When it is said
In Orthodox books, which follow the Greek Bible, this psalm is numbered 15.
Anyone may pray these verses at any time, as words of trust in God and of joy in Him.
Where it comes from
Author by tradition
Peter’s sermon at Pentecost
On the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted verses 8 to 11 of this psalm to the crowd in Jerusalem. He reminded them that David had died and been buried, and that his tomb was still there. Peter’s point was that David had spoken as a prophet about the resurrection of Christ, whose body did not see decay.
Acts 2:25-31
St Athanasius on this psalm
St Athanasius of Alexandria read the psalm the same way. In his letter on the Psalms to a man named Marcellinus, he listed the psalms that speak of the Saviour and named this one as the psalm of His resurrection from the dead.
What the words mean
“The boundary lines have fallen for me”
God shared out the land of Israel among its tribes with measuring lines, and Joshua cast lots to divide it. David borrows the picture. The Lord Himself is his share, and the lines that mark out his lot have fallen in pleasant places.
Psalm 78:55; Joshua 18:10
“The grave”
Where the King James Version says “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell”, the Hebrew word is Sheol, the place of the dead. The plain wording says “the grave”.
The Scripture in it
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful. I will bless the LORD Who counsels me; even at night my conscience instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.