Psalm 16:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

NIV: I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

NASB: I said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides You.'

CSB: I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you."

NLT: I said to the Lord, 'You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.'

KJV: O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

NKJV: O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”

This records part of David's prayer. He confesses that God is his Lord. He has a personal relationship with the Lord. His faith is anchored in God. He also states that the Lord is his sole good. In comparison to God, nothing in David's life was good, and apart from God, nothing was comparatively good in David. James assures us, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17). The believer can acknowledge what David acknowledges in Psalm 23:6: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."

Whoever thinks he is good apart from a personal relationship with the Lord is mistaken. Romans 3:12 states, "All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." It is possible to appear good in the sight of humans, but it is impossible to appear good in the eyes of the Lord without a personal relationship with Him.

Psalm 16:1–4 rejoices in the Lord's protection. David asks God to keep him secure, and he tells the Lord he has nothing good apart from Him. David delights in the fellowship he enjoys with other believers. In contrast, he is determined not to associate with idolaters. David is certain that those who worship false gods will encounter an increasing number of sorrows.

David asks the Lord for protection, trusting in God as a safe place from enemies and evil. He confesses that apart from the Lord he has nothing good. This psalm exudes David's joy, using words such as "delight," "pleasant," "glad," "rejoices," "joy," and "pleasures." David celebrates his relationship with God. Because the Lord is with him always, David feels secure, even in the face of death. This is because his eternal destiny is assured. His celebration foreshadows the Messiah, who would conquer death and experience resurrection.

This psalm belongs with those expressing David's confidence in the Lord. Despite opposition, David knew God was guiding and protecting him. The psalm exudes joy as David places his trust in the Lord. Perhaps David wrote these words after the Lord gave His covenant to David (2 Samuel 7:1–17) and guaranteed David would have an everlasting throne. A phrase in verse 10 is often cited in the New Testament when discussing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/21/2024 7:16:02 AM