Psalms 116 Commentary: A Song of Deliverance and Gratitude
I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
I said in my haste, All men are liars.
What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
Psalms 116 is a powerful expression of gratitude and devotion born from a personal experience of rescue. Often grouped with Psalms 113-118, known as the "Egyptian Hallel," these songs were sung during major Jewish festivals like Passover, celebrating God's deliverance of Israel. While the Hallel encompasses the collective experience of God's people, Psalms 116 zooms in on the individual's encounter with divine intervention. This psalm beautifully captures the journey from desperate plea to joyful praise.
Acknowledging God's Response (Psalms 116:1-4)
The psalmist begins by declaring his love for God, not as a mere sentiment, but as a direct result of God's attentiveness to his prayer (Psalms 116:1-2). God heard his voice and inclined His ear. This intimate connection fuels a lifelong commitment to call upon the Lord. The psalmist faced a dire, even life-threatening situation, overwhelmed by trouble and sorrow (Psalms 116:3). He felt the clutches of sheol, the Old Testament concept of the afterlife, a very literal threat to his life. In this context of utter desperation, he cries out for salvation, appealing to God to save his life (Psalms 116:4). This highlights a crucial aspect of prayer: acknowledging our desperate need for God and requesting divine intervention.
Praising God for His Character and Deliverance (Psalms 116:5-11)
The psalm then shifts to praise, extolling God's grace, righteousness, and compassion (Psalms 116:5). The psalmist emphasizes that God is our God, belonging to all His people, creating a corporate dimension of worship. He shares his personal testimony to encourage the congregation, demonstrating that the Lord saves those brought low by difficulties (Psalms 116:6). This leads to a confident declaration: "I will walk before the LORD" (Psalms 116:9). Even when surrounded by enemies and falsehood (Psalms 116:11), the psalmist trusts that God will have the last word. God's attributes of mercy, grace, and justice bring a sense of rest, a trusting freedom from panic or terror. God's intervention not only kept the writer free from failure and anguish but also spared his life. This demonstrates that faith in God does not bring immunity to normal human emotions. During this crisis, the psalmist spoke out about the intense hurt he felt, yet this did not cause him to doubt God.
Responding with Gratitude and Obedience (Psalms 116:12-14)
Reflecting on God's goodness, the psalmist contemplates how to repay Him (Psalms 116:12). He proposes two actions. First, he will "take the cup of salvation" (Psalms 116:13), embracing the blessings and deliverance God has graciously given, and call on His name, continuing to worship and depend on the God who saves. Why turn anywhere but to the One who has proven His ability to deliver? Second, he commits to fulfilling his vows to the Lord (Psalms 116:14). Obedience is the appropriate response when God has come through for us. Being rescued from danger or stress is often compared to being freed from chains.
The Value of God's Faithful Ones and Public Praise (Psalms 116:15-19)
The psalmist declares that "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones" (Psalms 116:15). The term translated "precious" comes from the root word yāqār, referring to something of great importance and value. God finds great pleasure and joy in fellowship with His children, who go to be with Him eternally at death because of their personal relationship with Him. Though He knows and controls the hour of our death (Psalms 139:16), the Lord doesn't treat our lives carelessly (Psalms 72:14). Knowing this, the psalmist pledges to continue praising and serving the Lord publicly (Psalms 116:17-18), encouraging others to do the same. The psalmist intends to publicly praise and honor God: to call on His "name" (Psalms 116:16–19). What we experience—even when it's painful—is part of God's good plan (Romans 8:28) for those who love Him.
Psalms 116 is a testament to the power of prayer, the faithfulness of God, and the transformative effect of experiencing His deliverance. It reminds us to express our gratitude, fulfill our vows, and publicly proclaim His goodness to encourage others.
I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
I said in my haste, All men are liars.
What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
Psalms 116 is a powerful expression of gratitude and devotion born from a personal experience of rescue. Often grouped with Psalms 113-118, known as the "Egyptian Hallel," these songs were sung during major Jewish festivals like Passover, celebrating God's deliverance of Israel. While the Hallel encompasses the collective experience of God's people, Psalms 116 zooms in on the individual's encounter with divine intervention. This psalm beautifully captures the journey from desperate plea to joyful praise.
Acknowledging God's Response (Psalms 116:1-4)
The psalmist begins by declaring his love for God, not as a mere sentiment, but as a direct result of God's attentiveness to his prayer (Psalms 116:1-2). God heard his voice and inclined His ear. This intimate connection fuels a lifelong commitment to call upon the Lord. The psalmist faced a dire, even life-threatening situation, overwhelmed by trouble and sorrow (Psalms 116:3). He felt the clutches of sheol, the Old Testament concept of the afterlife, a very literal threat to his life. In this context of utter desperation, he cries out for salvation, appealing to God to save his life (Psalms 116:4). This highlights a crucial aspect of prayer: acknowledging our desperate need for God and requesting divine intervention.
Praising God for His Character and Deliverance (Psalms 116:5-11)
The psalm then shifts to praise, extolling God's grace, righteousness, and compassion (Psalms 116:5). The psalmist emphasizes that God is our God, belonging to all His people, creating a corporate dimension of worship. He shares his personal testimony to encourage the congregation, demonstrating that the Lord saves those brought low by difficulties (Psalms 116:6). This leads to a confident declaration: "I will walk before the LORD" (Psalms 116:9). Even when surrounded by enemies and falsehood (Psalms 116:11), the psalmist trusts that God will have the last word. God's attributes of mercy, grace, and justice bring a sense of rest, a trusting freedom from panic or terror. God's intervention not only kept the writer free from failure and anguish but also spared his life. This demonstrates that faith in God does not bring immunity to normal human emotions. During this crisis, the psalmist spoke out about the intense hurt he felt, yet this did not cause him to doubt God.
Responding with Gratitude and Obedience (Psalms 116:12-14)
Reflecting on God's goodness, the psalmist contemplates how to repay Him (Psalms 116:12). He proposes two actions. First, he will "take the cup of salvation" (Psalms 116:13), embracing the blessings and deliverance God has graciously given, and call on His name, continuing to worship and depend on the God who saves. Why turn anywhere but to the One who has proven His ability to deliver? Second, he commits to fulfilling his vows to the Lord (Psalms 116:14). Obedience is the appropriate response when God has come through for us. Being rescued from danger or stress is often compared to being freed from chains.
The Value of God's Faithful Ones and Public Praise (Psalms 116:15-19)
The psalmist declares that "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones" (Psalms 116:15). The term translated "precious" comes from the root word yāqār, referring to something of great importance and value. God finds great pleasure and joy in fellowship with His children, who go to be with Him eternally at death because of their personal relationship with Him. Though He knows and controls the hour of our death (Psalms 139:16), the Lord doesn't treat our lives carelessly (Psalms 72:14). Knowing this, the psalmist pledges to continue praising and serving the Lord publicly (Psalms 116:17-18), encouraging others to do the same. The psalmist intends to publicly praise and honor God: to call on His "name" (Psalms 116:16–19). What we experience—even when it's painful—is part of God's good plan (Romans 8:28) for those who love Him.
Psalms 116 is a testament to the power of prayer, the faithfulness of God, and the transformative effect of experiencing His deliverance. It reminds us to express our gratitude, fulfill our vows, and publicly proclaim His goodness to encourage others.