Salmos 16
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 16
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS The superscriptions in the MT are not original. See full note in Introduction to Psalms, IV. Authorship For the term miktam in the superscription, see Introduction to Psalms, VII, A. #4
Salmos 16:1-4
16:1 "Preserve me, O God" This is the only IMPERATIVE (BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE) in Psalm 16. It is an urgent prayer request. From Ps. 16:10-11 it becomes obvious that the psalmist is facing death. He requests life but knows that even death will not separate him from God (cf. Ps. 139:7-12; Rom. 8:31-39). In this Psalm Deity is called by El, Ps. 16:1 (general title of God in the ANE) YHWH, Ps. 16:2,5,7,8 Adon, Ps. 16:2 SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, A. and D. SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord (Adon and Kurios) ▣ "for I take refuge in You" This is the theme of many Psalms! For "refuge" see notes at Ps. 5:11; also see SPECIAL TOPIC: REFUGE Humans are made in the image and likeness of God Himself (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). We were created for fellowship (cf. Gen. 3:8). We can find peace, rest, joy, purpose, and safety only in Him! 16:2 This is the psalmist's profession of faith. Psalm 16:2 seems to summarize a previous prayer or confession. ▣ "I have no good beside You" "My goodness is nothing apart from You" "I have no good apart from You" "all the good things I have come from You" "from You alone comes the good I enjoy" NET Bible, JPSOA footnote "I have no good but in You" "and my goodness comes from You" "because you have no need of my goods" One is tempted to read into this phrase the NT doctrine of justification, but in the OT a better parallel is Ps. 73:25-28. YHWH is the psalmist's only "good" (BDB 385). The idols of the nations are false. The gracious, merciful, covenant God honors those who trust Him and live according to His covenant requirements (i.e., OT ‒ Mosaic covenant; NT ‒ the gospel, cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:25-27). The result is a life and an afterlife of fellowship with God. 16:3-4 There are many questions about how to understand this verse. The Jewish Study Bible says of them (p. 1297) that "These are among the most obscure verses in the Psalter." Who are "the saints" (BDB 872) ‒ Some (NEB, NJB) scholars take the last words of Ps. 16:2 and bring the negative into Ps. 16:3, which makes "saints" refer to "the sacred spirits of the earth" (i.e., the idols of Ps. 16:4). See note below. Who are "the majestic ones" (BDB 12) ‒ Because of parallelism they are either positive (i.e., godly ones, cf. TEV) or negative (i.e., Canaanite idols, NJB). It is possible to take these two titles as referring to the covenant people in Ps. 16:3 who become idolaters in Ps. 16:4. Many translations separate verses 3 and 4 into separate strophes. The question is, "Do Ps. 16:3-4 form a contrast or an extended description?" 16:3 "saints" This is the Hebrew term Kadosh (BDB 872, KB 1072), which is used for the faithful followers of YHWH ‒ Deut. 33:3; Ps. 34:9; Dan. 8:24 spiritual beings (i.e., angels) ‒ Job 5:1; 15:15; Ps. 89:5,7; Dan. 8:13 (twice); Zech. 14:5 SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY 16:4 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, Peshitta "sorrows" "troubles" "teeming idols" "infirmities" "endless trouble" The word "troubles" (עצבות, BDB 781) is very similar to "idols" (עצבים, BDB 781, NJB). The context is obviously about idolatry (v. 4). Exactly who is referred to in Ps. 16:3 is uncertain. Are there two or three entities referred to? It is possible to see the term "another" (אחר, BDB 29 I, Ps. 16:4) as "other gods" (אחרים, cf. Isa. 42:8; NET Bible, p. 866, #29). For an extensive discussion see NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 860-862 or UBS Handbook, pp. 141-142. ▣ The psalmist who takes refuge in YHWH refuses to be involved in idolatry. pour out a drink offering of blood (of animal sacrifices or imagery for wine) take their names on his lips (cf. Exod. 20:3-5)
Salmos 16:5-6
16:5-6 Possibly the drink offering mentioned in verse 4 reminded the psalmist of the idiom of "cup," which denoted one's destiny (cf. Ps. 11:6; 23:5; 75:8; 116:13). Usually it has a negative connotation but not here. The "lot" alludes to the dividing of the land of Canaan into tribal allocations by Joshua, by lot (cf. Joshua 13-19), which is the prophetic fulfillment of YHWH's promise to Abraham (cf. Gen. 12:1-3). The Levites and Priests inherited only 48 cities (cf. Joshua 20-24). They were said to have the Lord Himself as their inheritance (cf. Num. 18:20; Deut. 18:1). However, in the Psalms this designation is expanded to all faithful followers (cf. Ps. 73:26; 119:57; 142:5; also Lam. 3:24). Psalm 16:6 continues this imagery by "lines have fallen to me." The psalmist asserts that his inheritance is beautiful (i.e., Jer. 3:19). SPECIAL TOPIC: CUP
Salmos 16:7-11
16:7-11 The psalmist asserts his faith is now fully in YHWH's counsel, Ps. 16:7a (cf. Ps. 32:8) instructions, Ps. 16:7b powerful presence, Ps. 16:8,11 victory, Ps. 16:8b The result is that he rejoices in his security in YHWH (cf. Ps. 16:9), even in death (Ps. 16:10-11). He will not abandon the psalmist in Sheol, Ps. 16:10 (cf. Job 14:14-15; 19:25-27; see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEOL) He will make known to him the path of life (cf. Ps. 139:24; Prov. 15:24; i.e., an idiom for daily faithful living; for a similar phrase see Ps. 101:2,6; 139:24; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY) He will be with him personally, even in Sheol (cf. Ps. 139:7-8) He provides in abundance all the psalmist needs Even in times of distress the faithful follower can know that YHWH is with him/her, for him/her, and will never leave him/her (cf. Deut. 31:6,8; Heb. 13:5! This faith in YHWH's faithfulness is our hope, joy, peace, rest, and victory! 16:7 "bless" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BLESSING ▣ "counsel" BDB 419, KB 421, Qal PERFECT. YHWH and His revelation are the only source of truth and life. ▣ "instructs" BDB 415, KB 418, Piel PERFECT. The psalmist reflects on these truths at night (i.e., time of meditation, v. 8 picks up on this). ▣ "mind" This is literally "kidneys" (BDB 480). See SPECIAL TOPIC: INWARD PARTS. Notice that both YHWH and the psalmist have their parts in this information from God. 16:8a The psalmist meditates night and day on the truths of YHWH's revelation. The faithful followers' actions and priorities are based on this revelation. 16:8b "at my right hand" YHWH's right hand is anthropomorphic imagery (see SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN [ANTHROPOMORPHISM]). The right hand is proverbial for power and strength. The Messiah is described as seated on the Father's right hand which denotes the place of power, preeminence, and authority. The combination of several elements in this Psalm made it Messianic for the Apostles, Peter and Paul right hand imagery, Ps. 16:8,11 life beyond the physical existence title "Holy One" See fuller note at Ps. 16:10. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND 16:9 "heart" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART ▣ NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "my glory" NRSV, NJB "my soul" "my tongue" "my whole being" "my spirit" "my life" The Hebrew word "glory" (כבודי, BDB 458 II) may be a scribal error for "liver" (כדבכ, BDB 458, cf. Gen. 49:6; Ps. 30:12), which, like the heart, denoted the whole person (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 587-588; NET Bible, p. 866, #11). Notice that "heart," "liver/glory," and "flesh" all are parallel and denote the psalmist himself. SPECIAL TOPIC: INWARD PARTS 16:10 "You will not abandon my soul to Sheol" This line of poetry is obviously related to the psalmist's confidence of God's care, both now and in the future (v. 9). YHWH will never abandon (BDB 736, KB 806, Qal PERFECT) the faithful follower. For "soul" see SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH For "sheol see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEOL ▣ NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "Your Holy One" NRSV, JPSOA "your faithful one" NJB, REB "your faithful servant" "your devout" NET Bible, Peshitta "your faithful follower" The Hebrew has "your godly one" (חסיד, BDB 339, KB 337). This word is used often to describe those covenant people who loved, served, and obeyed YHWH (cf. Ps. 4:3; 12:1; 32:6; 86:2; Micah 7:2) when used of YHWH, it is translated "kind" (cf. Ps. 18:25; 145:17) or "gracious" (cf. Jer. 3:12) This verse is quoted by both Peter (cf. Acts 2:27,31) and Paul (cf. Acts 13:35) to refer to Jesus' resurrection. In this Psalm the term is translated "Holy One" (NASB, NKJV). I am not sure how to view this verse in the context of Psalm 16. In context it obviously refers to a godly, faithful Israelite (note the parallelism of Ps. 16:10). It could then have been understood by an Apostle as Messianic prophecy typology multiple fulfillment The Apostles looked back into the OT and saw many signs and foreshadowing, as well as specific predictions, of the life, work, death, resurrection, and coming again of Jesus Christ! I trust their inspiration. SPECIAL TOPIC: TYPOLOGY ▣ NASB, REB "the pit" NKJV, LXX "corruption" NRSV, JPSOA "the Pit" "the abyss" The MT has "Pit" (BDB 1001) and it is parallel to Sheol (cf. Job 33:18; Isa. 38:17-18). For Sheol see SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD?, I. B. and my exegetical notes at Ps. 6:5; 9:13. Both were ways of referring to death. The LXX is quoted by both Peter and Paul in Acts to confirm the resurrection of Jesus. There are several places in the OT which assert, or at least hint at, a resurrection (cf. Job 14:14-15; 19:25-27; Ps. 17:15; 49:15; 56:13; 73:24,25; 86:13; Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2). Ezekiel 37 seems to refer to the restoration of the nation, not individual resurrection. Thank God for the full revelation of the NT. Jesus' empty tomb and post-resurrection appearances Paul's discussion of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 The afterlife is a progressive revelation! The life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus changed the Apostles' worldview. Their OT perspective was modified. They began to search the OT for prophecies, typologies, and hints of this new reality. Jesus Himself may have started this by revelatory interpretations about Himself from the OT to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who passed them on to the group in the upper room (cf. Luke 24:25-27).