For You will not leave my soul in the grave, and You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
David here expresses his deep confidence in God’s protection, yet his words have an even more prophetic meaning. Led by the Holy Spirit, he foretells a reality whose full and literal fulfillment is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:25–31, 13:35–37). Peter reminds us that David died and was buried, and his tomb was known in their days. Therefore the words “You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption” could not, in their complete sense, have been fulfilled in David himself. David remained in death and his body underwent decay, whereas Christ, who also truly suffered death and was laid in the tomb, did not remain there. He rose again, and His body did not see corruption. For this reason Peter presents these words as a prophecy about the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:29–31). Paul also emphasizes the same distinction: David saw corruption, but Christ whom God raised did not (Acts 13:35–37). Thus the confidence, joy, and security expressed in the preceding verses here reach their full meaning. Christ’s trust in the Father was not put to shame. He rose again and conquered death. For the believer this is the great hope of the Gospel, because the foundation of his salvation is not only Christ’s teaching, but the Savior who was crucified, buried, and bodily raised. The resurrection of Jesus confirms that death has no final authority over those who belong to Him, and that for them the door of eternal life is open.