Because you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor give your pious one to see corruption (Psalm 16:10).
Psalm 16 is a prophetic poem about Jesus’ time on earth, death, and resurrection three days later. He cries out for God to preserve Him, for He seeks refuge in Him (Psalm 16:1). In the garden of Gethsemane, on the night in which Christ was betrayed, He cried out for God to save Him (Hebrews 5:7). He recognizes His good is nothing apart from the LORD (Psalm 16:2). Although He asked that, if possible, the LORD take this cup from Him, He submitted to the will of the Father (Matthew 26:39).
All of the saints on the earth are the majestic ones, whereas those who hasten after false gods will multiply in sorrow (Psalm 16:3–4).
Christ’s inheritance is from the LORD. He is His portion and cup. The LORD maintains His cup (Psalm 16:5–6). Christ has obtained an inheritance, obtaining a more excellent name than the angels (Hebrews 1:4). The Lord never said to any of the angels, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.” When He brought the firstborn into the world, He said, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” (Hebrews 1:5–6). Thus, He declared that the Person who resides within the humanity of Jesus is God—the second Person of the Godhead.
Christ chose to take counsel from the LORD. His heart was disciplined in following the will of the Father (Psalm 16:7). In His humanity, the second Person of the Godhead recognizes the authority of God the Father as He submits to do His will, for He will not leave Him (Psalm 16:8). Because of this, His flesh rests in hope because His soul will not be left in Sheol (Psalm 16:9–10). He will be shown the way of life (Psalm 16:11).
Psalm 16:10–11 are prophetic concerning the death and resurrection of Christ in three days. On the day of Pentecost, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, Peter explains this psalm. David was not speaking about himself, for he is dead and buried (Acts 2:29). David foretold of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2:31).
As a righteous man, when Jesus died, He went to Sheol, or Hades in Greek. Hades is not equivalent to our concept of hell, which aligns with Gehenna—the lake of fire —the final resting place for those who reject God (Matthew 10:28). Before Christ’s resurrection, Hades was the holding place for both the saved and the unsaved. The unsaved reside in the lowest Sheol where the fire burns (Deuteronomy 32:22; Luke 16:23). Paradise resided in the upper chamber of Sheol, separated by an impassable abyss (Luke 16:26). After Christ’s resurrection, those who were captive in Sheol were released and now reside in the second heaven at the edge of the third heaven (Ephesians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 12:2–4).
God the Father promised He would not permit Jesus’ body to see corruption. In response to the supplication of Jesus in the garden, God raised Him from the dead so that he could no longer return to corruption (Acts 13:34). Based on the location and method of burial, Lazarus’ death and resuscitation provide evidence, along with Jesus’ own words, that He would be in the grave for three days and three nights, no more (John 11:38; Matthew 12:39; Romans 6:9).
Jesus was crucified on Wednesday night and raised on Sunday morning. For three days and three nights, His body lay in the grave. On the morning of the fourth day, before the sun came up, God the Father kept His promise and raised Christ from the dead, saving Him from death (Luke 24:1–6).
