Neither Wilt Thou Suffer Thine Holy One to See Corruption (Psalm 16:9-11)

2023-06-18

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:9-11)

This was used as evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why would we jump to this conclusion? The apostles tell us: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day” (Acts 2:29), and again, “He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” (Acts 2:31-32). David, though he had hope that he would not be left in the grave, he did ultimately see “corruption.” His body was still in the ground until that day. For this psalm to be true, the Holy One must be Jesus Christ. He died, but not long enough for His body to see decay. Consider Lazarus, who on the fourth day, would have been decomposing. “Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days” (John 11:39). Jesus was only dead three days.

Where else do we see the resurrection of Jesus in the Old Testament?

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)

The suffering servant “poured out his soul unto death” yet God will “divide him a portion with the great.” If the suffering servant stayed dead, but was given spoil and a portion, what good would it do? We see the resurrection of Jesus here also.