by the spirit of prophecy quite beyond the consideration of himself and his own case, to foretel the glory of the Messiah, in such expressions as were peculiar to that, and could not be understood of himself. The New Testament furnishes us with a key to let us into the mystery of these lines. I. These verses must certainly be applied to Christ; of him speaks the prophet this, as did many of the Old Testament prophets, who testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow (Pe1 1:11), and that is the subject of this prophecy here. It is foretold (as he himself showed concerning this, no doubt, among other prophecies in this psalm, Luk 24:44, Luk 24:46) that Christ should suffer, and rise from the dead, Co1 15:3, Co1 15:4. 1. That he should suffer and die. This is implied here when he says (Psa 16:8), I shall not be moved; he supposed that he should be struck at, and have a dreadful shock given him, as he had in his agony, when his soul was exceedingly sorrowful, and he prayed that the cup might pass from him. When he says, "My flesh shall rest," it is implied that he must put off the body, and therefore must go through the pains of death. It is likewise plainly intimated that his soul must go into a state of separation from the body, and that his body, so deserted, would be in imminent danger of seeing corruption - that he should not only die, but be buried, and abide for some time under the power of death. 2. That he should be wonderfully borne up by the divine power in suffering and dying. (1.) That he should not be moved, should not be driven off from his undertaking nor sink under the weight of it, that he should not fail nor be discouraged (Isa 42:4), but should proceed and persevere in it, till he could say, It is finished. Though the service was hard and the encounter hot, and he trod the winepress alone, yet he was not moved, did not give up the cause, but set his face as a flint, Isa 50:7-9. Here am I, let these go their way. Nay, (2.) That his heart should rejoice and his glory be glad, that he should go on with his undertaking, not only resolutely, but cheerfully, and with unspeakable pleasure and satisfaction, witness that saying (Joh 17:11), Now I am no more in the world, but I come to thee, and that (Joh 18:11), The cup that my Father has given me, shall I not drink it? and many the like. By his glory is meant his tongue, as appears, Act 2:26. For our tongue is our glory, and never more so than when it is employed in glorifying God. Now there were three things which bore him up and carried him on thus cheerfully: - [1.] The respect he had to his Father's will and glory in what he did: I have set the Lord always before me. He still had an eye to his Father's commandment (Joh 10:18, Joh 14:31), the will of him that sent him. He aimed at his Father's honour and the restoring of the interests of his kingdom among men, and this kept him from being moved by the difficulties he met with; for he always did those things that pleased his Father. [2.] The assurance he had of his Father's presence with him in his sufferings: He is at my right hand, a present help to me, nigh at hand in the time of need. He is near that justifieth me (Isa 50:8); he is at my right hand, to direct and strengthen it, and hold it up, Psa 89:21. When he was in his agony an angel was sent from heaven to strengthen him, Luk 22:43. To this the victories and triumphs of the cross were all owing; it was the Lord at his right hand that struck through kings, Psa 110:5; Isa 42:1, Isa 42:2. [3.] The prospect he had of a glorious issue of his sufferings. It was for the joy set before him that he endured the cross, Heb 12:2. He rested in hope, and that made his rest glorious, Isa 11:10. He knew he should be justified in the Spirit by his resurrection, and straightway glorified. See Joh 13:31, Joh 13:32. 3. That he should be brought through his sufferings, and brought from under the power of death by a glorious resurrection. (1.) That his soul should not be left in hell, that is, his human spirit should not be long left, as other men's spirits are, in a state of separation from the body, but should, in a little time, return and be re-united to it, never to part again. (2.) That being God's holy One in a peculiar manner, sanctified to the work of redemption and perfectly free from sin, he should not see corruption nor feel it. This implies that he should not only be raised from the grave, but raised so soon that his dead body should not so much as being to corrupt, which, in the course of nature, it would have done if it had not been raised the third day. We, who have so much corruption in our souls, must expect that our bodies also will corrupt (Job 24:19); but that holy One of God who knew no sin saw no corruption. Under the law it was strictly ordered that those parts of the sacrifices which were not burnt upon the altar should by no means be kept till the third day, lest they should putrefy (Lev 7:15, Lev 7:18), which perhaps pointed at Christ's rising the third day, that he might not see corruption - neither was a bone of him broken. 4. That he should be abundantly recompensed for his sufferings, with the joy set before him, Psa 16:11. he was well assured, (1.) That he should not miss of his glory: "Thou wilt show me the path of life, and lead me to that life through this darksome valley." In confidence of this, when he gave up the ghost, he said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit; and, a little before, Father, glorify me with thy own self. (2.) That he should be received into the presence of God, to sit at his right hand. His being admitted into God's presence would be the acceptance of his service and his being set at his right hand the recompence of it. (3.) Thus, as a reward for the sorrows he underwent for our redemption, he should have a fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore; not only the glory he had with God, as God, before all worlds, but the joy and pleasure of a Mediator, in seeing his seed, and the success and prosperity of his undertaking, Isa 53:10, Isa 53:11. II. Christ being the Head of the body, the church, these verses may, for the most part, be applied to all good Christians, who are guided and animated by the Spirit of Christ; and, in singing them, when we have first given glory to Christ, in whom, to our everlasting comfort, they have had their accomplishment, we may then encourage and edify ourselves and one another with them, and may hence learn, 1. That it is our wisdom and duty to set the Lord always before us, and to see him continually at our right hand, wherever we are, to eye him as our chief good and highest end, our owner, ruler, and judge, our gracious benefactor, our sure guide and strict observer; and, while we do thus, we shall not be moved either from our duty or from our comfort. Blessed Paul set the Lord before him, when, though bonds and afflictions did await him, he could bravely say, None of these things move me, Act 20:24. 2. That, if our eyes be ever towards God, our hearts and tongues may ever rejoice in him; it is our own fault if they do not. If the heart rejoice in God, out of the abundance of that let the mouth speak, to his glory, and the edification of others. 3. That dying Christians, as well as a dying Christ, may cheerfully put off the body, in a believing expectation of a joyful resurrection: My flesh also shall rest in hope. Our bodies have little rest in this world, but in the grave they shall rest as in their beds, Isa 57:2. We have little to hope for from this life, but we shall rest in hope of a better life; we may put off the body in that hope. Death destroys the hope of man (Job 14:19), but not the hope of a good Christian, Pro 14:32. He has hope in his death, living hopes in dying moments, hopes that the body shall not be left for ever in the grave, but, though it see corruption for a time, it shall, at the end of the time, be raised to immortality; Christ's resurrection is an earnest of ours if we be his. 4. That those who live piously with God in their eye may die comfortably with heaven in their eye. In this world sorrow is our lot, but in heaven there is joy. All our joys here are empty and defective, but in heaven there is a fulness of joy. Our pleasures here are transient and momentary, and such is the nature of them that it is not fit they should last long; but those at God's right hand are pleasures for evermore; for they are the pleasures of immortal souls in the immediate vision and fruition of an eternal God.