Unknown
Psalm 116
Unknown
Scripture (KJV)
1I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
3The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
4Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
5Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
6The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
7Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.
8For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
9I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
10I believed, therefore have I spoken; I was greatly afflicted:
11I said in my haste, All men are liars.
12What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?
13I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
14I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.
15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
16O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
17I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
18I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people,
19In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
Summary
Psalm 116 is a personal thanksgiving psalm in which the worshipper declares, “I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.” The psalmist recalls a near-death crisis—“the sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me”—and his cry for deliverance that the Lord answered. He confesses the Lord as gracious, righteous, and merciful, the One who preserves the simple and helps the lowly. The famous invitation of verse 7—“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee”—flows from deliverance of soul from death, eyes from tears, and feet from falling.
The second half asks, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” and answers with vows: to take the cup of salvation, to call upon the Lord’s name, to pay vows in the presence of all His people, and to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Verse 15—“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”—assures the believer that even death is valuable to God. The major themes are love for God, deliverance, gratitude, rest, and thanksgiving. Practically, the psalm teaches that remembered mercy produces love, rest, and public thanksgiving. The great lesson is that the proper response to grace is the cup of salvation and the sacrifice of praise.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 116
I love You, Lord, because You have heard my voice and my supplications. Because You have inclined Your ear to me, I will call upon You as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me and the pains of hell took hold; I found trouble and sorrow, and I called on Your name: “O Lord, deliver my soul.” You are gracious and righteous, merciful, preserving the simple and helping the lowly. Return, my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with me. You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling; I will walk before You in the land of the living. What shall I render to You for all Your benefits? I will take the cup of salvation, offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay my vows in the courts of Your house. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1What specific deliverance has made me say, “I love the Lord”?
- 2What does it mean for my soul to “return unto thy rest”?
- 3How can I take “the cup of salvation” and offer “the sacrifice of thanksgiving” this week?
- 4How does verse 15 change my view of death and of those who die in the Lord?
Related Psalms
Psalm 113
“Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 113 is the first of the “Hallel” psalms (113-118) sung at Passover and other Jewish festivals.
Read morePsalm 114
“When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;”
Psalm 114 is a short, vivid Hallel psalm that celebrates the exodus with dramatic personification.
Read morePsalm 115
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”
Psalm 115 is a communal hymn that refuses to take glory for itself, directing all praise to the name of the Lord for His mercy and truth.
Read morePsalm 117
“O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.”
Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, yet its scope is universal.
Read morePsalm 118
“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.”
Psalm 118 is the climactic Hallel psalm, a personal and communal song of thanksgiving that frames and is framed by the refrain, “His mercy endureth for ever.
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