“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8, ESV)
Peter quotes this passage from the LXX about the Lord Jesus in his address to those at Pentecost. He says,
“For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’” (Acts 2:25–28, ESV)
It would be impossible for us to stretch this passage to mean that David never had a sinful moment where the Lord was not set before him. David’s sin in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah is an obvious example (though the sinful occasion most likely took place after this passage was penned). The fact that he speaks of resurrection in the verses following, along with the New Testament writer’s use of the passage seems to indicate David might have been aware his Psalm was prophetic rather than about himself. That is, his focus was more on the King of Kings who would rein on his throne at the end of the age, the Messiah.
Nevertheless, David leaves us with the assurance, that because the Father is at his right hand (i.e., God is his strength and support, his succorer), he would not be shaken by sin, circumstances, or those who run after another god (vs.4). This reminds us that in Christ, we have the same protection and blessing David had from the Lord (Ephesians 1:13-14).