Resurrection

Psalm 16:1-11

It is often the case with Old Testament literature, such as the Psalms, that the author writes something pertinent to their current situation but containing echoes of truths which only become fully clear much later. Psalm 16 is such an example.

Written by David as an acknowledgment of the protection, security and blessing of the Lord, he talks about how he has prioritised and pursued God as his Lord. This leads to the wonderful juxtaposition of the two phrases in verse 8:

‘I have set the Lord continually before me;

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken’.

We know that David was far from perfect but this verse gives an overall summary of his life: he sought the Lord and the Lord was with him. He continues in v11 to describe his belief that seeking and finding God’s presence is something that would continue throughout this life AND forever (v11).

However, this leads to a conundrum. Given the limitations of the human body and the certainty of physical death, how can someone live on into eternity? David has a firm belief that God is capable of arranging this and will do so: ‘For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will you allow Your Holy One to undergo decay’. (v10). David is convinced that even in death he will not be separated from God. He is certain that God’s pleasures are forever despite his physical frailty.

In this Psalm it is God’s Holy One who is not abandoned to death. In the New Testament we read that Jesus was not allowed to suffer decay. Instead, He was rescued from death, raised to life and resurrected for glory. Peter, in his monumental Pentecost sermon, proclaimed that it was impossible for Jesus to be held in the power of death before quoting this Psalm (see Acts 2:24-28) and saying that David, ‘looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ’ (v31). Paul, too, quotes Psalm 16:10 before saying, ‘but He whom God raised did not undergo decay’ (Acts 13:35-37). This Psalm is clearly important in the message of the early church.

The idea of a man who whose body would not simply decay in the ground is a revelation of the highest order and points us inexorably to Jesus who was ‘raised on the third day according to the Scriptures’ (1 Corinthians 15:4). And ‘if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.’ (Romans 8:11)

This applies to us too. We can have a share in that resurrection!

Further reading:         Acts 2:14-42

Worship Video:

To think about:
God says he will never leave us but have there been times when you thought you had been abandoned by God? How did you find out that you hadn’t been abandoned?

Creative response:

Photo by Bernice

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