PSALM 16.10 (BEEBE)

Brother Moody, of Maine, desires our views on the words, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.” Psalm 16:10.

The best and only reliable explanation of these words that can be given is found recorded in Acts 2:25-32, inclusive. It is here shown by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, that these words were applicable to David, only as a type of our Lord Jesus Christ; and were used to signify that Christ should certainly arise from the dead, and that his flesh should not see corruption, but that it should arise on the third day. The word hell in this text does not mean perdition, but is here, as in some other passages, used to mean the grave. The word hell, we are told by the learned, is from the Saxon Hillan, or helan, which signifies to
hide, or roll, a cavern, though elsewhere used to denote the place of torment, it is here used to signify the concealed or unseen place of the dead. Hence it is here used to show that our Lord Jesus, in pouring out his soul unto death (Isaiah 53:12), was able to lay down his life and take it up again. John 10:18. Hence the resurrection of our Redeemer from the dead was the verification and fulfillment of what David as a prophet said in our text.

“Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain; whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved; therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh shall rest in hope; because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 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 are all witnesses. Wherefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens; but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2.22-36.

It would be presumptuous in us to attempt to improve on this divinely inspired interpretation of the subject.

Middletown, N.Y. April 15, 1869.
Elder Gilbert Beebe Editorials Volume 7 Pages 404 – 405