Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” (Psalm 16:1-2)
In most Bibles there is a heading above many of the psalms, this being one of them. This psalm is A Michtam of David which is to say it was a particular musical arrangement intended to set it apart from other musical compositions in terms of style. Jewish commentators take it one step further and suggest that the word michtam can be rendered as two words — makh, which is “humble” and tam translated as “innocent.” So then it is suggested that David wished for this psalm to be an offering of thankfulness to God, expressed musically and lyrically, with genuine humility.
Even though he was king, he had not lost touch with the innocence and humility of the lowly shepherd upon whom God had bestowed so many blessings. And so, David speaks to his soul, so it seems, to remind and reaffirm that his trust and confidence is placed solely in the LORD. Furthermore he acknowledged that, without the LORD, he was nothing: he would never have overcome Goliath, survived Saul’s attacks and become Israel’s monarch were it not for the LORD. In other words, for all his positive attributes and strengths, standing on their own would never have been enough to bring him into his destiny hence the statement, “my goodness is nothing apart from You.”
Far too many people in this world, good and evil, seduce themselves into thinking that their own strength, talent and personality is what brought them wealth, power and blessing. But shouldn’t they first consider where those strengths and talents came from? So then, for those who might think that their own power and might has brought them success, God says He is the One who gives strength to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). This truth, supported by the words of David, stands solidly against the notion that we succeed on our own. And if there is any lingering doubt, let us remember the words of Messiah who said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Therefore, let us be as David — people who realize that He alone preserves, protects and prospers but, in Him, we can do all things because He strengthens us.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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