Psalm 16 · a question people ask

The title says "A Poem by David" (16:1), and the psalm says I all the way through. Was David speaking of himself?

In the text

The psalm speaks as I from its first line to its last (16:1, 16:11), and says nothing more of who the I is than its title. The New Testament answers the question twice, with an argument. Peter (Acts 2:14), speaking of "Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 2:22), "whom God raised up" (Acts 2:24), says, "For David says concerning him" (Acts 2:25), and gives the words of 16:8-11 (Acts 2:25-28). Then he reasons from David's grave: "Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day" (Acts 2:29). "Therefore, being a prophet" (Acts 2:30), "he foreseeing this, spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay" (Acts 2:31). "This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses" (Acts 2:32). Paul, in the synagogue at Antioch (Acts 13:14-16), says, "Therefore he says also in another psalm" (Acts 13:35), gives the words of 16:10, and argues the same way: "For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay" (Acts 13:36). "But he whom God raised up saw no decay" (Acts 13:37). Both set David, who died, beside Jesus, whom God raised. These notes give their argument in their own words, and add nothing to it.

The verses

“A Poem by David. Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.”
Psalm 16:1 · World English Bible
“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety. For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption. You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.”
Psalm 16:8-11 · World English Bible
“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.”
Acts 2:14 · World English Bible
“But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.” Paul stood up, and gesturing with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.”
Acts 13:14-16 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 16

Psalm 16: The path of life

Psalm 16 speaks of the LORD in the words of dividing the land: portion, lot, lines, inheritance (16:5-6). Its "I shall not be moved" (16:8) is, in Hebrew, the wicked man's words in Psalm 10:6, said here because the LORD is at his right hand. And Peter, pointing to David's tomb, says David "spoke about the resurrection of the Christ" (Acts 2:31).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions