Psalm 17: When David Awoke

Psalm 17 is a prayer of David rich in types and shadows of Christ, but this brief article focuses on these words in verse 15. From these words alone we should ask these four questions:

• When did David fall asleep?

• Where was David while he was asleep?

• When did David awake?

• Where was David when he awoke?

To answer these questions let’s look at references to David by the New Testament writers.

“Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” – Acts 2:29-36

When did David fall asleep?

“regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.” – Acts 2:29

When David died he was buried and his body was certainly still in the grave during the first century, therefore David ‘fell asleep’ at his death.

Where was David while he was asleep?

“…he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.” – Acts 2:31

David looked ahead and believed that Christ would descend into Hades (Sheol: the place of the dead ones), but not be abandoned amongst the dead. In fact Christ would not even be there long enough that His body (on the earth in the tomb) would begin to decay. For more on that read this related article ‘Luke 11: The Decay of Lazarus’.

This was David’s great assurance and hope (the thing he had not received but believed he would receive), because David was in that place of Sheol amongst the dead ones. David died in faith, not having received the promises but having seen them far off.

“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets…And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” – Hebrews 11:32, 39–40

‘Falling asleep’ is synonymous with dying before the redemption (salvation) had come, meaning; before Christ had died, risen and returned to defeat death and Hades (Sheol).

David was asleep in Sheol (in the Paradise of Abraham’s bosom) until his resurrection which occurred at the return of Christ, before the judgement.

When did David awake?

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the [the time of the end]; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” – Daniel 12:2-4

“And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.” – Daniel 12:6-7

So David awoke at the resurrection at the time of the end(the end of the age) which was the end of the Old Covenant and the time of the judgement on apostate Israel. That resurrection was of three groups of believers:

1. those believers who had died under the Old Covenant of which David was a part

2. those who had died ‘in Christ’ from His coming into the world and until His second coming

3. those believers who were still living at the end of the age

David was part of that group of Old Covenant saints who had died in faith and had waited a long time for the redemption of their bodies.

“And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”

These three groups all had to undergo a bodily change to receive their inheritance in heaven.

Where was David when he awoke?

“As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.”

When David awoke he would behold the face of Adonai, what a glorious and awesome event this would be, to see God face to face and live! The only way David could survive the awesome majesty of Yahweh was if he was clothed with the robes of righteousness and immortality that were his inheritance in the heavenly realm. This is precisely what David writes; “I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake”. David awoke from the sleep of death and Sheol, in his glorified condition at the resurrection. He was raised incorruptible and clothed with immortality, receiving the result of his faith, the promises made to the faithful believing ones and fulfilled in Christ.

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life…”

This inheritance had been stored up in heaven for the time of the resurrection and rapture, so that at one single event at the end of the age the dead in Christ were raised and the living saints were caught up to heaven.

“…so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”

David’s long wait in Sheol was finally over. The redemption long promised had now arrived and the inheritance long expected was now a reality. David was, and is awake in the eternal Zion, the heavenly city, in Christ forever and forever.