Bible Commentaries
Psalms 116

Verses 1-19

Psalms 116

Love and Gratitude

Scripture v. 1-19:

This Psalm of love and gratitude continues the Paschal, Hallel Psalms; it is believed to have been written by Hezekiah as an expression of Thanksgiving for God’s deliverance of him and his people Israel in his own time. ft is also believed to be the one that Jesus and his disciples sang together, as a church, Mark 14:12-26.

Verse 1 witnesses, "I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications." This statement simply states that the Psalmist loved the Lord because He cared for him, and had responded to his call for help. In this it expresses the general sentiment of the whole Psalm. God’s love and care for man should motivate, in every person, a desire to obey and serve Him, Psalms 18:4; Deuteronomy 6:5; 1 Peter 5:7.

Verse 2 adds that "because he hath inclined His ear unto me," heard my prayer, "therefore will I call upon him as long as I live," or all of my days on earth. Calling upon God (prayer) is an evidence of faith in and love or affection for Him, whether the calling be for a need or nut of thanksgiving for salvation and blessings daily received from Him, 1 Corinthians 9:15; Isaiah 39:8; Psalms 40:13; Psalms 107:2.

Verses 3,4 relate that the Psalmist had cried to the Lord at a time of deep distress, when gripped and encircled as by an army, by: 1) sorrows of death; 2) the pains of hell, and 3) trouble and sorrow. He prayed "O Lord, I beseech (beg you) deliver my soul," or save my life, a kind of prayer God longs to hear and answer, as He had done for David, and for Israel, Psalms 18:46; Haggai 2:23; Isaiah 55:6-7; Psalms 145:18-19; Romans 10:13.

Verses 5,6 assert that the Lord our God is gracious, righteous, and merciful, as a caring God, as witnessed Ezra 9:15; Nehemiah 9:8; Psalms 14:5; Psalms 119:1; Psalms 119:7; Psalms 145:4; Jeremiah 12:1; La 1:18; Revelation 16:5. He had demonstrated that He was all the law had promised He would be to the Psalmist and his people, Israel, Exodus 34:6-7.

Verse 7 relates the Psalmist’s consoling his own spirit, saying, "Return unto thy rest, O my soul," for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee," has given you relief and release from the sorrows of death, fear-pangs of hell, and the trouble and sorrow that once engulfed him, v.3; Jeremiah 6:16; Matthew 11:29; The Lord had made up richly for former sorrows, Psalms 13:6; Isaiah 61:7; Zechariah 9:12. ,

Verses 8,9 recount the resolution of the Psalmist (Hezekiah) to walk before the Lord (upright, available for His service) "in the land of the living," as long as he lived because: 1) The Lord had delivered his soul from death; 2) His eyes from tears; and 3) His feet from continually falling, Psalms 56:13; Deuteronomy 28:66; 2 Chronicles 11:23; Psalms 27:13; Isaiah 30:19; Jeremiah 31:16; Daniel 8:9. This will be fully fulfilled in the resurrection, when God shall "wipe away all tears," in the new heaven and new earth, Revelation 20:6; Revelation 21:4.

Verses 10,11 relate the psalmist had believed, therefore he spoke, called for help out of great affliction, and was relieved, 2 Corinthians 4:13. He added, "I said (concluded) in my haste, All men are liars," exist as liars, continually, a thing he could have said, taking his time, and still told the truth, Ephesians 2:3; Jeremiah 17:9; 2 Kings 4:16; 2 Kings 4:28; Jeremiah 9:4-5; Romans 3:4.

Verses 12-14 first inquire, just what the psalmist should render to the Lord, in gratitude for what the Lord had done for him, then responded with resolute determination, "I will take the cup of salvation (its benefits) and call upon the name of the Lord," adding that he would also pay his vows (sacred pledges) he had made to the Lord, both at that moment and thereafter, a noble resolve, Psalms 22:25; Psalms 56:12; Psalms 66:13; Psalms 66:15; Jonah 1:16; Jonah 2:9; Nahum 1:15.

Verse 15 declares "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints, his obedient children," 1 Samuel 25:29; Job 5:26; Psalms 72:14; Luke 16:22; Revelation 1:18; Revelation 14:13.

Verses 16,17 acknowledge that the Psalmist is the Lord’s voluntary servant, son of His handmaid, because the Lord had loosed or released his bonds, from captivity to the world, the flesh, and death, and the Devil, Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 2:15. He responded that he would offer a thanksgiving sacrifice for this grace as long as he lived, 2 Corinthians 9:15; Psalms 50:14; Psalms 107:22; Leviticus 7:12.

Verses 18,19 restate his determined, committed, faithful resolve to pay his vows, all that he had promised to be and to do, from then on, in the presence (before the face) of the Lord; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21-22; Psalms 50:14; Psalms 76:11. Even in the courts (public assembly) congregation of the Lord’s house, in the midst of Jerusalem, in the temple, in the city of peace, Psalms 66:13-14; Proverbs 20:25; Acts 5:4. He added, "praise ye the Lord," or you all join me in shouting, hallelujah to the Lord, Psalms 107:2; Hebrews 10:24-25.