Title: - "Michtam of David". Some look upon "Michtam" as being derived from a noun which means "gold", and they understand it as denoting a golden psalm - a psalm of surpassing excellence, and worthy of being written in letters of Gold. This was the opinion of our translators, and hence they have rendered it on the margin - "A Golden Psalm of David".
Andrew Bonar
| Verse 1. |
The Seeking of the Gold. The believer conscious of danger, trusting in God only for deliverance. |
| Verses 2-3. |
The Possessing of the Gold. The believer looking for justification to the righteousness of God alone, while maintaining personal holiness by companionship with the saints. |
| Verses 4-5. | The Testing of the Gold. The believer finding his present portion, and expecting his eternal inheritance in the Lord. |
| Verse 6 | The Prizing or Valuing of the Gold. The believer congratulating himself on the pleasantness of his dwelling and the goodness of his heritage. |
| Verses 7-8. | The Occupying of the Gold. The believer seeking instruction from the counsels of the Lord by night, and realising His promise by day. |
| Verses 9-10 | The Summing or Reckoning of the Gold. The believer rejoicing and praising God for the promise of the rest in hope and resurrection into glory. |
| Verse 11. | The Perfecting of the Gold. The believer realising at God's right hand the fulness of joy and the pleasures for evermore. |
Canon Dale
Verses 2-3. "… My goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth…" "My well-doing extendeth not to thee". Oh, what shall I render unto Thee, my God, for all Thy benefits towards me? What shall I repay? Alas, I can do Thee no good, for mine imperfect goodness cannot pleasure Thee who art most perfect and goodness itself. Wherefore I will join myself to Thy people, that whatsoever I have they may profit by it.
R. Greenham
Verses 2-3. " … My goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints". God hath left his poor saints to receive the rents we owe unto Him for His mercies. An ingenuous guest, though his friend will take nothing for his entertainment, yet, to show his thankfulness, will give something to the servants.
William Gurnall
Verse 5. "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance …" When Basil the Great was offered many things by the Emperor Valens, so that he might deny Christ, he replied to the bribes – "Offer these things to children, I regard them not". When the Emperor then threatened him, he replied "He who has but a few books and a wretched garment can suffer nothing from confiscation … Put me to death and you do me a favour, for you send me early to my rest". "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance".
Verse 6. "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places". Probably alluding to the division of the land by lot, and the measuring of it by ropes and lines. David believed in an over-ruling destiny which fixed the bounds of his abode, and his possessions; he did more, he was satisfied with all the appointments of the predestinating God.
C.H. Spurgeon
Verse 8. "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved". Of ourselves we stand not at any time, by His power we may overcome at all times. And when we are sorest assaulted He is ever ready at our right hand to support and stay us that we shall not fall. He hath well begun and shall happily go forward in His work, for true grace well planted in the heart, how weak soever, shall hold out for ever.
John Ball
Verse 11. "Thou will show me the path of life …" In this verse are four things: (1) A Guide – "THOU wilt show me the path of life." (2) A Traveller– "Thou wilt show ME the path of life". (3) A Way – "Thou wilt show me THE PATH of life". (4) An End – "Thou wilt show me the path of LIFE".
The guide is but one; the traveller one; the way one; the life the only one. To meditate well on this is to bring all together; and at last make them all but one.
William Austin
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 16The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 51 – placed on line November 2004 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |