“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” (Psalm 16:9-10)
Today’s passage is true on three levels:
1) While writing this, David was likely in some kind of danger. But he rejected anxiety because he was convinced God would save him. He chose to sleep soundly, trusting God to keep him safe in spite of his scary circumstances. He was even happy and singing!
2) Both Peter and Paul quote these verses in the book of Acts (Acts 2:25-28 and 13:35-37), and both show how David’s words pointed ahead to his descendent, Jesus, the ultimate Holy One. They explained that David’s words rightly predicted that Jesus would not rot away in a tomb but come back to life instead.
3) All Christians can claim these words, in a sense. We may die physically, but God will not let death keep us rotting in the ground, either. As his saints, his “holy ones,” we will be resurrected, too, just as he was. (See 1 Corinthians 15:22.)
Think: Does knowing that God is with you in hard times – and that he will ultimately keep you safe forever – help you to have a glad heart and happy tongue? Why or why not?
Pray: Thank God that he was able to keep David safe, that he raised Jesus back to life, and that he has given you eternal life, as well. Ask him to help you to be happy about that.
Do: If you haven’t, yet, read how Peter explained these verses in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost.