Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations: Prepared Hearts

Psalm 16 The Golden Psalm Part 1 of 4

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2012-01-26

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver introduces Psalm 16 as 'The Golden Psalm,' focusing on its title 'Michtam of David' and its messianic significance. He demonstrates from Acts 2 and 13 that the psalm speaks directly of Jesus Christ. The sermon covers the first point of a three-part outline: the confession of trust in verses 1-3. Weaver explains David's prayer for preservation, the meaning of trust as fleeing to God for refuge, and how this applies to Christ's life and the believer's security. He also expounds on the confession of trust in prosperity, showing that neither David's nor Christ's goodness adds to God's inherent perfection, but benefits the saints.

[John Weaver] Psalm 16, verse 1. Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. O my soul, Thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord, my goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God. Their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. Thou maintainest my lot.

[John Weaver] The lions are fallen unto me in a pleasant places. Yea, I have a godly, a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My reigns also instruct me in the night seasons. I've set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand. I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth. My flesh also shall rest in hope.

[John Weaver] For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life. In thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look at the title of this psalm. It is given to us right above verse 1. It says, Midstam of David. Midstam of David.

[John Weaver] Now, the message today, I've just entitled, The Golden Psalm. Because this title, the Midstam of David, is found first in Psalm 16, then it is found in Psalm 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60. But Psalm 16 is the very first occurrence of it. Scholars are divided as to the meaning of the word Midstam. Some derive it from the Hebrew word kathim, which seems to indicate a golden crest or a golden jewel. Other scholars seem to think that this is the beginning of a song, which at one time was very common.

[John Weaver] Still others say that midsum refers to a tune. But there was one scholar who pointed out that he believed the word actually meant to mark or to engrave and to denote that this song is worthy to be engraven or marked on a valuable and durable pillar. In fact, There was one scholar who said this, that it could be used as a sepulchral inscription, that is, a writing on a tombstone. He went on to say, as a sepulchral inscription, it might have been written on our Redeemer's tomb as a triumphal monument.

[John Weaver] It might have been sung by Him in the region of the departed spirits, and in either or in any sense, it may be well considered as a golden composition as apples of gold in a network of which occur, and the titles of psalms are often names of old melodies." So, the scholars are divided, basically, as to what the word Midgeton means.

[John Weaver] Now, one of the classic commentators is Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He's the preacher's preacher. But Spurgeon said this concerning Psalm 16. He says, this is usually understood to mean the golden psalm. And such a title is most appropriate, for the matter is of most fine gold." Ainsworth calls it David's Jewel, or Notable Song. Dr. Hawker, who is always alive to passages full of savor, devoutly cries, some have rendered it precious, others golden, and others precious jewels. And as the Holy Ghost, by the Apostles Peter and Paul, has shown us that it is all about the Lord Jesus Christ, what is here said of Him It's precious, it's golden, it's a jewel indeed. So some then have referred to Psalm 16 as the psalm of the precious secret.

[John Weaver] Now, scholars may be divided as to what the word mitzvah actually means. But no Bible believer will deny that this psalm is important, it's relevant, and the subject matter concerns, of course, Jesus Christ. Matthew Henry, one of the old commentators said this, and I love just what he said in the opening line. He said, this psalm has something of David in it, but much of Christ. This psalm has something of David in it, but much of Christ. It begins with such expressions of devotions as may be applied to Christ, but concludes with such confidence of a resurrection, and so timely one as to prevent corruption as must be applied to Christ, to him only and cannot be understood of David as the Apostle Peter and Paul have observed." Now it is true that David wrote Psalm 16. And certainly there are applications in this Psalm that may refer to David. But the main applications in this Psalm would refer to the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And it might be accurately said that the whole Psalm reflects the life and leaning of Jesus Christ upon His Father.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in Psalm 16, beginning there with verse 8, look what it says, I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth. My flesh also shall rest in hope, for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life, in thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Now, I want you to hold Psalm 16, but turn over in your Bibles to Acts chapter 2, and let me show you first how Peter applies this passage directly to Christ. We'll come back to this passage later on in this study. We'll look in Acts chapter 2, beginning there with verse 25. Acts 2, Verse 25, and here we have this quote. For David speaketh concerning Him, that is Christ. I foresaw the Lord always before my face. He is on my right hand that I should not be moved.

[John Weaver] Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad. Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope, because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made me made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and a sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne, he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses."

[John Weaver] So what does Peter do in Acts chapter 2? He takes Psalm 16 verses 8 through 11 and applies it directly to Jesus Christ. Now, if you will turn over to Acts chapter 13 and look there beginning with verse 34. Acts 13 and verse 34. In fact, we can actually begin reading there with verse 33. Acts 13, verse 33. Paul is preaching and he says, God has fulfilled the same unto us unto their children, in that he raised up Jesus again, as is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my son this day, have I begotten thee. So he's quoting the second psalm there. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said, on this wise I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore, he saith also in another psalm, psalm 16, thou shalt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on asleep, that is he died, and was laid into his father's and saw corruption.

[John Weaver] But he whom God raised up again saw no corruption. So once again, The Bible is applying Psalm 16 directly to Jesus Christ. No wonder it's called a golden psalm. No wonder it's called a precious jewel or the psalm of the precious secret. Because this psalm deals with the life, the leaning, the death, the resurrection, the ascension, and the glorification of Jesus Christ. And I like what the Bible says in Acts 2 in verse 25. Peter said it like this, David speaketh concerning him. In other words, everything that David was writing in Psalm 16 actually concerned Jesus Christ. Now, if you'll go back to Psalm 16, I want us to examine this Psalm under three simple heads.

[John Weaver] We're certainly not going to cover all three points today. In fact, we're only going to cover one point. But first of all, I want you to see that there is a confession of trust And you're going to find that in verses 1 through 3. Secondly, there is the contentment of trust in verses 4 through 7. And then lastly, there's the confidence of trust in verses 8 through 11.

[John Weaver] Now, our Lord is to be our supreme example in every way. We're not only to follow Him in reference to His obedience to the Father, we're also to follow Him and his trust to the Father. The next time you read through the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, I want you to take note of something. I want you to take note how often and how many times Jesus Christ refers to God as His Father. Let me give you an example. In Matthew 10, verses 32 and 33, our Lord says this, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father, who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him also will I deny before my Father who is in heaven." So Jesus Christ is referring to God as His Father. Now, I want you to take note of something. I want you to understand that since we are in Christ as Christians, as believers, God is not just simply our God. He is not just simply our Sovereign.

[John Weaver] He is not just simply our Lord and our Master. He is our Father. You know what our Lord said in John 20 and verse 17? He said to Mary, let me just quote it. He said, Touch me not. For I am not yet ascended unto my Father, but go to my brethren and say unto them, I go unto my Father and to your Father, and to my God and to your God.

[John Weaver] So Psalm 16 may apply directly to Jesus Christ, but we've got to remember that He is our example in all things. In fact, 1 Peter 2 and verse 21 tells us that Christ has also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should likewise follow in His steps. So He's to be our example in all things. So first of all today, I want you to look at this confession of trust. David begins with this prayer, Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. Now we may take David's prayer for preservation as he fled from Saul and his numerous enemies. But his prayer here is a prayer that he would be preserved unto God's promised kingdom. Not just simply the kingdom that God promised David, But he's talking about that eternal kingdom. So you can say that in this prayer there is a temporal request and there is an eternal request. Yes, David wanted to be preserved until God elevated him to the throne where he could rule over Israel. But David also wanted to be preserved under that eternal kingdom as well.

[John Weaver] So there is a temporal and an eternal aspect to this request. Now, when he says, preserve me, O God, the word preserve here is expressive of actions of someone watching over another person. For instance, guards who are attending to their king, guarding and protecting, or a shepherd watching over the flock, guarding and protecting the sheep. So David is saying, preserve me, O God. In other words, he's saying, guard me and protect me.

[John Weaver] Now notice what he said. Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. David is confessing that his trust is totally and completely in God. Let me just tell you, this is indeed a most powerful I want you to think about this. Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. It's not only a powerful plea, but this plea is extremely honoring and glorifying to God.

[John Weaver] Trusting in Him is one of the highest honors that we can give Him. Why? Because when we trust in God, we are recognizing His sovereignty, His grace, His mercy, His power, His goodness. And so when we trust in God, what we're actually doing is this. We're recognizing that God is on the throne, and in essence, we're acknowledging the crown is upon His head, that He is the rightful ruler of everything. And when we also say, preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust, it not only places God where He ought to be, that is on His throne, It places us where we ought to be, at His feet, begging for mercy. So here's this prayer. Now the Hebrew word for trust is the word kasal. It is translated as trust, or to make a refuge, or to have hope. When He says, preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I trust, He's saying, in Thee do I place my refuge, in Thee do I place my hope. So, the word trust now has the implication of someone fleeing to another for protection.

[John Weaver] Let me just very quickly show you how this word is used up until Psalm 16, okay? Look in Psalm 5, and I'm just dealing with the book of Psalms right now, but look in Psalm 5 and verse 11.

[John Weaver] Now, I told you the word trust indicates That you're fleeing to someone for protection, for refuge, for a place of hope and safety. So in Psalm 5 and verse 11, notice what David says in this passage. Same word, trust. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice. Let them ever shout for joy because thou what? Defendest them. Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Now what did David say? David said, I'm putting my trust in you because you're defending me. In other words, I'm running to you for protection. Look in Psalm 7 and verse 1, O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust.

[John Weaver] Save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me. Wow! Very obviously, if David is fleeing to God as a place of refuge, as a place of hope, He's saying, save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me. I'm just trying to show you the word trust has the implication of fleeing to someone for help. Look in Psalm 9 and verse 10. Psalm 9 verse 10. David says, And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee, for thy Lord has not forsaken them that seek thee. In other words, Lord, you're not going to turn me away when I flee to you for protection. And then if you look in Psalm 11 and verse 1, in the Lord put I my trust.

[John Weaver] How say you to my soul? Flees a bird to your mountain. Why should I run? Why should I worry? Why should I be afraid when the Lord is my trust, my refuge, my hope? And then you look in Psalm 16 verse 1, he says, preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. So what is the prayer doing? It is a prayer for protection, It is a prayer that God would guard and sustain and preserve him in every possible way.

[John Weaver] Now, I told you that certainly David wrote this psalm. And there are applications that could be made to David. That is true. But we've already seen in the New Testament that this psalm speaks particularly of Jesus Christ. So let me ask you a question. Did Jesus Christ trust the Father? And the answer is He trusted Him implicitly. Did Jesus Christ seek to be sustained, preserved, and protected by the Father? And the answer is yes. And He certainly was not disappointed.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold Psalm 16, but I do want you to turn in your Bibles. to the book of Isaiah chapter 42. I want to read a passage and then I want to go to the New Testament and try to illustrate how Psalm 16 verse 1 applies to Jesus Christ. So if you look at Isaiah 42, this is indeed a messianic passage and you're going to see this passage of course applies to none other than Christ himself, Isaiah 42. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. Isaiah 42, verse 1. Just so that you can see, this is Christ and Christ alone.

[John Weaver] God says, Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, mine elect, and whom my soul delighteth. I have put my spirit upon him. He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench? He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith the Lord God, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out, he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it, he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein, I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, talking about Christ, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant unto the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, as them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

[John Weaver] I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory I will not give to another, neither my praise to raven images. Now what is God saying in Isaiah 42? He says, I've got my servant, mine elect, my Messiah. I'm going to hold his hand. I'm going to, look what he says in verse 6, I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee. Would you like to know what the Hebrew word for keep means? It means to guard and protect and preserve. and to watch over.

[John Weaver] What did the Father tell the Son? I've chosen you to be the mediator. I've chosen you to be the God-man. I've chosen you to be the Lord, the Savior. And I'm going to hold your hand and I am going to keep you.

[John Weaver] Now the interesting thing, in Matthew 12 and verse 18, this passage in Isaiah 42 is applied directly to Christ. Because there it is said of Christ, Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, and whom my soul is well pleased, I will put my spirit upon him, and he will show judgment unto the Gentiles. Luke says it just a little differently. In Luke 2 and verse 32, he says that he is to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel. But Isaiah 42 is applied directly to Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

[John Weaver] Now let's ask a question. Did the Father keep Christ? Did He preserve Him and protect Him? And the answer is yes. Do you remember the duplicity of Herod in Matthew chapter 2? Do you remember those wise men came and inquired concerning where Christ was to be born? And Herod, oh that old fox as Christ called him, when he found out that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. In Matthew 2 in verse 8, listen to this, And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also. Did Herod really want to worship Christ? Oh no.

[John Weaver] He wanted to kill him. He did not want any competition. And so the Bible says in Matthew 2 and verse 12, that those wise men being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their country another way. Well, I wonder who it was that was guarding and protecting the child. And do you remember a little bit later when Herod saw that these men had not obeyed him?

[John Weaver] And his plans had been foiled. Well, now he thought, well, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll make sure that I get the young child. So he sent to have all children, all male children, two years old and under, murdered. And the Bible says in Matthew 2 in verse 13, And when they departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." I wonder who it was that sent Christ and Joseph and Mary down into Egypt. And you remember after Herod died, his son of course reigning instead. So Joseph and Mary decided they would come back into the land. And we're told in Matthew 2 and verse 22, but when he heard that Archelios did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go in thither, notwithstanding being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee.

[John Weaver] What was God doing? Guarding, protecting, and keeping Christ, even as a child. When Christ matured, you remember after John baptized Him, He was led out in the wilderness and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, being tempted of the devil. But the Bible tells us in the book of Mark chapter 1 and verse 13, And he was there in the wilderness 40 days, tempted of Satan, and was with the wild beast, and the angels ministered unto him. Hmm, I wonder who sent those angels. I wonder who was guarding and protecting and preserving him.

[John Weaver] And look in your Bibles. I want you to see this one. Look in Luke chapter 4. Look in Luke chapter 4. And let's begin reading there with verse 28. Luke 4 and verse 28. Jesus opens His ministry here in Nazareth. In fact, let's begin reading verse 22. This to me is so astounding. I've preached on this passage before, but look in Luke 4 and verse 22. And all bare him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.

[John Weaver] And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? Now watch this. Jesus Christ was teaching and preaching. And all these people said, Oh, listen to him. Isn't he wonderful? Isn't this marvelous? Isn't this right? Is not this Joseph's son? Wait a minute. We raised this boy. He's one of us. Now watch this. They bear witness of the gracious words. Watch verse 23. And he said unto them, You will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself.

[John Weaver] Whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also hear in thy country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is except in his own country. Now watch this. He said, ìYouíre surely going to say to me, ìPhysician, heal thyself.î Whatís there weíve heard done in Capernaum do here in your own country?î In other words, hereís what theyíre saying. Now listen. Theyíre saying, ìLord, whatever youíve done over there in Alabama, you do for us here and more because weíre your hometown folks. We helped raise you.

[John Weaver] You owe us.î That was the implication. And look what he said. Now watch carefully. When he said in verse 24, Verily I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. He says, But I tell you of a truth. Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land. But unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow, a woman outside of Israel. Watch verse 27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them were cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. Now, wait a minute.

[John Weaver] What is our Lord saying? Look, folks. He said, let me tell you something. There are many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, but none of them were taken care of except this one Zidonian woman. And she wasn't an Israelite. Many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha. None of them were healed but Naaman. And he was a Syrian. You know what our Lord was telling these people?

[John Weaver] I don't owe you anything. Anything you get from Me is grace. It is not justice. It is not merit. It is grace. And watch what happens. When they heard this, and all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath. Isn't it amazing? It went from hearing His gracious words to being filled with wrath. And they rose up and thrust him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill whereon the city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way."

[John Weaver] I wonder who protected him at that time. I wonder who kept that infuriated mob from killing him. Well, of course, it was none other than the Father. I want you to look in John 7. Watch this.

[John Weaver] Now remember, preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. Look at John 7. John 7, verse 1. After these things Jesus walked in Galilee, for He would not walk in Jury, because the Jews sought to kill Him. He walked in Galilee. He would not walk in Jury. Why? Because the Jews sought to kill Him. Have you ever asked yourself this question? Out of all those Jews that were alive, you mean all of them together could not kill one man? They wanted him dead, they wanted to kill him, but they couldn't. And if you look in John 7 and verse 30, I want you to notice what the Bible says, John 7 and verse 30. Then they sought to take him. Here's another incident. Then they sought to take him, but no man laid hands on him. Why?

[John Weaver] Because his hour was not yet come. Now ask yourself this question. Who is protecting Christ? Who is preserving Christ? What did the Father say? I'll hold thy hand and I will keep thee. All the Jews in the world could not kill Christ. Because Christ was being protected by God the Father. And if you look in your Bibles to John 12, just to show you, when it came time for Christ to die, He was more than willing to die. Look what He said in John 12 and verse 27, He said, now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour, but for this cause came I into the world. Our Lord said, I came to die. And I'm not going to say He saved me from this death. I came to die. But He came to die in an appointed way, and an appointed time by the will of the Father, and there was not one finger going to be laid upon Him until that day, and that hour, and that time, and that manner of death."

[John Weaver] We must remember that in Christ, and by the way, now listen, we are in Him. We are His body. In Christ, listen carefully, Neither the assaults of Satan, the hatred of our enemies, the circumstances under which we live, the ignorance of truth by the multitudes, nor the powerful weapons of our enemies can destroy us before our time. Here it is, let me spell it out dogmatically. In Christ, we are immortal until the day that God has ordained that we die. We cannot be killed. We cannot be stopped because we are in Him.

[John Weaver] Let me show you this. Look in your Bibles to Isaiah 54. You've got to see this promise. Look in Isaiah 54 and I want you to watch verse 17. Isaiah 54 verse 17. I don't know about you, But I sure want to learn to pray with David. Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. But notice Isaiah 54 and notice verse 17. Look what God says. We're in Christ now. Look what he says. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.

[John Weaver] This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." What is God saying? God is saying, I'm able to protect you. I'm able to guard you and preserve you. Doesn't matter what man says. Doesn't matter what man does. Doesn't matter what they conspire to do. I am quite capable of taking care of you. Did God the Father preserve Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Jesus Christ for all the physical torture and the sufferings of the Romans which they inflicted upon Him? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him through the hatred and the enmity of the Jews? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him through the weight of sin that was imputed upon Him because of our sins? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him from death and corruption? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him into His heavenly kingdom? Yes, He did. He raised Him from the dead and Christ ascended and sat down on the right hand of God.

[John Weaver] It was God who preserved and protected David. It was God who preserved and protected Christ.

[John Weaver] Now you say, How does all this apply to me? What do I get out of this? Well, thank you for asking. Look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. Watch carefully what the Bible says. Romans chapter 8, and let's begin reading there in verse 31. Remember, we are in Christ. Romans 8, look at it in verse 31. Here's what the Scripture says. What shall we say then to these things? Everything that Paul has mentioned from Romans 1 through chapter 8. What then shall we say to these things?

[John Weaver] If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. If we are in Christ, if God be for us, who can be against us? What is He saying? Who can accomplish anything? The enemy may fight, the enemy may plan and scheme, the enemy may want to murder and destroy, but if God be for us, He's quite able to protect us and overthrow their plans and their schemes and their wicked desires.

[John Weaver] And then He said, Watch carefully, he that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Do you think that we are any less protected since we're in Christ? I just showed you what God the Father did for Christ. How He preserved Him and protected Him until His appointed time. If we're in Christ, and if God gave His only begotten Son for us, shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? Will He not give us protection? Will He not give us provision? Will He not give us His mercy? Of course He will!

[John Weaver] And if you'll look in your Bibles to the book of Jude, right before the book of Revelation, the last two verses in the book of Jude, This is the icing on the cake. I want you to look what is written. In fact, I could point out verse 1. Let me read verse 1 first. Jude, verse 1. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father and, what? Preserved in Jesus Christ and called. Now go to verse 24. Look how he praises God.

[John Weaver] Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, till the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty and dominion and power both now and forever. Amen. Notice, now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you blameless. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good plan of protection to me.

[John Weaver] I think it's even better than Medicare and Medicaid. So here is the prayer. We see the trust in this prayer. Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust Go back in your Bibles to Psalm 16, because I want you to look at verses 2 and 3. I want to tie these together. Look in Psalm 16, verse 1, Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust.

[John Weaver] O my soul, Thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord. My goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. In this passage, verses 2 and 3, we want to see his confession of trust in his prosperity. We saw his confession of trust in his prayer in verse 1. Now the confession of trust in his prosperity, and I chose the word prosperity for a reason, because it will aptly apply to David and to Christ. The Hebrew word, tov, is translated as good, prosperity, favor, wealth, and precious in our Bibles. But the word prosperity refers to all that we accomplish.

[John Weaver] You could point out an extremely rich man and you would say he's very prosperous. You could point out a farmer that had good crops. He may not necessarily be rich, but we could say he's prospering. You could look at someone with good health and say he's prospering. The word prosperity covers a lot. So I want you to look in verse 2. David says, O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, thou art my Lord.

[John Weaver] Now let me just stop right there. I want you to note what David says, O my soul, thou hast said to the Lord, thou art my Lord. Let me ask you a question. I want you to think hard about this question. Have you ever said in your spirit? Have you ever said in your soul, O my Lord, thou art my Lord? That is, have you confessed Him in your spirit, in your soul? Not with just lip service, but has there been that in your life wherein the deepest and most part of your being. You said to the Lord, O my Lord, thou art my Lord. There's a big difference between acknowledging Christ with your lips and acknowledging Christ with the very depth of your soul.

[John Weaver] Do you realize one of the stinging complaints that God had against Israel of old is found in Isaiah 29 and verse 13? Let me just quote it for you. Listen to what God says. Wherefore the Lord said, For as much as this people draw nigh to me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of man." What is God saying?

[John Weaver] It's all a ritual with them. It's all a sermon. They're just going, they're saying it with their mouth. They don't mean it. There's no depth. There's no emotion. There's no desire. They're just saying it. You know, it's easy to say with your mouth, Jesus Christ is Lord. You remember what the word Lord means? It's the Greek word kurios. It means boss, owner, master, sovereign. When you acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord, you're saying, you are my sovereign.

[John Weaver] You have the absolute right to tell me what to do, when to do, how to dress, how to act, how to speak, everything. You are my Lord. David said, oh my soul, thou has said it to the Lord, thou art my Lord. And so with David, it's not just lip service. With Christ, it was not lip service when he acknowledged God as his father and as his God.

[John Weaver] Now, look what he said in verse two. Oh my soul, thou has said it to the Lord, thou art my Lord. My goodness extendeth not to thee, but to the saints that are in all the earth, and to the excellent as whom is all my delight.

[John Weaver] Now in order to understand verses 2 and 3, you must in some degree grasp the doctrine of the perfection of God. God is not only the most absolute simple being, He is also the most perfect being. Since God is absolutely perfect, nothing can be added to Him. Since God is absolutely perfect, nothing can be taken from Him. If you can add something to God, He was not perfect before. If you can take something from God, if He was perfect, He is no longer perfect. When you talk about the perfection of God, you're saying that God is the most perfect being. Nothing can be added to Him. Nothing can be taken from Him.

[John Weaver] Now, in light of that, let me tell you that God does have an inherent glory and God does have an external glory and they are two separate things. His inherent glory is absolutely perfect and is never affected by anyone, by what anyone does or does not do. Do you realize that God is perfectly content in and of Himself? Whatever we do cannot add to God's inherent glory.

[John Weaver] Let's suppose everyone in this room today stood up and with one mouth and one heart magnified God and praised Him and glorified Him. As great as that might be, that adds nothing to God. Let's suppose that everyone in this room stood up and with one voice cursed God and denied God. That does not detract one thing from God. God is still God. And He still is the most perfect being. So, regardless of what men do, the inherent glory of God is not affected.

[John Weaver] Now, when we talk about people dishonoring God and failing to glorify God, we're talking about God's external glory. Now, watch this. There is nothing added to God. He is so perfect that sin cannot hurt Him, and He is so righteous that righteousness cannot benefit Him. So what is David saying in verse 2? David says, O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, my Lord, my goodness extendeth not unto thee. You see, nothing can touch God. God's external glory may be glorified or despised by our actions, but none of that even affects God's inherent glory. And when you and I are concerned about God's glory, It's God's external glory that we're concerned about. And it is true that men may honor or dishonor His external glory, but that still does not affect His inherent internal glory.

[John Weaver] Now, let me give you a quote before I develop this. I want you to listen carefully. Calvin said this in regards to Psalm 16, verses 2 and 3. He said, David begins by stating that he can bestow nothing upon God, not only because God stands in no need of anything, but also because mortal man cannot merit the favor of God by any service which he can perform. At the same time, however, he, David, takes courage, and as God accepts our devotion and the service which we yield to him, David protests that he will be one of his servants. The import of this language is, I am indeed fully convinced in my heart and know assuredly that God can derive no profit or advantage from me.

[John Weaver] But notwithstanding this, I will join myself in fellowship with the saints, and with one accord we may worship Him by the sacrifice of praise." Two things are distinctly laid down in this verse. The first is that God has a right to require of us whatever He pleases, seeing we're wholly bound to Him as our rightful proprietor and Lord. David, by ascribing him the power and dominion of the Lord, declares that both himself and all that he possessed are the property of God. The other, or particular, the second thing containing this verse is the acknowledgment which the psalmist makes of his own indigenous or his own poverty.

[John Weaver] So what is he saying? David is saying, my goodness extended not thee. In other words, Lord, you don't need anything I have. And anything I do does not profit you or benefit you one iota. But nevertheless, in spite of that knowledge, I'm going to be your servant. I'm going to serve you. I'm going to do my best to honor you and glorify you. Listen to me. David may have been a great man. He may have been a great warrior. He may have been a great saint. He may have ministered to God's people. He may have helped innumerable multitudes. Yet nothing he did added anything to God. God was already perfect. His prosperity did not extend to God.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question. If you and I are required to honor God and to minister to God, and we are, how do we do it? How can I say today, that I am ministering to the Lord. How can I say that? Is it true? Yes, it's true. Let me ask you a question. Does God need my preaching? No. Does God need my exhortation? No. Does God need my counsel? No. Does God need my abilities? No. Well, how can I say that I'm ministering to the Lord?

[John Weaver] I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter 6, and look at verse 10. Hebrews chapter 6, and notice if you would please, verse 10. Notice carefully what the Scripture says. Look in Hebrews 6, verse 10. Are you there? I want you to see this now. Watch carefully. Hebrews 6 verse 10, For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister. Now, am I ministering to God this morning? Yes, I am. Does God need my preaching and teaching? No, He doesn't. Well, how am I ministering to Him? by ministering to His people, by ministering to His saints. You need the preaching. You need the counsel. You need the teaching. Do you realize the only way that we can really minister to Christ is by ministering to His people? May I remind you what our Lord said in Matthew 25 and verse 40.

[John Weaver] You know that passage where the sheep on the right, the goats on the left. And the sheep said, When saw we thee hungered, and fed thee, and thirsty, and gave thee water? When saw we sick and minister unto thee? When saw we thee imprisoned and ministered unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, help me out, you have done it unto me. How do we minister to God?

[John Weaver] By ministering to each other. God doesn't need anything we have. In fact, we wouldn't have anything if He didn't give it to us. You know, I get so tickled sometimes. Cows. You know, dumb, brute beasts. Yet, I go out there with that golf cart, and they'll come running. And they'll hear me banging around the food bin, and they come. You know, the Bible says the ox knoweth his crib and his stall. But then it says, my people doth not know, my people doth not consider. In other words, sometimes we're dumber than brute beasts.

[John Weaver] But the interesting thing is, occasionally, I'll feed a cow, and of course, all of them are protective of their feed, but I'll put the feed down, and occasionally, one of them will look at me, probably been irritated by that, and just kind of shake the head at me like that, Now wait a minute. If I didn't want you to have it, I never would have given it to you to begin with. Don't shake your head at me.

[John Weaver] Everything you got, I gave you. Do you realize everything we have and everything we are, God gave us, and if He didn't want us to have it, He wouldn't have given it to us to begin with. And so if we gave Him everything we had, we're not adding anything to Him because everything we had came from Him to begin with. William Secker said it like this, one of the old Puritans. He said, it is a greater glory to us that we are allowed to serve God than it is to Him that we offer Him that service.

[John Weaver] He is not rendered happy by us, but we are made happy by Him. He can do without such earthly service, but we cannot do without such a heavenly Master. He can do without us, but we can't do without Him. What I want to do is apply this same truth that I'm making concerning David to Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now watch what he said in verse 2. My soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, my Lord, my righteousness extendeth not to thee, but to the saints in all the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight.

[John Weaver] Now, not only did David not add anything to the Father, the perfection and beauty and merits of Jesus Christ added nothing to the Father. Now listen, here is a quote by Spurgeon. Spurgeon quoting and commenting on verses 2 and 3, he says this, My goodness extendeth not to thee. The work of our Lord Jesus was not needful on any account of any necessity in the divine being.

[John Weaver] Jehovah would have been inconceivably glorious had the human race perished and had no atonement been offered. Although the real work and death agony of the Son did reflect unparalleled luster upon every attribute of God, yet the most blessed and infinitely happy God stood in no need of the obedience and death of His Son. It was for our sakes that the work of redemption was undertaken, and not because of any lack or want on the part of the Most High.

[John Weaver] How modestly does the Savior estimate His own goodness! What overwhelming reasons have we for imitating His humility! If thou be righteous, says Job, what givest thou him, or what receivest he of thy hand?

[John Weaver] Now here's what Spurgeon is saying, here's what the Bible teaches. The most perfection of Jesus Christ, the obedience of Jesus Christ, everything that Christ did, every way that He honored God the Father, still added nothing to God. Well, who benefited from the work of Christ if it was not the Father? Well, there it is. Verse 2, My goodness extendeth not to thee, says Christ to the Father, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight." We are the ones who benefited from the person and work of Jesus Christ. You know what the Bible says in Isaiah 53 and verse 10? This verse refers to the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] And I want you to listen carefully. The Bible says, yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." Now wait a minute. Did you hear what I just said? The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands. What pleasure of the Lord is he talking about? The beginning of the verse, but it pleased the Lord to bruise him. In other words, the life, the death, the sufferings of the Lord will prosper in his hands. How will it prosper?

[John Weaver] Because he gives that to the saints who are in the earth. Doesn't add anything to God the Father, but it added something to us. His prosperity, was for our benefit. And you know what he did? He not only demonstrated his confidence in his prayer, he demonstrated his confidence in his prosperity because what God the Father ordained God the Son to do prospered in his hands.

[John Weaver] Now I want to make one application, just one. And this application is a quote. Listen to what Calvin said concerning Psalm 16, verses 1-3. He said, this is a prayer in which David commits himself to the protection of God. He does not, however, here implore the aid of God in some particular emergency, as he often does in other psalms, but he beseeches Him to show himself His protector during the whole course of his life. And indeed, our safety both in life and in death depends entirely upon our being under the protection of God. What follows concerning trust signifies much the same thing as if the Holy Spirit assured us by the mouth of David that God is ready to succor all of us provided we rely upon Him with a sure and steadfast faith. And He takes under His protection none but those who commit themselves to Him with their whole At the same time, we must be reminded that David, supported by this trust, continued firm and unmoved amidst all the storms of adversity with which he was buffeted.

[John Weaver] Now, here's what I'm trying to tell you. Here's what Calvin is saying. Just because we put our trust in the Lord and He preserves and protects us, does not mean that we'll never face storms. Does not mean that we'll never face trials. does not mean that we'll never have any troubles, but what it does mean is that God will preserve us and protect us through the storms, through the trials, through the troubles. Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. What a golden song. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask today for Your blessing, for Your grace, for Your help, Help us, Lord, to trust Thee as David did. Help us to trust Thee as Christ did. And may we say, preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. Lord, we ask Your blessing upon those here. We pray especially for Jane, Lord, and for Kathy, and for Harry and Monica, and for Tom and Gay, and for these that have been mentioned on the prayer list.

[John Weaver] We hold them up unto Thee. And help us, Lord, and help them. to trust Thee, and in through our Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen. Amen.

Psalm 16 The Golden Psalm Part 1 of 4

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	oGJEs9Yu0OQ
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations: Prepared Hearts
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-01-26
Dictation Name
Book	Book 159: Psalm 16 — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	85

Formatted Transcript

Opening

Psalm 16, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 16:1-11

"Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. O my soul, Thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord, my goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God. Their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. Thou maintainest my lot."

"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me because He is at my right hand. I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth. My flesh also shall rest in hope."

"For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life. In Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

Introduction: The Title 'Michtam of David'

Weaver discusses the meaning of 'Michtam,' noting scholarly debate but emphasizing the psalm's precious, golden nature and its focus on Christ.

Now, I want you to look at the title of this psalm. It is given to us right above verse 1. It says, "Michtam of David." "Michtam of David." Now, the message today, I've just entitled, "The Golden Psalm." Because this title, the "Michtam of David," is found first in Psalm 16, then it is found in Psalm 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60. But Psalm 16 is the very first occurrence of it. Scholars are divided as to the meaning of the word "Michtam." Some derive it from the Hebrew word "kethem," which seems to indicate a golden crest or a golden jewel. Other scholars seem to think that this is the beginning of a song, which at one time was very common.

Still others say that "Michtam" refers to a tune. But there was one scholar who pointed out that he believed the word actually meant to mark or to engrave and to denote that this song is worthy to be engraven or marked on a valuable and durable pillar. In fact, there was one scholar who said this, that it could be used as a sepulchral inscription, that is, a writing on a tombstone. He went on to say, "As a sepulchral inscription, it might have been written on our Redeemer's tomb as a triumphal monument." "It might have been sung by Him in the region of the departed spirits, and in either or in any sense, it may be well considered as a golden composition as apples of gold in a network of which occur, and the titles of psalms are often names of old melodies." So, the scholars are divided, basically, as to what the word "Michtam" means.

Now, one of the classic commentators is Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He's the preacher's preacher. But Spurgeon said this concerning Psalm 16. He says, "This is usually understood to mean the golden psalm. And such a title is most appropriate, for the matter is of most fine gold." Ainsworth calls it "David's Jewel, or Notable Song." Dr. Hawker, who is always alive to passages full of savor, devoutly cries, "Some have rendered it precious, others golden, and others precious jewels. And as the Holy Ghost, by the Apostles Peter and Paul, has shown us that it is all about the Lord Jesus Christ, what is here said of Him is precious, it's golden, it's a jewel indeed." So some then have referred to Psalm 16 as the psalm of the precious secret.

Now, scholars may be divided as to what the word "Michtam" actually means. But no Bible believer will deny that this psalm is important, it's relevant, and the subject matter concerns, of course, Jesus Christ. Matthew Henry, one of the old commentators said this, and I love just what he said in the opening line. He said, "This psalm has something of David in it, but much of Christ. This psalm has something of David in it, but much of Christ. It begins with such expressions of devotions as may be applied to Christ, but concludes with such confidence of a resurrection, and so timely one as to prevent corruption as must be applied to Christ, to Him only and cannot be understood of David as the Apostle Peter and Paul have observed." Now it is true that David wrote Psalm 16. And certainly there are applications in this Psalm that may refer to David. But the main applications in this Psalm would refer to the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And it might be accurately said that the whole Psalm reflects the life and leaning of Jesus Christ upon His Father.

New Testament Application to Christ

Peter and Paul apply Psalm 16:8-11 directly to Jesus Christ, confirming its messianic character.

Now, if you look in Psalm 16, beginning there with verse 8, look what it says, "I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth. My flesh also shall rest in hope, for Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life, in Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Now, I want you to hold Psalm 16, but turn over in your Bibles to Acts chapter 2, and let me show you first how Peter applies this passage directly to Christ. We'll come back to this passage later on in this study. We'll look in Acts chapter 2, beginning there with verse 25. Acts 2, verse 25, and here we have this quote. "For David speaketh concerning Him," that is Christ. "I foresaw the Lord always before my face. He is on my right hand that I should not be moved."

"Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad. Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope, because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and a sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne, he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses."

So what does Peter do in Acts chapter 2? He takes Psalm 16 verses 8 through 11 and applies it directly to Jesus Christ. Now, if you will turn over to Acts chapter 13 and look there beginning with verse 34. Acts 13 and verse 34. In fact, we can actually begin reading there with verse 33. Acts 13, verse 33. Paul is preaching and he says, "God has fulfilled the same unto us unto their children, in that he raised up Jesus again, as is also written in the second psalm, 'Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee.'" So he's quoting the second psalm there. "And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said, on this wise I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore, he saith also in another psalm," Psalm 16, "'Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.' For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on asleep," that is he died, "and was laid into his father's and saw corruption."

Scripture Reading — Acts 13:33-37

"But he whom God raised up again saw no corruption."

So once again, the Bible is applying Psalm 16 directly to Jesus Christ. No wonder it's called a golden psalm. No wonder it's called a precious jewel or the psalm of the precious secret. Because this psalm deals with the life, the leaning, the death, the resurrection, the ascension, and the glorification of Jesus Christ. And I like what the Bible says in Acts 2 in verse 25. Peter said it like this, "David speaketh concerning Him." In other words, everything that David was writing in Psalm 16 actually concerned Jesus Christ. Now, if you'll go back to Psalm 16, I want us to examine this Psalm under three simple heads.

Threefold Outline of Psalm 16

The psalm is divided into confession of trust (vv. 1-3), contentment of trust (vv. 4-7), and confidence of trust (vv. 8-11).

We're certainly not going to cover all three points today. In fact, we're only going to cover one point. But first of all, I want you to see that there is a confession of trust. And you're going to find that in verses 1 through 3. Secondly, there is the contentment of trust in verses 4 through 7. And then lastly, there's the confidence of trust in verses 8 through 11.

Now, our Lord is to be our supreme example in every way. We're not only to follow Him in reference to His obedience to the Father, we're also to follow Him in His trust to the Father. The next time you read through the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, I want you to take note of something. I want you to take note how often and how many times Jesus Christ refers to God as His Father. Let me give you an example. In Matthew 10, verses 32 and 33, our Lord says this, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father, who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him also will I deny before my Father who is in heaven." So Jesus Christ is referring to God as His Father. Now, I want you to take note of something. I want you to understand that since we are in Christ as Christians, as believers, God is not just simply our God. He is not just simply our Sovereign.

Confession of Trust in Prayer (v. 1)

David's prayer 'Preserve me, O God' expresses total trust in God as refuge, a plea that honors God and acknowledges His sovereignty.

He is not just simply our Lord and our Master. He is our Father. You know what our Lord said in John 20 and verse 17? He said to Mary, let me just quote it. He said, "Touch me not. For I am not yet ascended unto my Father, but go to my brethren and say unto them, I go unto my Father and to your Father, and to my God and to your God."

So Psalm 16 may apply directly to Jesus Christ, but we've got to remember that He is our example in all things. In fact, 1 Peter 2 and verse 21 tells us that Christ has

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:21

also suffered for us, leaving us an example that

we should likewise follow in His steps. So He's to be our example in all things. So first of all today, I want you to look at this confession of trust. David begins with this prayer, "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." Now we may take David's prayer for preservation as he fled from Saul and his numerous enemies. But his prayer here is a prayer that he would be preserved unto God's promised kingdom. Not just simply the kingdom that God promised David, but he's talking about that eternal kingdom. So you can say that in this prayer there is a temporal request and there is an eternal request. Yes, David wanted to be preserved until God elevated him to the throne where he could rule over Israel. But David also wanted to be preserved unto that eternal kingdom as well.

So there is a temporal and an eternal aspect to this request. Now, when he says, "preserve me, O God," the word "preserve" here is expressive of actions of someone watching over another person. For instance, guards who are attending to their king, guarding and protecting, or a shepherd watching over the flock, guarding and protecting the sheep. So David is saying, "preserve me, O God." In other words, he's saying, "guard me and protect me."

Now notice what he said. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." David is confessing that his trust is totally and completely in God. Let me just tell you, this is indeed a most powerful plea. I want you to think about this. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." It's not only a powerful plea, but this plea is extremely honoring and glorifying to God. Trusting in Him is one of the highest honors that we can give Him. Why? Because when we trust in God, we are recognizing His sovereignty, His grace, His mercy, His power, His goodness. And so when we trust in God, what we're actually doing is this. We're recognizing that God is on the throne, and in essence, we're acknowledging the crown is upon His head, that He is the rightful ruler of everything. And when we also say, "preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust," it not only places God where He ought to be, that is on His throne, it places us where we ought to be, at His feet, begging for mercy. So here's this prayer. Now the Hebrew word for trust is the word "chasah." It is translated as trust, or to make a refuge, or to have hope. When He says, "preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I trust," He's saying, "in Thee do I place my refuge, in Thee do I place my hope." So, the word trust now has the implication of someone fleeing to another for protection.

Let me just very quickly show you how this word is used up until Psalm 16, okay? Look in Psalm 5, and I'm just dealing with the book of Psalms right now, but look in Psalm 5 and verse 11. Now, I told you the word trust indicates that you're fleeing to someone for protection, for refuge, for a place of hope and safety. So in Psalm 5 and verse 11, notice what David says in this passage. Same word, trust.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 5:11

"But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice. Let them ever shout for joy because Thou what? Defendest them. Let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee."

Now what did David say? David said, "I'm putting my trust in You because You're defending me." In other words, I'm running to You for protection. Look in Psalm 7 and verse 1, "O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 7:1

"Save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me."

Wow! Very obviously, if David is fleeing to God as a place of refuge, as a place of hope, he's saying,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 7:1

"save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me."

I'm just trying to show you the word trust has the implication of fleeing to someone for help. Look in Psalm 9 and verse 10. Psalm 9 verse 10. David says, "And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee, for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee." In other words, Lord, You're not going to turn me away when I flee to You for protection. And then if you look in Psalm 11 and verse 1, "In the Lord put I my trust." "How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?" Why should I run? Why should I worry? Why should I be afraid when the Lord is my trust, my refuge, my hope? And then you look in Psalm 16 verse 1, he says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 7:1

"Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust."

So what is the prayer doing? It is a prayer for protection, it is a prayer that God would guard and sustain and preserve him in every possible way.

Now, I told you that certainly David wrote this psalm. And there are applications that could be made to David. That is true. But we've already seen in the New Testament that this psalm speaks particularly of Jesus Christ. So let me ask you a question. Did Jesus Christ trust the Father? And the answer is He trusted Him implicitly. Did Jesus Christ seek to be sustained, preserved, and protected by the Father? And the answer is yes. And He certainly was not disappointed.

Christ's Trust and the Father's Preservation

Jesus trusted the Father implicitly, and the Father preserved Him throughout His life, as seen in Isaiah 42 and Gospel accounts.

Now, I want you to hold Psalm 16, but I do want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 42. I want to read a passage and then I want to go to the New Testament and try to illustrate how Psalm 16 verse 1 applies to Jesus Christ. So if you look at Isaiah 42, this is indeed a messianic passage and you're going to see this passage of course applies to none other than Christ Himself, Isaiah 42. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. Isaiah 42, verse 1. Just so that you can see, this is Christ and Christ alone. God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 42:1-8

"Behold, My servant, whom I uphold, Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth. I have put My Spirit upon Him. He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for His law. Thus saith the Lord God, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out, He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it, He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein, I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness,"

talking about Christ,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 42:1-8

"and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant unto the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." "I am the Lord, that is My name, and My glory I will not give to another, neither My praise to graven images."

Now what is God saying in Isaiah 42? He says, "I've got My servant, Mine elect, My Messiah. I'm going to hold His hand. I'm going to," look what He says in verse 6,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 42:1-8

"I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness and will hold Thine hand and will keep Thee."

Would you like to know what the Hebrew word for keep means? It means to guard and protect and preserve and to watch over. What did the Father tell the Son? "I've chosen You to be the mediator. I've chosen You to be the God-man. I've chosen You to be the Lord, the Savior. And I'm going to hold Your hand and I am going to keep You."

Now the interesting thing, in Matthew 12 and verse 18, this passage in Isaiah 42 is applied directly to Christ. Because there it is said of Christ, "Behold My servant whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased, I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will show judgment unto the Gentiles." Luke says it just a little differently. In Luke 2 and verse 32, he says that He is to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of His people Israel. But Isaiah 42 is applied directly to Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 12:18

Now let's ask a question. Did the Father keep Christ? Did He preserve Him and protect Him? And the answer is yes. Do you remember the duplicity of Herod in Matthew chapter 2? Do you remember those wise men came and inquired concerning where Christ was to be born? And Herod, oh that old fox as Christ called him, when he found out that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. In Matthew 2 in verse 8, listen to this, "And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also." Did Herod really want to worship Christ? Oh no.

He wanted to kill him. He did not want any competition. And so the Bible says in Matthew 2 and verse 12, that those wise men being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their country another way. Well, I wonder who it was that was guarding and protecting the child. And do you remember a little bit later when Herod saw that these men had not obeyed him? And his plans had been foiled. Well, now he thought, "Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll make sure that I get the young child." So he sent to have all children, all male children, two years old and under, murdered. And the Bible says in Matthew 2 in verse 13,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:8, 12-13, 22

"And when they departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

I wonder who it was that sent Christ and Joseph and Mary down into Egypt. And you remember after Herod died, his son of course reigning instead. So Joseph and Mary decided they would come back into the land. And we're told in Matthew 2 and verse 22, "But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither, notwithstanding being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee."

What was God doing? Guarding, protecting, and keeping Christ, even as a child. When Christ matured, you remember after John baptized Him, He was led out in the wilderness and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, being tempted of the devil. But the Bible tells us in the book of Mark chapter 1 and verse 13, "And He was there in the wilderness 40 days, tempted of Satan, and was with the wild beast, and the angels ministered unto Him." Hmm, I wonder who sent those angels. I wonder who was guarding and protecting and preserving Him. And look in your Bibles. I want you to see this one. Look in Luke chapter 4. Look in Luke chapter 4. And let's begin reading there with verse 28. Luke 4 and verse 28. Jesus opens His ministry here in Nazareth. In fact, let's begin reading verse 22. This to me is so astounding. I've preached on this passage before, but look in Luke 4 and verse 22. "And all bare Him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth."

"And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?" Now watch this. Jesus Christ was teaching and preaching. And all these people said, "Oh, listen to Him. Isn't He wonderful? Isn't this marvelous? Isn't this right? Is not this Joseph's son?" Wait a minute. We raised this boy. He's one of us. Now watch this. They bear witness of the gracious words. Watch verse 23. "And He said unto them, Ye will surely say unto Me this proverb, Physician, heal Thyself."

"Whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Thy country. And He said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country." Now watch this. He said, "You're surely going to say to Me, 'Physician, heal Thyself.' What's there we've heard done in Capernaum do here in Your own country?" In other words, here's what they're saying. Now listen. They're saying, "Lord, whatever You've done over there in Alabama, You do for us here and more because we're Your hometown folks. We helped raise You." "You owe us." That was the implication. And look what He said. Now watch carefully. When He said in verse 24, "Verily I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country." He says, "But I tell you of a truth. Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land. But unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow," a woman outside of Israel. Watch verse 27. "And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them were cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian." Now, wait a minute.

What is our Lord saying? Look, folks. He said, "Let Me tell you something. There are many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, but none of them were taken care of except this one Zidonian woman. And she wasn't an Israelite. Many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha. None of them were healed but Naaman. And he was a Syrian." You know what our Lord was telling these people?

"I don't owe you anything. Anything you get from Me is grace. It is not justice. It is not merit. It is grace." And watch what happens. "When they heard this, and all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath." Isn't it amazing? It went from hearing His gracious words to being filled with wrath. "And they rose up and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill whereon the city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong. But He passing through the midst of them went His way."

I wonder who protected Him at that time. I wonder who kept that infuriated mob from killing Him. Well, of course, it was none other than the Father. I want you to look in John 7. Watch this.

Now remember, "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." Look at John 7. John 7, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — John 7:1, 30

"After these things Jesus walked in Galilee, for He would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill Him."

He walked in Galilee. He would not walk in Jewry. Why? Because the Jews sought to kill Him. Have you ever asked yourself this question? Out of all those Jews that were alive, you mean all of them together could not kill one man? They wanted Him dead, they wanted to kill Him, but they couldn't. And if you look in John 7 and verse 30, I want you to notice what the Bible says, John 7 and verse 30. "Then they sought to take Him." Here's another incident. "Then they sought to take Him, but no man laid hands on Him." Why? "Because His hour was not yet come." Now ask yourself this question. Who is protecting Christ? Who is preserving Christ? What did the Father say? "I'll hold Thy hand and I will keep Thee." All the Jews in the world could not kill Christ. Because Christ was being protected by God the Father. And if you look in your Bibles to John 12, just to show you, when it came time for Christ to die, He was more than willing to die. Look what He said in John 12 and verse 27, He said, "Now is My soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour, but for this cause came I into the world." Our Lord said, "I came to die. And I'm not going to say He saved Me from this death. I came to die. But He came to die in an appointed way, and an appointed time by the will of the Father, and there was not one finger going to be laid upon Him until that day, and that hour, and that time, and that manner of death."

We must remember that in Christ, and by the way, now listen, we are in Him. We are His body. In Christ, listen carefully, neither the assaults of Satan, the hatred of our enemies, the circumstances under which we live, the ignorance of truth by the multitudes, nor the powerful weapons of our enemies can destroy us before our time. Here it is, let me spell it out dogmatically. In Christ, we are immortal until the day that God has ordained that we die. We cannot be killed. We cannot be stopped because we are in Him.

Believers' Security in Christ

Because believers are in Christ, they share in His preservation; God protects them until their appointed time, as promised in Romans 8 and Jude.

Let me show you this. Look in your Bibles to Isaiah 54. You've got to see this promise. Look in Isaiah 54 and I want you to watch verse 17. Isaiah 54 verse 17. I don't know about you, but I sure want to learn to pray with David. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." But notice Isaiah 54 and notice verse 17. Look what God says. We're in Christ now. Look what He says. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn."

"This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." What is God saying? God is saying, "I'm able to protect you. I'm able to guard you and preserve you. Doesn't matter what man says. Doesn't matter what man does. Doesn't matter what they conspire to do. I am quite capable of taking care of you." Did God the Father preserve Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Jesus Christ through all the physical torture and the sufferings of the Romans which they inflicted upon Him? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him through the hatred and the enmity of the Jews? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him through the weight of sin that was imputed upon Him because of our sins? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him from death and corruption? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him into His heavenly kingdom? Yes, He did. He raised Him from the dead and Christ ascended and sat down on the right hand of God.

It was God who preserved and protected David. It was God who preserved and protected Christ. Now you say, "How does all this apply to me? What do I get out of this?" Well, thank you for asking. Look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. Watch carefully what the Bible says. Romans chapter 8, and let's begin reading there in verse 31. Remember, we are in Christ. Romans 8, look at it in verse 31. Here's what the Scripture says. "What shall we say then to these things?" Everything that Paul has mentioned from Romans 1 through chapter 8. "What then shall we say to these things?"

"If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Now let me ask you a question. If we are in Christ, if God be for us, who can be against us? What is He saying? Who can accomplish anything? The enemy may fight, the enemy may plan and scheme, the enemy may want to murder and destroy, but if God be for us, He's quite able to protect us and overthrow their plans and their schemes and their wicked desires.

And then He said, watch carefully, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Do you think that we are any less protected since we're in Christ? I just showed you what God the Father did for Christ. How He preserved Him and protected Him until His appointed time. If we're in Christ, and if God gave His only begotten Son for us, shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? Will He not give us protection? Will He not give us provision? Will He not give us His mercy? Of course He will!

And if you'll look in your Bibles to the book of Jude, right before the book of Revelation, the last two verses in the book of Jude, this is the icing on the cake. I want you to look what is written. In fact, I could point out verse 1. Let me read verse 1 first. Jude, verse 1. "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father and," what? "preserved in Jesus Christ and called." Now go to verse 24. Look how he praises God.

"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty and dominion and power both now and forever. Amen." Notice, "now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you blameless." I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good plan of protection to me. I think it's even better than Medicare and Medicaid. So here is the prayer. We see the trust in this prayer. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." Go back in your Bibles to Psalm 16, because I want you to look at verses 2 and 3. I want to tie these together. Look in Psalm 16, verse 1, "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust."

Confession of Trust in Prosperity (vv. 2-3)

David acknowledges that his goodness adds nothing to God's perfection; service to God is rendered by ministering to the saints.

"O my soul, Thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord. My goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight." In this passage, verses 2 and 3, we want to see his confession of trust in his prosperity. We saw his confession of trust in his prayer in verse 1. Now the confession of trust in his prosperity, and I chose the word prosperity for a reason, because it will aptly apply to David and to Christ. The Hebrew word "tov" is translated as good, prosperity, favor, wealth, and precious in our Bibles. But the word prosperity refers to all that we accomplish. You could point out an extremely rich man and you would say he's very prosperous. You could point out a farmer that had good crops. He may not necessarily be rich, but we could say he's prospering. You could look at someone with good health and say he's prospering. The word prosperity covers a lot. So I want you to look in verse 2. David says, "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord."

Now let me just stop right there. I want you to note what David says, "O my soul, thou hast said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord." Let me ask you a question. I want you to think hard about this question. Have you ever said in your spirit? Have you ever said in your soul, "O my Lord, Thou art my Lord"? That is, have you confessed Him in your spirit, in your soul? Not with just lip service, but has there been that in your life wherein the deepest and most part of your being, you said to the Lord, "O my Lord, Thou art my Lord"? There's a big difference between acknowledging Christ with your lips and acknowledging Christ with the very depth of your soul.

Do you realize one of the stinging complaints that God had against Israel of old is found in Isaiah 29 and verse 13? Let me just quote it for you. Listen to what God says. "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh to Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of man." What is God saying? It's all a ritual with them. It's all a sermon. They're just going, they're saying it with their mouth. They don't mean it. There's no depth. There's no emotion. There's no desire. They're just saying it. You know, it's easy to say with your mouth, "Jesus Christ is Lord." You remember what the word Lord means? It's the Greek word "kurios." It means boss, owner, master, sovereign. When you acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord, you're saying, "You are my sovereign."

You have the absolute right to tell me what to do, when to do, how to dress, how to act, how to speak, everything. You are my Lord. David said, "O my soul, thou hast said it to the Lord, Thou art my Lord." And so with David, it's not just lip service. With Christ, it was not lip service when He acknowledged God as His Father and as His God.

Now, look what he said in verse two. "O my soul, thou hast said it to the Lord, Thou art my Lord. My goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are in all the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight." Now in order to understand verses 2 and 3, you must in some degree grasp the doctrine of the perfection of God. God is not only the most absolute simple being, He is also the most perfect being. Since God is absolutely perfect, nothing can be added to Him. Since God is absolutely perfect, nothing can be taken from Him. If you can add something to God, He was not perfect before. If you can take something from God, if He was perfect, He is no longer perfect. When you talk about the perfection of God, you're saying that God is the most perfect being. Nothing can be added to Him. Nothing can be taken from Him.

Now, in light of that, let me tell you that God does have an inherent glory and God does have an external glory and they are two separate things. His inherent glory is absolutely perfect and is never affected by anyone, by what anyone does or does not do. Do you realize that God is perfectly content in and of Himself? Whatever we do cannot add to God's inherent glory. Let's suppose everyone in this room today stood up and with one mouth and one heart magnified God and praised Him and glorified Him. As great as that might be, that adds nothing to God. Let's suppose that everyone in this room stood up and with one voice cursed God and denied God. That does not detract one thing from God. God is still God. And He still is the most perfect being. So, regardless of what men do, the inherent glory of God is not affected.

Now, when we talk about people dishonoring God and failing to glorify God, we're talking about God's external glory. Now, watch this. There is nothing added to God. He is so perfect that sin cannot hurt Him, and He is so righteous that righteousness cannot benefit Him. So what is David saying in verse 2? David says, "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, my Lord, my goodness extendeth not unto Thee." You see, nothing can touch God. God's external glory may be glorified or despised by our actions, but none of that even affects God's inherent glory. And when you and I are concerned about God's glory, it's God's external glory that we're concerned about. And it is true that men may honor or dishonor His external glory, but that still does not affect His inherent internal glory.

Now, let me give you a quote before I develop this. I want you to listen carefully. Calvin said this in regards to Psalm 16, verses 2 and 3. He said, "David begins by stating that he can bestow nothing upon God, not only because God stands in no need of anything, but also because mortal man cannot merit the favor of God by any service which he can perform. At the same time, however, he, David, takes courage, and as God accepts our devotion and the service which we yield to Him, David protests that he will be one of His servants. The import of this language is, 'I am indeed fully convinced in my heart and know assuredly that God can derive no profit or advantage from me.'" "But notwithstanding this, I will join myself in fellowship with the saints, and with one accord we may worship Him by the sacrifice of praise." Two things are distinctly laid down in this verse. The first is that God has a right to require of us whatever He pleases, seeing we're wholly bound to Him as our rightful proprietor and Lord. David, by ascribing Him the power and dominion of the Lord, declares that both himself and all that he possessed are the property of God. The other, or particular, the second thing containing this verse is the acknowledgment which the psalmist makes of his own indigence or his own poverty.

So what is he saying? David is saying, "my goodness extendeth not to Thee." In other words, Lord, You don't need anything I have. And anything I do does not profit You or benefit You one iota. But nevertheless, in spite of that knowledge, I'm going to be Your servant. I'm going to serve You. I'm going to do my best to honor You and glorify You. Listen to me. David may have been a great man. He may have been a great warrior. He may have been a great saint. He may have ministered to God's people. He may have helped innumerable multitudes. Yet nothing he did added anything to God. God was already perfect. His prosperity did not extend to God.

Now, let me ask you a question. If you and I are required to honor God and to minister to God, and we are, how do we do it? How can I say today, that I am ministering to the Lord. How can I say that? Is it true? Yes, it's true. Let me ask you a question. Does God need my preaching? No. Does God need my exhortation? No. Does God need my counsel? No. Does God need my abilities? No. Well, how can I say that I'm ministering to the Lord?

I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter 6, and look at verse 10. Hebrews chapter 6, and notice if you would please, verse 10. Notice carefully what the Scripture says. Look in Hebrews 6, verse 10. Are you there? I want you to see this now. Watch carefully. Hebrews 6 verse 10, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister." Now, am I ministering to God this morning? Yes, I am. Does God need my preaching and teaching? No, He doesn't. Well, how am I ministering to Him? By ministering to His people, by ministering to His saints. You need the preaching. You need the counsel. You need the teaching. Do you realize the only way that we can really minister to Christ is by ministering to His people? May I remind you what our Lord said in Matthew 25 and verse 40.

You know that passage where the sheep on the right, the goats on the left. And the sheep said, "When saw we Thee hungered, and fed Thee, and thirsty, and gave Thee water? When saw we sick and minister unto Thee? When saw we Thee imprisoned and ministered unto Thee?" And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, help me out, you have done it unto Me." How do we minister to God? By ministering to each other. God doesn't need anything we have. In fact, we wouldn't have anything if He didn't give it to us. You know, I get so tickled sometimes. Cows. You know, dumb, brute beasts. Yet, I go out there with that golf cart, and they'll come running. And they'll hear me banging around the food bin, and they come. You know, the Bible says the ox knoweth his crib and his stall. But then it says, "My people doth not know, My people doth not consider." In other words, sometimes we're dumber than brute beasts.

Christ's Goodness Benefits the Saints

Christ's perfect work did not add to the Father but prospered for the benefit of believers, fulfilling Isaiah 53:10.

Now watch what he said in verse 2. "My soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, my Lord, my righteousness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints in all the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight." Now, not only did David not add anything to the Father, the perfection and beauty and merits of Jesus Christ added nothing to the Father. Now listen, here is a quote by Spurgeon. Spurgeon quoting and commenting on verses 2 and 3, he says this, "'My goodness extendeth not to Thee.' The work of our Lord Jesus was not needful on any account of any necessity in the divine being." "Jehovah would have been inconceivably glorious had the human race perished and had no atonement been offered. Although the real work and death agony of the Son did reflect unparalleled luster upon every attribute of God, yet the most blessed and infinitely happy God stood in no need of the obedience and death of His Son. It was for our sakes that the work of redemption was undertaken, and not because of any lack or want on the part of the Most High."

"How modestly does the Savior estimate His own goodness! What overwhelming reasons have we for imitating His humility! 'If thou be righteous,' says Job, 'what givest thou Him, or what receivest He of thy hand?'" Now here's what Spurgeon is saying, here's what the Bible teaches. The most perfection of Jesus Christ, the obedience of Jesus Christ, everything that Christ did, every way that He honored God the Father, still added nothing to God. Well, who benefited from the work of Christ if it was not the Father? Well, there it is. Verse 2, "My goodness extendeth not to Thee," says Christ to the Father, "but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all My delight." We are the ones who benefited from the person and work of Jesus Christ. You know what the Bible says in Isaiah 53 and verse 10? This verse refers to the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

And I want you to listen carefully. The Bible says, "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. He hath put Him to grief. When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand." Now wait a minute. Did you hear what I just said? "The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hands." What pleasure of the Lord is he talking about? The beginning of the verse, "but it pleased the Lord to bruise Him." In other words, the life, the death, the sufferings of the Lord will prosper in His hands. How will it prosper?

Because He gives that to the saints who are in the earth. Doesn't add anything to God the Father, but it added something to us. His prosperity was for our benefit. And you know what He did? He not only demonstrated His confidence in His prayer, He demonstrated His confidence in His prosperity because what God the Father ordained God the Son to do prospered in His hands.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Trust in God as Refuge

Summary: The psalm emphasizes fleeing to God for protection and placing one's hope entirely in Him.

Evidence: Weaver explains the Hebrew word 'chasah' (trust) as fleeing to someone for protection, citing Psalms 5, 7, 9, and 11.

Messianic Nature of Psalm 16

Summary: The psalm is directly applied to Jesus Christ by Peter and Paul, highlighting His life, death, resurrection, and glorification.

Evidence: Weaver reads Acts 2:25-32 and Acts 13:33-37, showing the New Testament's application of Psalm 16:8-11 to Christ.

Divine Preservation

Summary: God preserves and protects His people, as demonstrated in Christ's life and promised to believers.

Evidence: Weaver recounts how God protected Christ from Herod, in the wilderness, and from mobs, and cites Romans 8:31-32 and Jude 24.

God's Inherent Perfection

Summary: God's inherent glory is unaffected by human actions; nothing can be added to or taken from Him.

Evidence: Weaver teaches that God is the most perfect being, and our goodness does not extend to Him, citing Calvin's commentary.

Ministering to God through the Saints

Summary: Service to God is accomplished by ministering to His people, as Christ's work benefits believers.

Evidence: Weaver references Hebrews 6:10 and Matthew 25:40 to show that ministering to saints is ministering to God.

Key Arguments

Psalm 16 is a messianic psalm about Christ.

Summary: The New Testament explicitly applies Psalm 16:8-11 to Jesus, not merely to David.

Evidence: Weaver cites Acts 2:25-31 and Acts 13:34-37, where Peter and Paul quote Psalm 16 in reference to Christ's resurrection.

Trust in God is a powerful plea that honors Him.

Summary: Trusting God acknowledges His sovereignty and places us in proper humility before Him.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Trusting in Him is one of the highest honors that we can give Him... we're recognizing that God is on the throne.'

God preserved Christ throughout His earthly life.

Summary: The Father guarded Jesus from infancy to the cross, ensuring His mission was fulfilled at the appointed time.

Evidence: Weaver details events from Matthew 2, Luke 4, and John 7, showing divine protection until Christ's hour came.

Believers are immortal until God's ordained time.

Summary: In Christ, believers cannot be killed before their appointed day because God protects them.

Evidence: Weaver declares, 'In Christ, we are immortal until the day that God has ordained that we die.'

Human goodness adds nothing to God's perfection.

Summary: God's inherent glory is complete; our service benefits the saints, not God.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'My goodness extendeth not to Thee' means nothing we do profits God, citing Calvin and Spurgeon.

Scripture References

Psalm 16:1-11

Context: The entire psalm is read at the beginning of the sermon.

Acts 2:25-32

Context: Peter applies Psalm 16:8-11 to Christ's resurrection.

Acts 13:33-37

Context: Paul quotes Psalm 16:10 to prove Christ's resurrection and incorruption.

Matthew 10:32-33

Context: Jesus refers to God as His Father, illustrating His trust.

John 20:17

Context: Jesus speaks of 'my Father and your Father,' showing relational trust.

1 Peter 2:21

Context: Christ is our example in suffering and trust.

Psalm 5:11

Context: Used to illustrate the meaning of trust as fleeing for defense.

Psalm 7:1

Context: Shows trust as seeking deliverance from persecutors.

Psalm 9:10

Context: Trust is linked to God not forsaking those who seek Him.

Psalm 11:1

Context: Trust in the Lord eliminates fear.

Isaiah 42:1-8

Context: Messianic prophecy of God upholding His servant, applied to Christ.

Matthew 12:18

Context: Isaiah 42 applied to Christ.

Luke 2:32

Context: Christ as light to Gentiles, fulfilling Isaiah 42.

Matthew 2:8, 12-13, 22

Context: God's protection of the infant Christ from Herod.

Mark 1:13

Context: Angels ministered to Christ in the wilderness.

Luke 4:22-30

Context: Christ's preservation from an angry mob in Nazareth.

John 7:1, 30

Context: Jews sought to kill Jesus but could not because His hour had not come.

John 12:27

Context: Jesus acknowledges His appointed hour to die.

Isaiah 54:17

Context: Promise that no weapon formed against God's servants will prosper.

Romans 8:31-32

Context: If God is for us, no one can be against us; He will freely give us all things.

Historical References

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Context: Quoted as calling Psalm 16 'the golden psalm' and commenting on its preciousness.

Matthew Henry

Context: Cited for his comment that the psalm 'has something of David in it, but much of Christ.'

John Calvin

Context: Quoted extensively on Psalm 16:2-3 regarding God's perfection and David's trust.

William Secker

Context: Puritan quoted: 'It is a greater glory to us that we are allowed to serve God than it is to Him that we offer Him that service.'

Important Quotes

Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust.

Significance: The opening prayer of Psalm 16, which sets the theme of trust and divine preservation.

This psalm has something of David in it, but much of Christ.

Significance: Matthew Henry's summary of the psalm's dual application, emphasizing its messianic focus.

David speaketh concerning Him.

Significance: Peter's declaration in Acts 2:25 that David wrote Psalm 16 about Christ.

Trusting in Him is one of the highest honors that we can give Him.

Significance: Weaver's explanation of how trust glorifies God by acknowledging His sovereignty.

In Christ, we are immortal until the day that God has ordained that we die.

Significance: A bold statement of the believer's security under God's protection.

My goodness extendeth not to Thee.

Significance: David's confession that his prosperity adds nothing to God's perfection.

It is a greater glory to us that we are allowed to serve God than it is to Him that we offer Him that service.

Significance: William Secker's quote highlighting the privilege of serving God.

The work of our Lord Jesus was not needful on any account of any necessity in the divine being.

Significance: Spurgeon's comment that Christ's work did not fill a lack in God but benefited humanity.

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to trust God as a refuge, and how can we cultivate that trust in daily life?

Context: Based on the explanation of 'chasah' and the examples from Psalms 5, 7, 9, and 11.

How does the New Testament's application of Psalm 16 to Christ deepen our understanding of the psalm?

Context: Weaver shows Peter and Paul applying verses 8-11 to Jesus' resurrection.

In what ways did God the Father preserve Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry, and what does that teach us about God's protection?

Context: Examples from Matthew 2, Luke 4, and John 7 are given.

How should the truth that 'in Christ, we are immortal until God's ordained time' affect our response to trials and persecution?

Context: Weaver's statement and the promises in Romans 8 and Jude.

Why is it important to confess 'Thou art my Lord' from the soul and not just with lips?

Context: Discussion of Isaiah 29:13 and the depth of true confession.

How does understanding God's inherent perfection change our perspective on serving Him?

Context: Weaver explains that our goodness does not extend to God; He needs nothing from us.

What does it mean to minister to God by ministering to the saints, and how can we practice this?

Context: References to Hebrews 6:10 and Matthew 25:40.

How does Christ's example of trust and His prosperity benefiting us encourage us in our walk?

Context: Application of Psalm 16:2-3 to Christ and believers.

Applications

Pray for God's preservation with trust.

Summary: Believers should pray 'Preserve me, O God' with full confidence in His protection, following David's and Christ's example.

Evidence: Weaver emphasizes the prayer of verse 1 and its application to believers through Christ.

Rest in God's sovereign protection.

Summary: Because God preserves His people, we can face trials without fear, knowing we are immortal until His appointed time.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'In Christ, we are immortal until the day that God has ordained that we die,' citing Romans 8 and Jude.

Confess Christ as Lord from the heart.

Summary: True devotion requires acknowledging Christ's lordship with the soul, not mere lip service.

Evidence: Weaver contrasts David's heartfelt confession with Israel's hypocrisy in Isaiah 29:13.

Serve God by serving His people.

Summary: Since our goodness does not benefit God directly, we minister to Him by ministering to the saints.

Evidence: Weaver cites Hebrews 6:10 and Matthew 25:40 to show that service to believers is service to Christ.

Embrace humility in service.

Summary: Recognize that God needs nothing from us; our service is a privilege that benefits others, not God.

Evidence: Weaver quotes William Secker: 'It is a greater glory to us that we are allowed to serve God than it is to Him.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:15:40Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:51:38Z

Clean Transcript

Psalm 16 The Golden Psalm Part 1 of 4

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Psalm 16, verse 1. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. O my soul, Thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord, my goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God. Their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. Thou maintainest my lot."
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"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me because He is at my right hand. I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth. My flesh also shall rest in hope."
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"For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life. In Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."
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Now, I want you to look at the title of this psalm. It is given to us right above verse 1. It says, "Michtam of David." "Michtam of David."
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Now, the message today, I've just entitled, "The Golden Psalm." Because this title, the "Michtam of David," is found first in Psalm 16, then it is found in Psalm 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60. But Psalm 16 is the very first occurrence of it. Scholars are divided as to the meaning of the word "Michtam." Some derive it from the Hebrew word "kethem," which seems to indicate a golden crest or a golden jewel. Other scholars seem to think that this is the beginning of a song, which at one time was very common.
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Still others say that "Michtam" refers to a tune. But there was one scholar who pointed out that he believed the word actually meant to mark or to engrave and to denote that this song is worthy to be engraven or marked on a valuable and durable pillar. In fact, there was one scholar who said this, that it could be used as a sepulchral inscription, that is, a writing on a tombstone. He went on to say, "As a sepulchral inscription, it might have been written on our Redeemer's tomb as a triumphal monument."
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"It might have been sung by Him in the region of the departed spirits, and in either or in any sense, it may be well considered as a golden composition as apples of gold in a network of which occur, and the titles of psalms are often names of old melodies." So, the scholars are divided, basically, as to what the word "Michtam" means.
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Now, one of the classic commentators is Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He's the preacher's preacher. But Spurgeon said this concerning Psalm 16. He says, "This is usually understood to mean the golden psalm. And such a title is most appropriate, for the matter is of most fine gold." Ainsworth calls it "David's Jewel, or Notable Song." Dr. Hawker, who is always alive to passages full of savor, devoutly cries, "Some have rendered it precious, others golden, and others precious jewels. And as the Holy Ghost, by the Apostles Peter and Paul, has shown us that it is all about the Lord Jesus Christ, what is here said of Him is precious, it's golden, it's a jewel indeed." So some then have referred to Psalm 16 as the psalm of the precious secret.
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Now, scholars may be divided as to what the word "Michtam" actually means. But no Bible believer will deny that this psalm is important, it's relevant, and the subject matter concerns, of course, Jesus Christ. Matthew Henry, one of the old commentators said this, and I love just what he said in the opening line. He said, "This psalm has something of David in it, but much of Christ. This psalm has something of David in it, but much of Christ. It begins with such expressions of devotions as may be applied to Christ, but concludes with such confidence of a resurrection, and so timely one as to prevent corruption as must be applied to Christ, to Him only and cannot be understood of David as the Apostle Peter and Paul have observed." Now it is true that David wrote Psalm 16. And certainly there are applications in this Psalm that may refer to David. But the main applications in this Psalm would refer to the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And it might be accurately said that the whole Psalm reflects the life and leaning of Jesus Christ upon His Father.
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Now, if you look in Psalm 16, beginning there with verse 8, look what it says, "I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth. My flesh also shall rest in hope, for Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life, in Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Now, I want you to hold Psalm 16, but turn over in your Bibles to Acts chapter 2, and let me show you first how Peter applies this passage directly to Christ. We'll come back to this passage later on in this study. We'll look in Acts chapter 2, beginning there with verse 25. Acts 2, verse 25, and here we have this quote. "For David speaketh concerning Him," that is Christ. "I foresaw the Lord always before my face. He is on my right hand that I should not be moved."
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"Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad. Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope, because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and a sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne, he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses."
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So what does Peter do in Acts chapter 2? He takes Psalm 16 verses 8 through 11 and applies it directly to Jesus Christ. Now, if you will turn over to Acts chapter 13 and look there beginning with verse 34. Acts 13 and verse 34. In fact, we can actually begin reading there with verse 33. Acts 13, verse 33. Paul is preaching and he says, "God has fulfilled the same unto us unto their children, in that he raised up Jesus again, as is also written in the second psalm, 'Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee.'" So he's quoting the second psalm there. "And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said, on this wise I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore, he saith also in another psalm," Psalm 16, "'Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.' For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on asleep," that is he died, "and was laid into his father's and saw corruption."
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"But he whom God raised up again saw no corruption." So once again, the Bible is applying Psalm 16 directly to Jesus Christ. No wonder it's called a golden psalm. No wonder it's called a precious jewel or the psalm of the precious secret. Because this psalm deals with the life, the leaning, the death, the resurrection, the ascension, and the glorification of Jesus Christ. And I like what the Bible says in Acts 2 in verse 25. Peter said it like this, "David speaketh concerning Him." In other words, everything that David was writing in Psalm 16 actually concerned Jesus Christ. Now, if you'll go back to Psalm 16, I want us to examine this Psalm under three simple heads.
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We're certainly not going to cover all three points today. In fact, we're only going to cover one point. But first of all, I want you to see that there is a confession of trust. And you're going to find that in verses 1 through 3. Secondly, there is the contentment of trust in verses 4 through 7. And then lastly, there's the confidence of trust in verses 8 through 11.
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Now, our Lord is to be our supreme example in every way. We're not only to follow Him in reference to His obedience to the Father, we're also to follow Him in His trust to the Father. The next time you read through the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, I want you to take note of something. I want you to take note how often and how many times Jesus Christ refers to God as His Father. Let me give you an example. In Matthew 10, verses 32 and 33, our Lord says this, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father, who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him also will I deny before my Father who is in heaven." So Jesus Christ is referring to God as His Father. Now, I want you to take note of something. I want you to understand that since we are in Christ as Christians, as believers, God is not just simply our God. He is not just simply our Sovereign.
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He is not just simply our Lord and our Master. He is our Father. You know what our Lord said in John 20 and verse 17? He said to Mary, let me just quote it. He said, "Touch me not. For I am not yet ascended unto my Father, but go to my brethren and say unto them, I go unto my Father and to your Father, and to my God and to your God."
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So Psalm 16 may apply directly to Jesus Christ, but we've got to remember that He is our example in all things. In fact, 1 Peter 2 and verse 21 tells us that Christ has also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should likewise follow in His steps. So He's to be our example in all things. So first of all today, I want you to look at this confession of trust. David begins with this prayer, "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." Now we may take David's prayer for preservation as he fled from Saul and his numerous enemies. But his prayer here is a prayer that he would be preserved unto God's promised kingdom. Not just simply the kingdom that God promised David, but he's talking about that eternal kingdom. So you can say that in this prayer there is a temporal request and there is an eternal request. Yes, David wanted to be preserved until God elevated him to the throne where he could rule over Israel. But David also wanted to be preserved unto that eternal kingdom as well.
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So there is a temporal and an eternal aspect to this request. Now, when he says, "preserve me, O God," the word "preserve" here is expressive of actions of someone watching over another person. For instance, guards who are attending to their king, guarding and protecting, or a shepherd watching over the flock, guarding and protecting the sheep. So David is saying, "preserve me, O God." In other words, he's saying, "guard me and protect me."
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Now notice what he said. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." David is confessing that his trust is totally and completely in God. Let me just tell you, this is indeed a most powerful plea. I want you to think about this. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." It's not only a powerful plea, but this plea is extremely honoring and glorifying to God.
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Trusting in Him is one of the highest honors that we can give Him. Why? Because when we trust in God, we are recognizing His sovereignty, His grace, His mercy, His power, His goodness. And so when we trust in God, what we're actually doing is this. We're recognizing that God is on the throne, and in essence, we're acknowledging the crown is upon His head, that He is the rightful ruler of everything. And when we also say, "preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust," it not only places God where He ought to be, that is on His throne, it places us where we ought to be, at His feet, begging for mercy. So here's this prayer. Now the Hebrew word for trust is the word "chasah." It is translated as trust, or to make a refuge, or to have hope. When He says, "preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I trust," He's saying, "in Thee do I place my refuge, in Thee do I place my hope." So, the word trust now has the implication of someone fleeing to another for protection.
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Let me just very quickly show you how this word is used up until Psalm 16, okay? Look in Psalm 5, and I'm just dealing with the book of Psalms right now, but look in Psalm 5 and verse 11.
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Now, I told you the word trust indicates that you're fleeing to someone for protection, for refuge, for a place of hope and safety. So in Psalm 5 and verse 11, notice what David says in this passage. Same word, trust. "But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice. Let them ever shout for joy because Thou what? Defendest them. Let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee." Now what did David say? David said, "I'm putting my trust in You because You're defending me." In other words, I'm running to You for protection. Look in Psalm 7 and verse 1, "O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust."
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"Save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me." Wow! Very obviously, if David is fleeing to God as a place of refuge, as a place of hope, he's saying, "save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me." I'm just trying to show you the word trust has the implication of fleeing to someone for help. Look in Psalm 9 and verse 10. Psalm 9 verse 10. David says, "And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee, for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee." In other words, Lord, You're not going to turn me away when I flee to You for protection. And then if you look in Psalm 11 and verse 1, "In the Lord put I my trust."
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"How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?" Why should I run? Why should I worry? Why should I be afraid when the Lord is my trust, my refuge, my hope? And then you look in Psalm 16 verse 1, he says, "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." So what is the prayer doing? It is a prayer for protection, it is a prayer that God would guard and sustain and preserve him in every possible way.
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Now, I told you that certainly David wrote this psalm. And there are applications that could be made to David. That is true. But we've already seen in the New Testament that this psalm speaks particularly of Jesus Christ. So let me ask you a question. Did Jesus Christ trust the Father? And the answer is He trusted Him implicitly. Did Jesus Christ seek to be sustained, preserved, and protected by the Father? And the answer is yes. And He certainly was not disappointed.
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Now, I want you to hold Psalm 16, but I do want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 42. I want to read a passage and then I want to go to the New Testament and try to illustrate how Psalm 16 verse 1 applies to Jesus Christ. So if you look at Isaiah 42, this is indeed a messianic passage and you're going to see this passage of course applies to none other than Christ Himself, Isaiah 42. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. Isaiah 42, verse 1. Just so that you can see, this is Christ and Christ alone.
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God says, "Behold, My servant, whom I uphold, Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth. I have put My Spirit upon Him. He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for His law. Thus saith the Lord God, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out, He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it, He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein, I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness," talking about Christ, "and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant unto the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."
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"I am the Lord, that is My name, and My glory I will not give to another, neither My praise to graven images." Now what is God saying in Isaiah 42? He says, "I've got My servant, Mine elect, My Messiah. I'm going to hold His hand. I'm going to," look what He says in verse 6, "I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness and will hold Thine hand and will keep Thee." Would you like to know what the Hebrew word for keep means? It means to guard and protect and preserve and to watch over.
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What did the Father tell the Son? "I've chosen You to be the mediator. I've chosen You to be the God-man. I've chosen You to be the Lord, the Savior. And I'm going to hold Your hand and I am going to keep You."
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Now the interesting thing, in Matthew 12 and verse 18, this passage in Isaiah 42 is applied directly to Christ. Because there it is said of Christ, "Behold My servant whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased, I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will show judgment unto the Gentiles." Luke says it just a little differently. In Luke 2 and verse 32, he says that He is to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of His people Israel. But Isaiah 42 is applied directly to Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
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Now let's ask a question. Did the Father keep Christ? Did He preserve Him and protect Him? And the answer is yes. Do you remember the duplicity of Herod in Matthew chapter 2? Do you remember those wise men came and inquired concerning where Christ was to be born? And Herod, oh that old fox as Christ called him, when he found out that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. In Matthew 2 in verse 8, listen to this, "And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also." Did Herod really want to worship Christ? Oh no.
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He wanted to kill him. He did not want any competition. And so the Bible says in Matthew 2 and verse 12, that those wise men being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their country another way. Well, I wonder who it was that was guarding and protecting the child. And do you remember a little bit later when Herod saw that these men had not obeyed him?
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And his plans had been foiled. Well, now he thought, "Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll make sure that I get the young child." So he sent to have all children, all male children, two years old and under, murdered. And the Bible says in Matthew 2 in verse 13, "And when they departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." I wonder who it was that sent Christ and Joseph and Mary down into Egypt. And you remember after Herod died, his son of course reigning instead. So Joseph and Mary decided they would come back into the land. And we're told in Matthew 2 and verse 22, "But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither, notwithstanding being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee."
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What was God doing? Guarding, protecting, and keeping Christ, even as a child. When Christ matured, you remember after John baptized Him, He was led out in the wilderness and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, being tempted of the devil. But the Bible tells us in the book of Mark chapter 1 and verse 13, "And He was there in the wilderness 40 days, tempted of Satan, and was with the wild beast, and the angels ministered unto Him." Hmm, I wonder who sent those angels. I wonder who was guarding and protecting and preserving Him.
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And look in your Bibles. I want you to see this one. Look in Luke chapter 4. Look in Luke chapter 4. And let's begin reading there with verse 28. Luke 4 and verse 28. Jesus opens His ministry here in Nazareth. In fact, let's begin reading verse 22. This to me is so astounding. I've preached on this passage before, but look in Luke 4 and verse 22. "And all bare Him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth."
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"And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?" Now watch this. Jesus Christ was teaching and preaching. And all these people said, "Oh, listen to Him. Isn't He wonderful? Isn't this marvelous? Isn't this right? Is not this Joseph's son?" Wait a minute. We raised this boy. He's one of us. Now watch this. They bear witness of the gracious words. Watch verse 23. "And He said unto them, Ye will surely say unto Me this proverb, Physician, heal Thyself."
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"Whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Thy country. And He said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country." Now watch this. He said, "You're surely going to say to Me, 'Physician, heal Thyself.' What's there we've heard done in Capernaum do here in Your own country?" In other words, here's what they're saying. Now listen. They're saying, "Lord, whatever You've done over there in Alabama, You do for us here and more because we're Your hometown folks. We helped raise You."
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"You owe us." That was the implication. And look what He said. Now watch carefully. When He said in verse 24, "Verily I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country." He says, "But I tell you of a truth. Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land. But unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow," a woman outside of Israel. Watch verse 27. "And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them were cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian." Now, wait a minute.
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What is our Lord saying? Look, folks. He said, "Let Me tell you something. There are many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, but none of them were taken care of except this one Zidonian woman. And she wasn't an Israelite. Many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha. None of them were healed but Naaman. And he was a Syrian." You know what our Lord was telling these people?
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"I don't owe you anything. Anything you get from Me is grace. It is not justice. It is not merit. It is grace." And watch what happens. "When they heard this, and all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath." Isn't it amazing? It went from hearing His gracious words to being filled with wrath. "And they rose up and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill whereon the city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong. But He passing through the midst of them went His way."
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I wonder who protected Him at that time. I wonder who kept that infuriated mob from killing Him. Well, of course, it was none other than the Father. I want you to look in John 7. Watch this.
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Now remember, "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." Look at John 7. John 7, verse 1. "After these things Jesus walked in Galilee, for He would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill Him." He walked in Galilee. He would not walk in Jewry. Why? Because the Jews sought to kill Him. Have you ever asked yourself this question? Out of all those Jews that were alive, you mean all of them together could not kill one man? They wanted Him dead, they wanted to kill Him, but they couldn't. And if you look in John 7 and verse 30, I want you to notice what the Bible says, John 7 and verse 30. "Then they sought to take Him." Here's another incident. "Then they sought to take Him, but no man laid hands on Him." Why?
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"Because His hour was not yet come." Now ask yourself this question. Who is protecting Christ? Who is preserving Christ? What did the Father say? "I'll hold Thy hand and I will keep Thee." All the Jews in the world could not kill Christ. Because Christ was being protected by God the Father. And if you look in your Bibles to John 12, just to show you, when it came time for Christ to die, He was more than willing to die. Look what He said in John 12 and verse 27, He said, "Now is My soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour, but for this cause came I into the world." Our Lord said, "I came to die. And I'm not going to say He saved Me from this death. I came to die. But He came to die in an appointed way, and an appointed time by the will of the Father, and there was not one finger going to be laid upon Him until that day, and that hour, and that time, and that manner of death."
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We must remember that in Christ, and by the way, now listen, we are in Him. We are His body. In Christ, listen carefully, neither the assaults of Satan, the hatred of our enemies, the circumstances under which we live, the ignorance of truth by the multitudes, nor the powerful weapons of our enemies can destroy us before our time. Here it is, let me spell it out dogmatically. In Christ, we are immortal until the day that God has ordained that we die. We cannot be killed. We cannot be stopped because we are in Him.
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Let me show you this. Look in your Bibles to Isaiah 54. You've got to see this promise. Look in Isaiah 54 and I want you to watch verse 17. Isaiah 54 verse 17. I don't know about you, but I sure want to learn to pray with David. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." But notice Isaiah 54 and notice verse 17. Look what God says. We're in Christ now. Look what He says. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn."
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"This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." What is God saying? God is saying, "I'm able to protect you. I'm able to guard you and preserve you. Doesn't matter what man says. Doesn't matter what man does. Doesn't matter what they conspire to do. I am quite capable of taking care of you." Did God the Father preserve Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Jesus Christ through all the physical torture and the sufferings of the Romans which they inflicted upon Him? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him through the hatred and the enmity of the Jews? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him through the weight of sin that was imputed upon Him because of our sins? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him from death and corruption? Yes, He did. Did He preserve Him into His heavenly kingdom? Yes, He did. He raised Him from the dead and Christ ascended and sat down on the right hand of God.
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It was God who preserved and protected David. It was God who preserved and protected Christ.
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Now you say, "How does all this apply to me? What do I get out of this?" Well, thank you for asking. Look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. Watch carefully what the Bible says. Romans chapter 8, and let's begin reading there in verse 31. Remember, we are in Christ. Romans 8, look at it in verse 31. Here's what the Scripture says. "What shall we say then to these things?" Everything that Paul has mentioned from Romans 1 through chapter 8. "What then shall we say to these things?"
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"If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
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Now let me ask you a question. If we are in Christ, if God be for us, who can be against us? What is He saying? Who can accomplish anything? The enemy may fight, the enemy may plan and scheme, the enemy may want to murder and destroy, but if God be for us, He's quite able to protect us and overthrow their plans and their schemes and their wicked desires.
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And then He said, watch carefully, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Do you think that we are any less protected since we're in Christ? I just showed you what God the Father did for Christ. How He preserved Him and protected Him until His appointed time. If we're in Christ, and if God gave His only begotten Son for us, shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? Will He not give us protection? Will He not give us provision? Will He not give us His mercy? Of course He will!
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And if you'll look in your Bibles to the book of Jude, right before the book of Revelation, the last two verses in the book of Jude, this is the icing on the cake. I want you to look what is written. In fact, I could point out verse 1. Let me read verse 1 first. Jude, verse 1. "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father and," what? "preserved in Jesus Christ and called." Now go to verse 24. Look how he praises God.
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"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty and dominion and power both now and forever. Amen." Notice, "now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you blameless." I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good plan of protection to me.
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I think it's even better than Medicare and Medicaid. So here is the prayer. We see the trust in this prayer. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." Go back in your Bibles to Psalm 16, because I want you to look at verses 2 and 3. I want to tie these together. Look in Psalm 16, verse 1, "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust."
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"O my soul, Thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord. My goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight." In this passage, verses 2 and 3, we want to see his confession of trust in his prosperity. We saw his confession of trust in his prayer in verse 1. Now the confession of trust in his prosperity, and I chose the word prosperity for a reason, because it will aptly apply to David and to Christ. The Hebrew word "tov" is translated as good, prosperity, favor, wealth, and precious in our Bibles. But the word prosperity refers to all that we accomplish.
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You could point out an extremely rich man and you would say he's very prosperous. You could point out a farmer that had good crops. He may not necessarily be rich, but we could say he's prospering. You could look at someone with good health and say he's prospering. The word prosperity covers a lot. So I want you to look in verse 2. David says, "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord."
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Now let me just stop right there. I want you to note what David says, "O my soul, thou hast said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord." Let me ask you a question. I want you to think hard about this question. Have you ever said in your spirit? Have you ever said in your soul, "O my Lord, Thou art my Lord"? That is, have you confessed Him in your spirit, in your soul? Not with just lip service, but has there been that in your life wherein the deepest and most part of your being, you said to the Lord, "O my Lord, Thou art my Lord"? There's a big difference between acknowledging Christ with your lips and acknowledging Christ with the very depth of your soul.
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Do you realize one of the stinging complaints that God had against Israel of old is found in Isaiah 29 and verse 13? Let me just quote it for you. Listen to what God says. "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh to Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of man." What is God saying?
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It's all a ritual with them. It's all a sermon. They're just going, they're saying it with their mouth. They don't mean it. There's no depth. There's no emotion. There's no desire. They're just saying it. You know, it's easy to say with your mouth, "Jesus Christ is Lord." You remember what the word Lord means? It's the Greek word "kurios." It means boss, owner, master, sovereign. When you acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord, you're saying, "You are my sovereign."
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You have the absolute right to tell me what to do, when to do, how to dress, how to act, how to speak, everything. You are my Lord. David said, "O my soul, thou hast said it to the Lord, Thou art my Lord." And so with David, it's not just lip service. With Christ, it was not lip service when He acknowledged God as His Father and as His God.
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Now, look what he said in verse two. "O my soul, thou hast said it to the Lord, Thou art my Lord. My goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are in all the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight."
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Now in order to understand verses 2 and 3, you must in some degree grasp the doctrine of the perfection of God. God is not only the most absolute simple being, He is also the most perfect being. Since God is absolutely perfect, nothing can be added to Him. Since God is absolutely perfect, nothing can be taken from Him. If you can add something to God, He was not perfect before. If you can take something from God, if He was perfect, He is no longer perfect. When you talk about the perfection of God, you're saying that God is the most perfect being. Nothing can be added to Him. Nothing can be taken from Him.
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Now, in light of that, let me tell you that God does have an inherent glory and God does have an external glory and they are two separate things. His inherent glory is absolutely perfect and is never affected by anyone, by what anyone does or does not do. Do you realize that God is perfectly content in and of Himself? Whatever we do cannot add to God's inherent glory.
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Let's suppose everyone in this room today stood up and with one mouth and one heart magnified God and praised Him and glorified Him. As great as that might be, that adds nothing to God. Let's suppose that everyone in this room stood up and with one voice cursed God and denied God. That does not detract one thing from God. God is still God. And He still is the most perfect being. So, regardless of what men do, the inherent glory of God is not affected.
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Now, when we talk about people dishonoring God and failing to glorify God, we're talking about God's external glory. Now, watch this. There is nothing added to God. He is so perfect that sin cannot hurt Him, and He is so righteous that righteousness cannot benefit Him. So what is David saying in verse 2? David says, "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, my Lord, my goodness extendeth not unto Thee." You see, nothing can touch God. God's external glory may be glorified or despised by our actions, but none of that even affects God's inherent glory. And when you and I are concerned about God's glory, it's God's external glory that we're concerned about. And it is true that men may honor or dishonor His external glory, but that still does not affect His inherent internal glory.
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Now, let me give you a quote before I develop this. I want you to listen carefully. Calvin said this in regards to Psalm 16, verses 2 and 3. He said, "David begins by stating that he can bestow nothing upon God, not only because God stands in no need of anything, but also because mortal man cannot merit the favor of God by any service which he can perform. At the same time, however, he, David, takes courage, and as God accepts our devotion and the service which we yield to Him, David protests that he will be one of His servants. The import of this language is, 'I am indeed fully convinced in my heart and know assuredly that God can derive no profit or advantage from me.'"
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"But notwithstanding this, I will join myself in fellowship with the saints, and with one accord we may worship Him by the sacrifice of praise." Two things are distinctly laid down in this verse. The first is that God has a right to require of us whatever He pleases, seeing we're wholly bound to Him as our rightful proprietor and Lord. David, by ascribing Him the power and dominion of the Lord, declares that both himself and all that he possessed are the property of God. The other, or particular, the second thing containing this verse is the acknowledgment which the psalmist makes of his own indigence or his own poverty.
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So what is he saying? David is saying, "my goodness extendeth not to Thee." In other words, Lord, You don't need anything I have. And anything I do does not profit You or benefit You one iota. But nevertheless, in spite of that knowledge, I'm going to be Your servant. I'm going to serve You. I'm going to do my best to honor You and glorify You. Listen to me. David may have been a great man. He may have been a great warrior. He may have been a great saint. He may have ministered to God's people. He may have helped innumerable multitudes. Yet nothing he did added anything to God. God was already perfect. His prosperity did not extend to God.
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Now, let me ask you a question. If you and I are required to honor God and to minister to God, and we are, how do we do it? How can I say today, that I am ministering to the Lord. How can I say that? Is it true? Yes, it's true. Let me ask you a question. Does God need my preaching? No. Does God need my exhortation? No. Does God need my counsel? No. Does God need my abilities? No. Well, how can I say that I'm ministering to the Lord?
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I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter 6, and look at verse 10. Hebrews chapter 6, and notice if you would please, verse 10. Notice carefully what the Scripture says. Look in Hebrews 6, verse 10. Are you there? I want you to see this now. Watch carefully. Hebrews 6 verse 10, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister." Now, am I ministering to God this morning? Yes, I am. Does God need my preaching and teaching? No, He doesn't. Well, how am I ministering to Him? By ministering to His people, by ministering to His saints. You need the preaching. You need the counsel. You need the teaching. Do you realize the only way that we can really minister to Christ is by ministering to His people? May I remind you what our Lord said in Matthew 25 and verse 40.
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You know that passage where the sheep on the right, the goats on the left. And the sheep said, "When saw we Thee hungered, and fed Thee, and thirsty, and gave Thee water? When saw we sick and minister unto Thee? When saw we Thee imprisoned and ministered unto Thee?" And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, help me out, you have done it unto Me." How do we minister to God?
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By ministering to each other. God doesn't need anything we have. In fact, we wouldn't have anything if He didn't give it to us. You know, I get so tickled sometimes. Cows. You know, dumb, brute beasts. Yet, I go out there with that golf cart, and they'll come running. And they'll hear me banging around the food bin, and they come. You know, the Bible says the ox knoweth his crib and his stall. But then it says, "My people doth not know, My people doth not consider." In other words, sometimes we're dumber than brute beasts.
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But the interesting thing is, occasionally, I'll feed a cow, and of course, all of them are protective of their feed, but I'll put the feed down, and occasionally, one of them will look at me, probably been irritated by that, and just kind of shake the head at me like that. Now wait a minute. If I didn't want you to have it, I never would have given it to you to begin with. Don't shake your head at me.
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Everything you got, I gave you. Do you realize everything we have and everything we are, God gave us, and if He didn't want us to have it, He wouldn't have given it to us to begin with. And so if we gave Him everything we had, we're not adding anything to Him because everything we had came from Him to begin with. William Secker said it like this, one of the old Puritans. He said, "It is a greater glory to us that we are allowed to serve God than it is to Him that we offer Him that service."
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"He is not rendered happy by us, but we are made happy by Him. He can do without such earthly service, but we cannot do without such a heavenly Master. He can do without us, but we can't do without Him." What I want to do is apply this same truth that I'm making concerning David to Jesus Christ.
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Now watch what he said in verse 2. "My soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, my Lord, my righteousness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints in all the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight."
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Now, not only did David not add anything to the Father, the perfection and beauty and merits of Jesus Christ added nothing to the Father. Now listen, here is a quote by Spurgeon. Spurgeon quoting and commenting on verses 2 and 3, he says this, "'My goodness extendeth not to Thee.' The work of our Lord Jesus was not needful on any account of any necessity in the divine being."
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"Jehovah would have been inconceivably glorious had the human race perished and had no atonement been offered. Although the real work and death agony of the Son did reflect unparalleled luster upon every attribute of God, yet the most blessed and infinitely happy God stood in no need of the obedience and death of His Son. It was for our sakes that the work of redemption was undertaken, and not because of any lack or want on the part of the Most High."
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"How modestly does the Savior estimate His own goodness! What overwhelming reasons have we for imitating His humility! 'If thou be righteous,' says Job, 'what givest thou Him, or what receivest He of thy hand?'"
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Now here's what Spurgeon is saying, here's what the Bible teaches. The most perfection of Jesus Christ, the obedience of Jesus Christ, everything that Christ did, every way that He honored God the Father, still added nothing to God. Well, who benefited from the work of Christ if it was not the Father? Well, there it is. Verse 2, "My goodness extendeth not to Thee," says Christ to the Father, "but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all My delight." We are the ones who benefited from the person and work of Jesus Christ. You know what the Bible says in Isaiah 53 and verse 10? This verse refers to the sufferings of Jesus Christ.
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And I want you to listen carefully. The Bible says, "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. He hath put Him to grief. When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand." Now wait a minute. Did you hear what I just said? "The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hands." What pleasure of the Lord is he talking about? The beginning of the verse, "but it pleased the Lord to bruise Him." In other words, the life, the death, the sufferings of the Lord will prosper in His hands. How will it prosper?
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Because He gives that to the saints who are in the earth. Doesn't add anything to God the Father, but it added something to us. His prosperity was for our benefit. And you know what He did? He not only demonstrated His confidence in His prayer, He demonstrated His confidence in His prosperity because what God the Father ordained God the Son to do prospered in His hands.
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Now I want to make one application, just one. And this application is a quote. Listen to what Calvin said concerning Psalm 16, verses 1-3. He said, "This is a prayer in which David commits himself to the protection of God. He does not, however, here implore the aid of God in some particular emergency, as he often does in other psalms, but he beseeches Him to show Himself his protector during the whole course of his life. And indeed, our safety both in life and in death depends entirely upon our being under the protection of God. What follows concerning trust signifies much the same thing as if the Holy Spirit assured us by the mouth of David that God is ready to succor all of us provided we rely upon Him with a sure and steadfast faith. And He takes under His protection none but those who commit themselves to Him with their whole heart. At the same time, we must be reminded that David, supported by this trust, continued firm and unmoved amidst all the storms of adversity with which he was buffeted."
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Now, here's what I'm trying to tell you. Here's what Calvin is saying. Just because we put our trust in the Lord and He preserves and protects us, does not mean that we'll never face storms. Does not mean that we'll never face trials. Does not mean that we'll never have any troubles, but what it does mean is that God will preserve us and protect us through the storms, through the trials, through the troubles. "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." What a golden song. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask today for Your blessing, for Your grace, for Your help. Help us, Lord, to trust Thee as David did. Help us to trust Thee as Christ did. And may we say, "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." Lord, we ask Your blessing upon those here. We pray especially for Jane, Lord, and for Kathy, and for Harry and Monica, and for Tom and Gay, and for these that have been mentioned on the prayer list.
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We hold them up unto Thee. And help us, Lord, and help them to trust Thee, in and through our Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:15:40Z

Psalm 16 The Golden Psalm Part 1 of 4

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver introduces Psalm 16 as 'The Golden Psalm,' focusing on its title 'Michtam of David' and its messianic significance. He demonstrates from Acts 2 and 13 that the psalm speaks directly of Jesus Christ. The sermon covers the first point of a three-part outline: the confession of trust in verses 1-3. Weaver explains David's prayer for preservation, the meaning of trust as fleeing to God for refuge, and how this applies to Christ's life and the believer's security. He also expounds on the confession of trust in prosperity, showing that neither David's nor Christ's goodness adds to God's inherent perfection, but benefits the saints.

Opening

Psalm 16, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 16:1-11

"Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. O my soul, Thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord, my goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God. Their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. Thou maintainest my lot."

Introduction: The Title 'Michtam of David'

Weaver discusses the meaning of 'Michtam,' noting scholarly debate but emphasizing the psalm's precious, golden nature and its focus on Christ.

New Testament Application to Christ

Peter and Paul apply Psalm 16:8-11 directly to Jesus Christ, confirming its messianic character.

Scripture Reading — Acts 13:33-37

"But he whom God raised up again saw no corruption."

Threefold Outline of Psalm 16

The psalm is divided into confession of trust (vv. 1-3), contentment of trust (vv. 4-7), and confidence of trust (vv. 8-11).

Confession of Trust in Prayer (v. 1)

David's prayer 'Preserve me, O God' expresses total trust in God as refuge, a plea that honors God and acknowledges His sovereignty.

So Psalm 16 may apply directly to Jesus Christ, but we've got to remember that He is our example in all things. In fact, 1 Peter 2 and verse 21 tells us that Christ has

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:21

also suffered for us, leaving us an example that

Scripture Reading — Psalm 5:11

"But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice. Let them ever shout for joy because Thou what? Defendest them. Let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 7:1

"Save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me."

Wow! Very obviously, if David is fleeing to God as a place of refuge, as a place of hope, he's saying,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 7:1

"save me from all them that persecute me and deliver me."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 7:1

"Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust."

So what is the prayer doing? It is a prayer for protection, it is a prayer that God would guard and sustain and preserve him in every possible way.

Christ's Trust and the Father's Preservation

Jesus trusted the Father implicitly, and the Father preserved Him throughout His life, as seen in Isaiah 42 and Gospel accounts.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 42:1-8

"Behold, My servant, whom I uphold, Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth. I have put My Spirit upon Him. He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for His law. Thus saith the Lord God, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out, He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it, He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein, I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness,"

talking about Christ,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 42:1-8

"and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant unto the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." "I am the Lord, that is My name, and My glory I will not give to another, neither My praise to graven images."

Now what is God saying in Isaiah 42? He says, "I've got My servant, Mine elect, My Messiah. I'm going to hold His hand. I'm going to," look what He says in verse 6,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 42:1-8

"I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness and will hold Thine hand and will keep Thee."

Scripture Reading — Matthew 12:18

Now let's ask a question. Did the Father keep Christ? Did He preserve Him and protect Him? And the answer is yes. Do you remember the duplicity of Herod in Matthew chapter 2? Do you remember those wise men came and inquired concerning where Christ was to be born? And Herod, oh that old fox as Christ called him, when he found out that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. In Matthew 2 in verse 8, listen to this, "And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also." Did Herod really want to worship Christ? Oh no.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:8, 12-13, 22

"And when they departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

I wonder who protected Him at that time. I wonder who kept that infuriated mob from killing Him. Well, of course, it was none other than the Father. I want you to look in John 7. Watch this.

Now remember, "Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust." Look at John 7. John 7, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — John 7:1, 30

"After these things Jesus walked in Galilee, for He would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill Him."

Believers' Security in Christ

Because believers are in Christ, they share in His preservation; God protects them until their appointed time, as promised in Romans 8 and Jude.

Confession of Trust in Prosperity (vv. 2-3)

David acknowledges that his goodness adds nothing to God's perfection; service to God is rendered by ministering to the saints.

Christ's Goodness Benefits the Saints

Christ's perfect work did not add to the Father but prospered for the benefit of believers, fulfilling Isaiah 53:10.

Psalm 16 The Golden Psalm Part 1 of 4

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	oGJEs9Yu0OQ
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations: Prepared Hearts
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-01-26
Dictation Name
Book	Book 159: Psalm 16 — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	85

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Title 'Michtam of David': Weaver discusses the meaning of 'Michtam,' noting scholarly debate but emphasizing the psalm's precious, golden nature and its focus on Christ.
New Testament Application to Christ: Peter and Paul apply Psalm 16:8-11 directly to Jesus Christ, confirming its messianic character.
Threefold Outline of Psalm 16: The psalm is divided into confession of trust (vv. 1-3), contentment of trust (vv. 4-7), and confidence of trust (vv. 8-11).
Confession of Trust in Prayer (v. 1): David's prayer 'Preserve me, O God' expresses total trust in God as refuge, a plea that honors God and acknowledges His sovereignty.
Christ's Trust and the Father's Preservation: Jesus trusted the Father implicitly, and the Father preserved Him throughout His life, as seen in Isaiah 42 and Gospel accounts.
Believers' Security in Christ: Because believers are in Christ, they share in His preservation; God protects them until their appointed time, as promised in Romans 8 and Jude.
Confession of Trust in Prosperity (vv. 2-3): David acknowledges that his goodness adds nothing to God's perfection; service to God is rendered by ministering to the saints.
Christ's Goodness Benefits the Saints: Christ's perfect work did not add to the Father but prospered for the benefit of believers, fulfilling Isaiah 53:10.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Psalm 16 is a messianic psalm about Christ.

The New Testament explicitly applies Psalm 16:8-11 to Jesus, not merely to David.

Weaver cites Acts 2:25-31 and Acts 13:34-37, where Peter and Paul quote Psalm 16 in reference to Christ's resurrection.

Trust in God is a powerful plea that honors Him.

Trusting God acknowledges His sovereignty and places us in proper humility before Him.

Weaver states, 'Trusting in Him is one of the highest honors that we can give Him... we're recognizing that God is on the throne.'

God preserved Christ throughout His earthly life.

The Father guarded Jesus from infancy to the cross, ensuring His mission was fulfilled at the appointed time.

Weaver details events from Matthew 2, Luke 4, and John 7, showing divine protection until Christ's hour came.

Believers are immortal until God's ordained time.

In Christ, believers cannot be killed before their appointed day because God protects them.

Weaver declares, 'In Christ, we are immortal until the day that God has ordained that we die.'

Human goodness adds nothing to God's perfection.

God's inherent glory is complete; our service benefits the saints, not God.

Weaver explains, 'My goodness extendeth not to Thee' means nothing we do profits God, citing Calvin and Spurgeon.

Scripture References

Psalm 16:1-11: The entire psalm is read at the beginning of the sermon.
Acts 2:25-32: Peter applies Psalm 16:8-11 to Christ's resurrection.
Acts 13:33-37: Paul quotes Psalm 16:10 to prove Christ's resurrection and incorruption.
Matthew 10:32-33: Jesus refers to God as His Father, illustrating His trust.
John 20:17: Jesus speaks of 'my Father and your Father,' showing relational trust.
1 Peter 2:21: Christ is our example in suffering and trust.
Psalm 5:11: Used to illustrate the meaning of trust as fleeing for defense.
Psalm 7:1: Shows trust as seeking deliverance from persecutors.
Psalm 9:10: Trust is linked to God not forsaking those who seek Him.
Psalm 11:1: Trust in the Lord eliminates fear.
Isaiah 42:1-8: Messianic prophecy of God upholding His servant, applied to Christ.
Matthew 12:18: Isaiah 42 applied to Christ.
Luke 2:32: Christ as light to Gentiles, fulfilling Isaiah 42.
Matthew 2:8, 12-13, 22: God's protection of the infant Christ from Herod.
Mark 1:13: Angels ministered to Christ in the wilderness.
Luke 4:22-30: Christ's preservation from an angry mob in Nazareth.
John 7:1, 30: Jews sought to kill Jesus but could not because His hour had not come.
John 12:27: Jesus acknowledges His appointed hour to die.
Isaiah 54:17: Promise that no weapon formed against God's servants will prosper.
Romans 8:31-32: If God is for us, no one can be against us; He will freely give us all things.

Historical References

Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Quoted as calling Psalm 16 'the golden psalm' and commenting on its preciousness.
Matthew Henry: Cited for his comment that the psalm 'has something of David in it, but much of Christ.'
John Calvin: Quoted extensively on Psalm 16:2-3 regarding God's perfection and David's trust.
William Secker: Puritan quoted: 'It is a greater glory to us that we are allowed to serve God than it is to Him that we offer Him that service.'

Important Quotes

Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust.

The opening prayer of Psalm 16, which sets the theme of trust and divine preservation.

This psalm has something of David in it, but much of Christ.

Matthew Henry's summary of the psalm's dual application, emphasizing its messianic focus.

David speaketh concerning Him.

Peter's declaration in Acts 2:25 that David wrote Psalm 16 about Christ.

Trusting in Him is one of the highest honors that we can give Him.

Weaver's explanation of how trust glorifies God by acknowledging His sovereignty.

In Christ, we are immortal until the day that God has ordained that we die.

A bold statement of the believer's security under God's protection.

My goodness extendeth not to Thee.

David's confession that his prosperity adds nothing to God's perfection.

It is a greater glory to us that we are allowed to serve God than it is to Him that we offer Him that service.

William Secker's quote highlighting the privilege of serving God.

The work of our Lord Jesus was not needful on any account of any necessity in the divine being.

Spurgeon's comment that Christ's work did not fill a lack in God but benefited humanity.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What does it mean to trust God as a refuge, and how can we cultivate that trust in daily life?

[Context]

Based on the explanation of 'chasah' and the examples from Psalms 5, 7, 9, and 11.

[Question]

How does the New Testament's application of Psalm 16 to Christ deepen our understanding of the psalm?

[Context]

Weaver shows Peter and Paul applying verses 8-11 to Jesus' resurrection.

[Question]

In what ways did God the Father preserve Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry, and what does that teach us about God's protection?

[Context]

Examples from Matthew 2, Luke 4, and John 7 are given.

[Question]

How should the truth that 'in Christ, we are immortal until God's ordained time' affect our response to trials and persecution?

[Context]

Weaver's statement and the promises in Romans 8 and Jude.

[Question]

Why is it important to confess 'Thou art my Lord' from the soul and not just with lips?

[Context]

Discussion of Isaiah 29:13 and the depth of true confession.

[Question]

How does understanding God's inherent perfection change our perspective on serving Him?

[Context]

Weaver explains that our goodness does not extend to God; He needs nothing from us.

[Question]

What does it mean to minister to God by ministering to the saints, and how can we practice this?

[Context]

References to Hebrews 6:10 and Matthew 25:40.

[Question]

How does Christ's example of trust and His prosperity benefiting us encourage us in our walk?

[Context]

Application of Psalm 16:2-3 to Christ and believers.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:51:38Z