Thoughts on Psalm 116

Psalm 116
Verses 1&2
I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he has inclined his ear to me, therefore will I call on him as long as I live.

No one loves without cause. It is the actions of another that prompt an emotional response, that connection between the lover and the beloved. Here the Psalmist expresses his love for the Lord and declares its antecedent; knowledge that God is listening. Apparently the Psalmist paid attention to what he was asking for from God and what happened after he made his request known. God’s tangible supply is thought of by the Psalmist as cause and effect. He prayed and God answered. the Psalmist is especially aware of the little things God does, He not only answers when the Psalmist ’s life is threatened but He also answers in supplying the Psalmist ’s daily need. Notice the Psalmist not only prays aloud, but does so with passion... the Psalmist supplicates, a word that can mean little short of begging. Notice also that the Psalmist says that God “inclines his ear” as if God were straining to hear every nuance of the Psalmist’s request, as a mother inclines her ear to hear the sounds her baby might make in restless sleep. Lastly, note that because of what the Psalmist has seen God do for him, he is committed to make intercession a part of his life as long as he has breath.

Verses 3&4
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold on me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I on the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech you, deliver my soul.

Thinking of how good God had been to him caused the Psalmist to reflect upon the hard times he had had in the past. He was often in situations where he thought he was going to die (sorrows of death), or times when his own sinfulness (pains of hell) manifested itself and he was horrified and sickened at its sight. Ultimately it is the human soul which is at stake in the spiritual struggle of life. How comforting to realize that believers are not alone. One prayer, one call to the name above all names brings relief and deliverance. This the Psalmist knew well.

verses 5&6
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD preserves the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

Abused love continuing upon the abuser is how S.F. Porter described the Lord's grace. Because of His "right-ness" His inability to do the slightest wrong, God extends His hand to help those who cannot help themselves (if ten men are drowning which of the ten can save the other nine). It is therefore God's gracious, righteous, mercy which must come to the aid of all fallen by life's hard edge, or to sin's dread sway. Note that it is the "simple" who are preserved. Those who acknowledge that their sin was sin a foolish rebellion against He who holds their breath in His hand, those who reject pride and accept humble recognition of their own sinful self rule are preserved. It is humbling to come to the conclusion that God is right and they are wrong. But God never crushes those He brings low to repentance,(A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench), there is help and renewal from Him who brought them low, as the Psalmist is next to note.

Verses 7>9
Return to your rest, O my soul; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Agreement with God brings rest. Rest from selfish struggle, from broken behaviors, from all which works contrary to the Lord's creative intention. Soul peace is unlike any other. Such deep contentment and feeling of well being, such assurance of well placed convictions, such consciousness of God's embrace, and the certainty of forgiveness. It is as the Psalmist says; the bountiful blessing of God; the knowledge that a soul has been delivered from eternal death, free from constant crying and hopeless abandonment apart from God and the things of God. Such conversion revelations convince the heart of the believer of an eternal destiny and purpose, for everything connected to the living God is alive forevermore.

verses 10&11
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
I said in my haste, All men are liars.

The Psalmist found it hard to placate those who do not believe. It is amazing how quickly believers forget that they too were once unbelievers. To be harsh, to be "hasty" and say things that are inappropriate, which do not help to lead anyone to a better understanding of how much God loves them, is all to common in the believing community. It's an "affliction" which needs to be remedied by the Grace of God, upon repentance by the offending believer.


verses 12>14
What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

The Psalmist felt compelled to do something to pay God back so to speak, for all that God had done for him. He decided to do four things. First off he decided to take the "cup of Salvation." Centuries later Jesus would asked his disciples if they were able to drink of the cup he was to drink of and they said yes, or again when in the garden He asked the Father to allow the "cup" of His death to pass from Him if it was the Father's will. The "cup" in these instances referred to a plan of God's. What the Psalmist is saying is that he is willing to embrace the whole of the salvation experience whatever it takes. If it means denying himself, or persecution, or the loss of every earthly possession so be it, he will do what ever God wants him to do. The second thing the Psalmist will do is call upon the Lord, which signifies knowledge of the one being called upon, it is a declaration by the Psalmist that he knows who it is that has brought great blessing into his life. the Psalmist affirms that he will make regular times of intimate communion with God in prayer part of his day, part of his life. The third things is that he will keep his promises to the Lord. Jesus cautioned against promising things to God and then not keeping those promises. The rule is don't promise but if you do keep your promises ... such as promises made on a wedding day. Lastly, the Psalmist will do what he does for God publicly and especially when around God's people. No silent witness, no hiding behind political correctness, no cowardliness when called upon to stand for God. He will boldly proclaim his faith in God.

verses 15
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

There are a couple of ways to take the Psalmist 's declaration that the "death' of believers is" precious to the Lord. He could be referring to physical death, the last enemy. That God is deeply involved in the heart wrenching process of the human life being extinguished. However he might also be thinking of the pain of spiritual death... the pain of resisting sin's impulse, of denying the flesh to the point of wrenching agony. The struggle between the inner man and the outer flesh IS war. A war that produces the death of self will, of self control. Perhaps what is being pictured here is the agony in the garden that Jesus experienced as he give up his will in the supreme sacrifice of himself. God saying "I know what you are going through for my sake." God is not flippant about the cost of our redemption... the cost is death. The death of Jesus and the death, by association, of all believers. "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection" (Rom 6:5)

verse 16
O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, and the son of your handmaid: you have loosed my bonds.

the Psalmist next brings to light the source of the power to completely die to self, and be free from the "bonds" of self, namely; surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is the consideration of one's life as not their own but being the property of another, without rights, distinction, or merit. the Psalmist is not only affirming his servant-hood to God he is also reminding himself of that fact as well. He perhaps also mentions here one of the keys to his spirituality... godly parental influence.

Verses 17>19
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all his people. In the courts of the LORD's house, in the middle of you, O Jerusalem. Praise you the LORD.

Giving thanks to God for all He does for us is considered by Him to be a sacrifice. Just as obedience is considered by God to be a supremely pleasing sacrifice (1Sam 15:22). There are many ways to worship, and offer up acceptable sacrifices to God, but none better than those offered in thanksgiving. As above calling upon the name of the Lord signifies knowledge of the one being called upon, it is a declaration that the Psalmist knows who it is that has brought great blessing into his life. He will publicly demonstrate his love for God, perhaps by leaping and dancing, perhaps by somber declarations to those assembled in the "courts of the Lord's house, that God is worthy of Praise and worship. That God is worthy of utter devotion, That God is worthy of every drop of life strength.

Applying the Death of Jesus

Applying Your death to our lives
Will bring us the life we have longed to live
Free from self
Free from sin
Free from that which distracts from You

Applying Your death to our lives
Will bring the possibilities of abundant life
The life of Jesus
The life intended
The life that makes life worth living

Applying Your death to our lives
Will bring freedom from the enemy's grasp
The grasp of destruction
The grasp of murder
The grasp that attempts to steel what is God’s

Applying Your death to our lives
Will bring us hope of future freedom
The Hope of new bodies
The Hope of new minds
The Hope of an eternity of endless possibilities

Applying Your death to our lives
Will bring the communion we seek
The communion of transparency
The communion of contentment
The communion of familial certainty

P Sandcaster 04/21/10

Thougths on Psalm 84

Psalm 84:1>12

How amiable are your tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh cries out for the living God. Yes, the sparrow has found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in your house: they will be still praising you. Selah.

David rejoices in being in the presence of God. He is spiritually sensitive and therefore aware of the renewal that he needs and of the supply that only God can give. He is in that wonderful place of being hungry for God. Not hungry in the normal sense as one would for the evening meal after a hard day's work. But rather as someone who hasn't eaten for days, who is famished for sustenance. Note also David's interjection of the Sparrow, signifying that all are welcome in the presence of God, even the most lowly. Lastly, we catch from the opening of this Psalm the clear connection between "dwelling" before the Lord, and being and staying in an attitude of praise. Praise being a result of intimate interaction between the humble and the Lord of Glory, not a cause of such interaction.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in you; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also fills the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appears before God.

David sets the example for Israel by depending completely on the Lord for his strength. The Apostle Paul, centuries later, expressed the same sentiment saying that through Jesus he could do all things. Old testament or New the idea is the same, that believers can be and are supported by the same one who formed the universe and all it contains. That regardless of the difficulties, God can be relied on to turn a desert (Baca) into a supply of water in abundance. And while it is important to believe that God can and will supply, it is also important to understand that such support is moment by moment or as David said "from strength to strength" He supplies when needed and not before, perhaps because He does not want believes to rely on stored up resources instead of Him.

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, O God our shield, and look on the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusts in you.

David concludes his psalm as he began, reflecting on how wonderful it is to have fellowship with God, and how such fellowship is to be preferred over vain pursuits. Oh to be so preoccupied with Jesus that it colors all that we say and do, and brings about a confidence that He will not withhold any good thing from us.