Messiah in the Psalms Havurah Study Guide Lesson 12 Psalm 16 At first reading, Psalm 16 appears to be a straightforward Psalm expressing trust in the Lord. And it is! Verse 10, which we will read later, is referenced twice in the New Covenant Scriptures. Reading Moody's Messianic Prophecy commentary, we realize that Psalm 16 is part of a pattern that we never saw previously. The claim is one we've mentioned repeatedly: The Book of Psalms was assembled in a specific order which ties themes together and point us to Messiah. As an introduction or as background from the Commentary we give this summary: Psalm 16 is part of a chiastic (X) structure which covers Psalms 15-24. In the chiastic grouping of these ten Psalms, we see similar language. Psalms 15 & 24 are Entrance Liturgy. (Compare 15:1-5 to 24:3-5 and note the similarities.) Psalms 16 & 23 are Songs of Trust. Psalms 17 & 22 are Prayers for Help. Psalms 18 & 20-21 are Royal Psalms. Psalm 19 is the center of the ten Psalms and praises the Creation and Torah. Read Psalm 16, a Mikhtan of David. v1 – This verse is both a prayer and a declaration of trust in the Lord. It is both an introduction and a summary of the Psalm. Psalm 23 expresses the same trust, and the hope we have in our Messiah. Time permitting, you may read Psalm 23, the first Messianic Psalm we studied. v2 – The Moody Bible Commentary says that English translations say, "I said," while Hebrew says, "You said". If the "you said" is correct, the Messiah is talking to the Father. In either case, we know that David speaks prophetically in many Psalms. If speaking for himself, we still can think of the greater Son of David speaking as well. "I have no good beside You." Read Mark 10:17-18. God is both good and the giver of all that is good, of all that has true value. Also compare Psalm 16:2 to 23:6. vv3-4 – Two groups of people are compared here. Who are the "saints of the earth"? In many verses, believers in Messiah are called saints. Read two examples: Romans 1:7 & 1 Corinthians 1:2. In what way are believers "majestic"? (Can you find a verse to support your answer?) The second group of people (v4) have sorrow. Why? Are they also majestic? Explain. vv5-6 – The Lord is the inheritance of the Psalmist, whether David or Messiah. Compare to the tribe of Levi. They received no land. What was their inheritance? v5 mentions his cup. A cup is also mentioned in 23:5. What does the cup represent in both Psalms? v6 speaks of lines. The commentary explains the lines as boundary lines. Why are these lines "pleasant"? Why is the Psalmist's heritage beautiful? vv7-8 – Two verses of praise and confidence! What does the speaker do? What is the result? What is the example here that we can follow? v9 – This seems to be a transition verse. The "therefore" at the beginning sends us back to verses 7-8. It gives us a conclusion to vv7-8. Do we experience the same conclusion? The final phrase of v9 speaks of security. The reasons for the speaker's security come in the following verses, vv10-11. vv10-11 – Do both King David and our Messiah have confidence? Is David's confidence justified, or is this verse only about our Messiah? Verse 10 is the basis for the Apostle Peter's first Holy Spirit-driven sermon on the day of Pentecost/Shavuot (Acts 2:31) and Apostle Paul's first quoted sermon on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:35-37). Read Acts 2:25-33 and 13:32-39. (NASB ends Psalm 16:10 with "pit" but the Hebrew can also mean "decay" which is in the NT verses.) Both apostles speak with great confidence! Why? In Psalm 17:15, David is confident of seeing God after he awakes. We understand this awakening as a reference to the resurrection. As David's resurrection is still future, this Psalm is Messianic. Compare v11 to Psalm 23:6; what are the similarities? What is our level of confidence and trust in the Lord? Are there changes we could make to have more confidence? .