Psalm 16:3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Is this an arbitrary and invidious distinction? We read of the "saints," and the "excellent." Are there, then, some people who are not saints, and some saints who are not excellent? The Bible does not create distinctions. If there were no Bible the earth would still be distributed into qualities, orders, classes, and the like. The Bible proceeds to a finer discrimination. It analyses honesty, it puts wisdom to the test, it searches into the credentials of faithfulness. The Bible asks, What is the motive underlying character? By "saints" understand separated men. The word "saint" is simply a moral or spiritual distinction. It involves more than is commonly understood by an honest man, or a good man, or a well-living man. It indicates of necessity a connection with the ineffably holy, the perfect, the Divine. It means, at least, an inspiration eternal, rising towards the eternity inaccessible — that is, the supreme life — that is, the life Divine. The terms "saints," "excellent" are of a universal quality. The reference is to character, not to opinion, nor to varied ways of looking at things which cannot be positively settled. The Psalmist dwells upon the eternal quantity — character, holiness, excellence, pureness; these speak all languages, assume the hues of all climes, and under manifold outward diversity conceal an agreement subtle and indefinable as life itself. (Joseph Parker, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.WEB: As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight. |
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