Psalm 16 (15):9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Jewish people do not believe that the Messiah they anticipate can experience death. They maintain that the Messiah prophesied in the Law and the Prophets differs from our Messiah, envisioning Him as someone detached from earthly suffering. Thus, in a remarkable display of pride and ignorance, they claim that the passages we have cited (Psalms 3:6, Psalms 40:9) refer not to death and resurrection, but rather to sleep and awakening.

The mortal body does not surrender to death by personal choice but rather through the inherent laws of nature, which people do not desire. However, the Lord, who is eternal and unchangeable, although He assumed a mortal body, held the divine authority to depart from this flesh and return to it at His discretion. It was appropriate for that which is mortal to transcend its natural state and become impervious to death through the Word that adorned it. Just as He conformed to our nature by embracing our physical form, we too gain His everlasting life by embracing Him.

The resurrected body It has been suggested by some that because the Lord was able to pass through closed doors, it indicates that He did not rise in the same physical body that had experienced death. Let us listen to what the Lord Himself has conveyed in this passage. After the Savior's death, the body that once lived was laid in the tomb; thus, it is that very body which was raised, that had lain in death within the tomb at the moment when the soul departed. If this is the case, how can one assert that an elevated, spiritual body—rather than the same flesh—was resurrected in the Lord?

It is unnecessary for us to elaborate on this matter, as the holy Peter, who received divine insight from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, has long since provided an interpretation of these words. While addressing the Jews and bearing witness, he declared: 'Brethren, I must speak with confidence to you regarding our forefather David, who died and was laid to rest, and whose tomb remains among us to this very day. This man was a prophet and was aware that God had promised him by an oath to raise up Christ from his descendants according to the flesh. He foresaw and spoke of the resurrection, that His soul would not be abandoned to Hades, nor would His body undergo decay' (Acts 2:29-31).

For this reason my spirit is filled with joy, and my voice exalts in praise. My heart rejoices because I have reclaimed what was taken from me by my enemy; I have overcome that foe, strengthened by my mighty Helper, God the Father. Therefore, my voice rejoices and sings victorious praises to the Lord, celebrating His greatness. Yet, my flesh shall also rest in the earth with confidence and hope. This refers to the grave where the Lord's body was laid, with the assurance of His imminent resurrection. Foreseeing His rising, the Lord frequently told His disciples that He would rise again on the third day.

In this passage, the prophet reflects on the unmatched reward that comes from faith, which is consistently highlighted throughout Holy Scripture. This faith provides not just peace but also deep joy and reliability, serving as the foundation of true happiness in this earthly life. In contrast, those who are wicked, despite any apparent victories or moments of joy they may experience, ultimately lack genuine happiness and cannot claim lasting peace of mind; they perpetually wrestle with inner turmoil and dissent. On the other hand, David not only experiences joy within but also expresses it through his words and actions. This is justified, as the faithful, while rejoicing in their hearts, also proclaim with their voices that God sustains their lives and well-being. Therefore, the Prophet wisely includes his body in this divine grace, resting it in the security of God’s mercy and safeguarding.

The essence of Christ found joy in the divine presence, which fortifies us. He endured suffering and death, then triumphed over the grave, embodying divine majesty. The voice of Christ and the holy apostles celebrated when the Holy Spirit came upon them in flames of fire (Acts 2:3). The body of Christ was laid in the grave, filled with the anticipation of resurrection (Athanasius). Even during His earthly ministry, the Lord bestowed upon His beloved followers the gifts of discernment and the ability to perform miracles.