Psalms 116

The psalmist expresses profound love for the Lord, who heard his fervent prayers and delivered him from the brink of death and deep affliction. Acknowledging God's gracious and merciful nature, he resolves to walk faithfully before Him. In gratitude, he pledges to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and publicly fulfill his vows in Jerusalem.

Psalms 116 begins with the psalmist's declaration of love for the Lord, who inclined His ear to his supplications during a time when he was encompassed by the "sorrows of death" and "pains of hell." He recounts calling upon the Lord for deliverance and testifies to God's gracious, righteous, and merciful character, noting that the Lord preserves the simple and helped him when he was brought low. Having been delivered from death, tears, and falling, his soul is encouraged to return to rest, recognizing God's bountiful dealing. The psalmist reflects on a past affliction where, despite his belief, he hastily declared all men to be liars. Pondering how to repay the Lord's benefits, he resolves to take the "cup of salvation," call upon the Lord's name, and publicly pay his vows among God's people. He affirms his identity as the Lord's servant, freed from bonds, and commits to offering sacrifices of thanksgiving in the courts of the Lord's house in Jerusalem.

Psalms 116 opens with the psalmist's fervent declaration of love for the Lord, grounded in the personal experience of God hearing his voice and supplications. He recounts a time of extreme distress, where the "sorrows of death" and "pains of hell" had seized him, leading him to cry out to the Lord for deliverance of his soul. The psalmist then extols the character of God, affirming Him as gracious, righteous, and merciful, highlighting His care for the simple and His intervention to help him in his low estate. He encourages his own soul to find rest, recognizing the Lord's abundant blessings, particularly in delivering him from death, preventing his eyes from tears, and keeping his feet from falling. This profound deliverance inspires a commitment to walk faithfully before the Lord in the land of the living. The psalmist reflects on a past period of great affliction, recalling how his belief prompted him to speak, even though in his haste he declared all men to be liars. A central question arises concerning what he can render to the Lord for all His benefits. In response, he resolves to take the "cup of salvation" and call upon the name of the Lord, publicly committing to pay his vows in the presence of all God's people. A significant theological statement is made regarding the preciousness of the death of God's saints in the Lord's sight. Reaffirming his identity, the psalmist declares himself truly the Lord's servant, the son of His handmaid, acknowledging that God has loosed his bonds. He pledges to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and continue to call upon the Lord's name. The psalm concludes with a renewed commitment to fulfill his vows publicly in the courts of the Lord's house in Jerusalem, culminating in a call to "Praise ye the LORD."