Psalm 16:3

3 On behalf of the saints that are in his land, he has magnified all his pleasure in them.

Psalm 16:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 16:3

[But] to the saints that [are] in the earth
Who are sanctified or set apart by God the Father in election; whose sins are expiated by the blood of Christ in redemption, and who are sanctified or made holy by the Spirit of God in the effectual calling; and who live a holy life and conversation: these are said to be "in the earth", not to distinguish them from the saints in heaven, to whom the goodness of Christ extends as to them, unless it be to distinguish them from the angels in heaven, who are called saints, ( Deuteronomy 33:2 ) ; as Aben Ezra observes; but to point out the place of their abode, scattered up and down in the earth; and to show that love, grace, goodness, and kindness of Christ reaches to them in the present state of things, notwithstanding all their meanness and imperfection in themselves, and their despicableness in the eyes of others; see ( John 13:1 ) ;

and [to] the excellent;
the same with the saints, who though reckoned by men the faith of the world, and the offscouring of all things, are in high esteem with Christ; they are "nobles" ^F15 in his account, as the word is rendered in ( Jeremiah 30:21 ) ; they are princes in all the earth, and these princes are kings; they are made kings and priests unto God by Christ; they wear and live like kings, and have the attendance, power, riches, and glory of kings; they are guarded by angels, they have power with God, they are rich in faith, and heirs of a kingdom;

in whom [is] all my delight;
Christ's delights were with these sons of men before the world was, and have always continued with them; they are his "Hepbzibah" and "Beulah", as in ( Isaiah 62:4 ) ; hence he became incarnate, and suffered and died for them, and makes application of all the blessings of his grace and goodness to them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (yryda) "magnificis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Rivetus; "nobilibus delectationis meae", Gejerus; "ducibus eorum", Cocceius; so Michaelis.

Psalm 16:3 In-Context

1 Keep me, O Lord; for I have hoped in thee.

2 I said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord; for thou has no need of my goodness.

3 On behalf of the saints that are in his land, he has magnified all his pleasure in them.

4 Their weaknesses have been multiplied; afterward they hasted. I will by no means assemble their bloody meetings, neither will I make mention of their names with my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou art he that restores my inheritance to me.

6 The lines have fallen to me in the best places, yea, I have a most excellent heritage.

7 I will bless the Lord who has instructed me; my reins too have chastened me even till night.

8 I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart rejoiced an my tongue exulted; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

10 because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt fill me with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand there are delights for ever.