NOTES for Psa 16

The Lord does not need our earthly goods, for He Himself is their giver; we can offer Him nothing that is not His creation. But He needs our faithfulness and the devotion of our hearts. Therefore, turning to foreign gods is pointless, and even repeating their names is pointless. The psalmist, however, calls the Lord his allotted portion and his cup. This image, reflecting ancient ideas, sounds unusual to the modern ear, but it reminds us of the cup that the faithful will receive in remembrance of the Last Supper.

Recognizing that the Lord is the true giver of earthly goods, the psalmist thanks Him not only for them and for His care, shown time and again. He is no less grateful to the Lord for instruction and for repeatedly revealing the right paths. Finally, the psalm expresses hope not only for life in harmony with Him on earth, but also for deliverance from death and hell. The fullness of life and the fullness of joy are all found in the Lord, and He does not close the way to them to anyone.