Psalms 16:1

“Preserve me, O God, etc.] Prayer is proper to Christ as man; he offered up many prayers and supplications to Cost, even his Father, and his God, and as the strong and mighty God, as the word f232 here used is commonly rendered by interpreters; with whom, all things are possible, and who is able to save; (see <580507>Hebrews 5:7 <420612>Luke 6:12 <402639>Matthew 26:39,42,44 <431701>John 17:1); and this petition for preservation was suitable to him and his case, and was heard and answered by God; he was very remarkably preserved in his infancy from the rage and fury of Herod; and very wonderfully was his body preserved and supported in the wilderness under a fast of forty days and forty nights…”

“Michtam, or, by the change of one letter, Michtab--a "writing," such as a poem or song (compare Isa 38:9). Such a change of the letter m for b was not unusual. The position of this word in connection with the author's name, being that usually occupied by some term, such as Psalm or song, denoting the style or matter of the composition, favors this view of its meaning, though we know not why this and Psalms 56-60 should be specially, called "a writing." "A golden (Psalm)," or "a memorial" are explanations proposed by some--neither of which, however applicable here, appears adapted to the other Psalms where the term occurs. According to Peter (Act 2:25) and Paul (Act 13:35), this Psalm relates…”

“Preserve me, O God - Keep me; guard me; save me. This language implies that there was imminent danger of some kind - perhaps, as the subsequent part of the psalm would seem to indicate, danger of death. See Psalms 16:8-10. The idea here is, that God was able to preserve him from the impending danger, and that he might hope he would do it. For in thee do I put my trust - That is, my hope is in thee. He had no other reliance than God; but he had confidence in him - he felt assured that there was safety there. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Ps 16 In this psalm of confidence, the poet moves quickly from a short petition (16:1), to expressions of passionate commitment to God and his people (16:2-6), to a conclusion of confident praise (16:7-11). 16:1 The psalmist feels safe because the Lord alone offers security (16:5-6), guidance (16:7-8), and the joy of his presence (16:9-11).”

“Preserve: Psa 17:5, Psa 17:8, Psa 31:23, Psa 37:28, Psa 97:10, Psa 116:6; Pro 2:8 for: Psa 9:10, Psa 22:8, Psa 25:20, Psa 84:12, Psa 125:1, Psa 146:5; Isa 26:3, Isa 26:4; Jer 17:7, Jer 17:8; Co2 1:9; Ti2 1:12 Psalms 16:2”

“The Psalm begins with a prayer that is based upon faith, the special meaning of which becomes clear from Psa 16:10 : May God preserve him (which He is able to do as being אל, the Almighty, able to do all things), who has no other refuge in which he has hidden and will hide but Him. This short introit is excepted from the parallelism; so far therefore it is monostichic, - a sigh expressing everything in few words. And the emphatic pronunciation שׁמרני shāmereni harmonises with it; for it is to be read thus, just as in Psa 86:2; Psa 119:167 shāmerah (cf. on Isa 38:14 עשׁקה), according to the express testimony of the Masora. (Note: The Masora observes גרשין בספרא ב, i.e., twice in the Psalter…”