His Holy One Did Not See Decay! (Psalm 16)

CONSIDER THIS

Today’s post is from A Meditative Journey Through the Psalms by Timothy and Julie Tennent. He holds the Methodist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School and served as president of Asbury Theological Seminary for fifteen years. She is a gifted musician and was one of the driving forces that helped bring to fruition the Seedbed hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise. We will share some of their writing on the Psalms on Sundays.

The Psalms have always been the prayer book for the people of God. The Psalms not only give voice to the prayers and meditations of God’s people, but they connect us to the whole of biblical revelation. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the first recorded public proclamation of the gospel occurs in Acts 2 when Peter, standing with the other apostles, addresses the crowd. Only a few weeks earlier they were in fear behind locked doors. Now they are publicly declaring the resurrection of Jesus. In his sermon, Peter quotes Psalm 16:8–11, which gives the promise that God will not “abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay” (v. 10). Peter declares that if the psalm were only referring to a promise made to David, then why were David’s bones in decay and the place of his tomb so well-known? (Acts 2:25–32). The answer is that the psalm was speaking prophetically about Jesus Christ, who never suffered decay but was raised from the dead on the third day! He is the risen Lord! He is the firstfruits of the general resurrection that will someday come to us all.

Because Jesus Christ is risen, not only is his death on the cross vindicated as God’s plan of salvation, but we have the assurance that in the end we too will be resurrected from death. Christ’s death and resurrection are what has made known “the path of life” (v. 11). It is the empty tomb that finally fulfills this psalm, granting us joy in his presence and eternal pleasures at his right hand, where Jesus Christ is seated in glory. This is why the entire gospel is summarized in what is known as the great paschal greeting: “Christ is risen!” with the reply, “He is risen indeed!”

For the Awakening,
Timothy and Julie Tennent

THE HYMN

Sing Psalm 16 with the Seedbed Psalter today. We suggest the tune TERRA BEATA (“This Is My Father’s World”) for vv. 1–6; and tune DIADEMATA (“Crown Him with Many Crowns”) for vv. 7–11. You can hear the tunes played online by Julie here and here, respectively. If you listen to the podcast audio version, we will sing the psalm using these tunes. For your convenience, the words from the Psalter are printed below.

1   O keep me safe, my God—I take refuge in Thee.
2   I said to God, “You are my Lord; I have no good but Thee.”
3   As for Your saints on earth, they are the glo-rious ones;
The godly who are my delight—Your daughters and Your sons.

4   Those who seek other gods, their sorrows will increase,
For chasing after emptiness will never bring them peace.
I will not join with them, blood offerings to make;
The names of idols, empty gods, on my lips I’ll not take.

5   The LORD‘s my portion and my cup, my sure defense;
For You have made my lot secure – You’re my inheritance.
6   The bound’ries of my life have fallen pleasantly;
My heritage, my sure repose, is beautiful to me.

7   I’ll praise and bless the LORD who has instructed me;
Indeed, my heart and mind all night do counsel give to me.
8   For I have set the LORD before me e’er to stand;
And I will never shaken be, for He’s at my right hand.

9   Therefore, my heart is glad, my spirit does rejoice;
My flesh will also dwell secure, and I’ll lift up my voice.
10   You won’t abandon me to death and the grave’s sway;
You won’t allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

11   You have made known to me the path of life, the Way;
For in Your presence there is joy in all its full array.
At Your right hand are found both joy and pleasures’ store;
For in Your presence, at Your hand, are pleasures evermore.