A Golden Psalm

It hasn’t been for lack of words or thoughts that I’ve not written for many months, but lack of time and discipline. Today this became a priority. God called me to sit still and write. And so I wrote and then God made it clear to me why I needed to do this now. So we’ll begin with Psalm 16.

Why Psalm 16? Because God has drawn me to this particular Psalm. Over the last many months I found myself going to Psalm 16 while reading the Bible on my iPod and as the verses became precious to me I highlighted them. Over time, nearly the entire Psalm was highlighted. Interestingly, when I referred to Matthew Henry’s commentary just a few days ago, I found that this Psalm is a Mitkim which means golden Psalm. I smile thinking about this since I have highlighted the verses golden yellow.

Something else I found interesting is how the Psalm reads very differently in the King James Version than it reads in the English Standard Version. It’s not that the meaning is really different but that it shows how easily we are affected by our understanding of words. This is actually beneficial for the meaning is much richer when both translations are read.

As I mentioned before, God made it clear why I needed to write now. The answers lies in the first verse. I will share more the next time I write.

May God bless you as you read and ponder on this wonderful Golden Psalm.


Psalm 16 KJV
1Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
3But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
4Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
5The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.


This psalm is entitled Michtam, which some translate a golden psalm, a very precious one, more to be valued by us than gold, yea, than much fine gold, because it speaks so plainly of Christ and his resurrection, who is the true treasure hidden in the field of the Old Testament. Matthew Henry


Psalm 16 ESV
A Miktam of David.
1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is )fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.