Psalms 116
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Psalms 116
I Love the LORD, Because He Hath Heard My Voice
1I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
PSALM 116
Psa 116:1-19. The writer celebrates the deliverance from extreme perils by which he was favored, and pledges grateful and pious public acknowledgments.
1-2. A truly grateful love will be evinced by acts of worship, which calling on God expresses (Psa 116:13; Psa 55:16; 86:7; compare Psa 17:6; 31:2).
PSALM 116
Psa 116:1-19. The writer celebrates the deliverance from extreme perils by which he was favored, and pledges grateful and pious public acknowledgments.
1-2. A truly grateful love will be evinced by acts of worship, which calling on God expresses (Psa 116:13; Psa 55:16; 86:7; compare Psa 17:6; 31:2).
The Pulpit Commentary
I love the Lord, because he hath heard; literally, I love, because the Lord (Jehovah) hath heard. The object of this love is not expressed, but can only be Jehovah. Still, the grammatical construction is unusual, and has caused the suggestion of an emendation. For אהבתי Professor Cheyne would read האמנתי as at the beginning of Psa_116:10. My voice and my supplications; literally, my voice, my supplications—the latter expression being exegetical of the former.
I love the Lord, because he hath heard; literally, I love, because the Lord (Jehovah) hath heard. The object of this love is not expressed, but can only be Jehovah. Still, the grammatical construction is unusual, and has caused the suggestion of an emendation. For אהבתי Professor Cheyne would read האמנתי as at the beginning of Psa_116:10. My voice and my supplications; literally, my voice, my supplications—the latter expression being exegetical of the former.
2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
The Pulpit Commentary
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me (compare the expression of Hezekiah in Isa_37:17, "Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear"). Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live; literally, in my days—another expression attributed to Hezekiah in the history (Isa_39:8). Lifelong gratitude and praise are promised by Hezekiah to God in Isa_38:20.
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me (compare the expression of Hezekiah in Isa_37:17, "Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear"). Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live; literally, in my days—another expression attributed to Hezekiah in the history (Isa_39:8). Lifelong gratitude and praise are promised by Hezekiah to God in Isa_38:20.
★3The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3-4. For similar figures for distress see Psa 18:4, 5.
gat hold upon me--Another sense ("found") of the same word follows, as we speak of disease finding us, and of our finding or catching disease.
3-4. For similar figures for distress see Psa 18:4, 5.
gat hold upon me--Another sense ("found") of the same word follows, as we speak of disease finding us, and of our finding or catching disease.
The Pulpit Commentary
The psalmist describes his trouble (Psa_116:3), his prayer for deliverance (Psa_116:4), and his actual deliverance (Psa_116:5-9).
The sorrows of death compassed me; literally, the cords of death (comp. Psa_18:4, where the same expression is used). Death is pictured as seizing his victim and binding him with cords. And the pains of hell gat hold upon me; or, "the straits of hell" (comp. Psa_118:5; Lam_1:3). Death and hell (shell) are closely connected together in the prayer of Hezekiah (Isa_38:10, Isa_38:18). I found trouble and sorrow; or, "anguish and woe" (comp. Isa_38:12-17).
The psalmist describes his trouble (Psa_116:3), his prayer for deliverance (Psa_116:4), and his actual deliverance (Psa_116:5-9).
The sorrows of death compassed me; literally, the cords of death (comp. Psa_18:4, where the same expression is used). Death is pictured as seizing his victim and binding him with cords. And the pains of hell gat hold upon me; or, "the straits of hell" (comp. Psa_118:5; Lam_1:3). Death and hell (shell) are closely connected together in the prayer of Hezekiah (Isa_38:10, Isa_38:18). I found trouble and sorrow; or, "anguish and woe" (comp. Isa_38:12-17).
4Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
The Pulpit Commentary
Then celled I upon the Name of the Lord. "Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord" (Isa_38:2). O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul (compare the words of Isa_38:3, "Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee").
Then celled I upon the Name of the Lord. "Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord" (Isa_38:2). O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul (compare the words of Isa_38:3, "Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee").
5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5-8. The relief which he asked is the result not of his merit, but of God's known pity and tenderness, which is acknowledged in assuring himself (his "soul," Psa 11:1; 16:10) of rest and peace. All calamities [Psa 116:8] are represented by death, tears, and falling of the feet (Psa 56:13).
5-8. The relief which he asked is the result not of his merit, but of God's known pity and tenderness, which is acknowledged in assuring himself (his "soul," Psa 11:1; 16:10) of rest and peace. All calamities [Psa 116:8] are represented by death, tears, and falling of the feet (Psa 56:13).
The Pulpit Commentary
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous. God's answers to prayer show him to be both "gracious" and "righteous"—gracious, because it is of his mercy that he listens to men; righteous, because, having promised to hear prayer, he is bound to keep his promises. Yea, our God is merciful; or, "compassionate."
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous. God's answers to prayer show him to be both "gracious" and "righteous"—gracious, because it is of his mercy that he listens to men; righteous, because, having promised to hear prayer, he is bound to keep his promises. Yea, our God is merciful; or, "compassionate."
6The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
The Pulpit Commentary
The Lord preserveth the simple; i.e. "the simple-minded"—those who are without guile or artifice (comp. Psa_19:7). I was brought low. The same verb is used here as in Isa_38:14, where it is translated "fail" ("mine eyes fail"). It expresses extreme weakness, or exhaustion. And he helped me; or, "saved me" (comp. Isa_38:20).
The Lord preserveth the simple; i.e. "the simple-minded"—those who are without guile or artifice (comp. Psa_19:7). I was brought low. The same verb is used here as in Isa_38:14, where it is translated "fail" ("mine eyes fail"). It expresses extreme weakness, or exhaustion. And he helped me; or, "saved me" (comp. Isa_38:20).
7Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
The Pulpit Commentary
Return unto thy rest, O my soul. "Return," i.e; "to thy state of tranquility, the condition in which thou wast before the imminent danger showed itself." For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. If Hezekiah is the writer, the "bountiful dealing" will be the addition of fifteen years to his life (Isa_38:5). If a poet just re turned from the Captivity, the return and the reoccupation of the Holy Land will be especially in his thoughts (comp. Psa_85:1).
Return unto thy rest, O my soul. "Return," i.e; "to thy state of tranquility, the condition in which thou wast before the imminent danger showed itself." For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. If Hezekiah is the writer, the "bountiful dealing" will be the addition of fifteen years to his life (Isa_38:5). If a poet just re turned from the Captivity, the return and the reoccupation of the Holy Land will be especially in his thoughts (comp. Psa_85:1).
8For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
The Pulpit Commentary
For thou hast delivered my soul from death. This verse is exegetical of the last clause of Psa_116:4. The expressions are taken from Psa_56:13, and suit a personal better than a national deliverance. Mine eyes from tears. Hezekiah, when told that his death was approaching, had "wept sore" (Isa_38:3). And my feet from falling; literally, and my foot from slipping When man is greatly tried, there is always danger lest his foot should slip. Whether the trial befall an individual or a nation, there is the same temptation to rebel and murmur.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death. This verse is exegetical of the last clause of Psa_116:4. The expressions are taken from Psa_56:13, and suit a personal better than a national deliverance. Mine eyes from tears. Hezekiah, when told that his death was approaching, had "wept sore" (Isa_38:3). And my feet from falling; literally, and my foot from slipping When man is greatly tried, there is always danger lest his foot should slip. Whether the trial befall an individual or a nation, there is the same temptation to rebel and murmur.
9I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. walk before the Lord--act, or live under His favor and guidance (Ge 17:1; Psa 61:7).
land of the living--(Psa 27:13).
9. walk before the Lord--act, or live under His favor and guidance (Ge 17:1; Psa 61:7).
land of the living--(Psa 27:13).
The Pulpit Commentary
I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living; rather, lands of the living; i.e. my deliverance will enable me to walk at leisure, unhurried and free from care, in the broad regions of earth inhabited by the living.
Psa_116:10, Psa_116:11
Parenthetic and obscure. Both the connection and rendering are doubtful. Professor Cheyne translates, "I was confident that I should speak thus;" i.e. even while my affliction was going on, I felt confident that relief would come, and that I should one day speak as I have just spoken. I was, however, too sorely afflicted to give utterance to my feeling. Instead of so doing, I vented my unhappiness in abuse of my fellow-men. Thus understood, the words are an apologia.
I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living; rather, lands of the living; i.e. my deliverance will enable me to walk at leisure, unhurried and free from care, in the broad regions of earth inhabited by the living.
Psa_116:10, Psa_116:11
Parenthetic and obscure. Both the connection and rendering are doubtful. Professor Cheyne translates, "I was confident that I should speak thus;" i.e. even while my affliction was going on, I felt confident that relief would come, and that I should one day speak as I have just spoken. I was, however, too sorely afflicted to give utterance to my feeling. Instead of so doing, I vented my unhappiness in abuse of my fellow-men. Thus understood, the words are an apologia.
10I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10-11. Confidence in God opposed to distrust of men, as not reliable (Psa 68:8, 9). He speaks from an experience of the result of his faith.
10-11. Confidence in God opposed to distrust of men, as not reliable (Psa 68:8, 9). He speaks from an experience of the result of his faith.
The Pulpit Commentary
I believed, therefore have I spoken. So the LXX; Ἐπίστευσα διὸ ἐλάλησα. But many other meanings are suggested. See the preceding paragraph. I was greatly afflicted (comp. Psa_116:3).
I believed, therefore have I spoken. So the LXX; Ἐπίστευσα διὸ ἐλάλησα. But many other meanings are suggested. See the preceding paragraph. I was greatly afflicted (comp. Psa_116:3).
11I said in my haste, All men are liars.
The Pulpit Commentary
I said in my haste, All men are liars. The connection of the thoughts is not apparent, unless God's faithfulness (Psa_116:5-8) suggests man's unfaithfulness.
I said in my haste, All men are liars. The connection of the thoughts is not apparent, unless God's faithfulness (Psa_116:5-8) suggests man's unfaithfulness.
What Shall I Render Unto the LORD?
12What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12-14. These are modes of expressing acts of worship (compare Psa 116:4; Psa 50:14; Jon 2:9).
12-14. These are modes of expressing acts of worship (compare Psa 116:4; Psa 50:14; Jon 2:9).
The Pulpit Commentary
The psalm closes with a thanksgiving for the deliverance vouchsafed. What return can the psalmist make? First, he will accept the blessing joyfully; next, he will ever continue to call upon God (Psa_116:13; comp. Psa_116:4, Psa_116:17); thirdly, he will pay his vows openly in the temple, in the presence of the whole congregation (Psa_116:14, Psa_116:18); fourthly, he will offer continually the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psa_116:17) for the benefits vouchsafed him. The enumeration of his pious intentions is itself a song of praise to the Almighty.
What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? Natural piety suggests a return for favors received. What shall this be? the psalmist asks, and then proceeds to give the answer.
The psalm closes with a thanksgiving for the deliverance vouchsafed. What return can the psalmist make? First, he will accept the blessing joyfully; next, he will ever continue to call upon God (Psa_116:13; comp. Psa_116:4, Psa_116:17); thirdly, he will pay his vows openly in the temple, in the presence of the whole congregation (Psa_116:14, Psa_116:18); fourthly, he will offer continually the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psa_116:17) for the benefits vouchsafed him. The enumeration of his pious intentions is itself a song of praise to the Almighty.
What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? Natural piety suggests a return for favors received. What shall this be? the psalmist asks, and then proceeds to give the answer.
13I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
The Pulpit Commentary
I will take the cup of salvation. It has been usual to explain this of actual participation in the contents of a cup offered at a sacrificial meal, and then passed round to the worshippers. But there is no clear evidence of any such usage, except in connection with the Passover, which cannot here be in question. Hengstenberg there fore proposes to regard the phrase as a mere metaphor, like the "cup of trembling" (Isa_51:17, Isa_51:22), and understands the psalmist to mean that he will gladly and thankfully receive God's mercy vouchsafed to him, and thus show his gratitude for it. And call upon the Name of the Lord (comp. Psa_116:4 and Psa_116:17).
I will take the cup of salvation. It has been usual to explain this of actual participation in the contents of a cup offered at a sacrificial meal, and then passed round to the worshippers. But there is no clear evidence of any such usage, except in connection with the Passover, which cannot here be in question. Hengstenberg there fore proposes to regard the phrase as a mere metaphor, like the "cup of trembling" (Isa_51:17, Isa_51:22), and understands the psalmist to mean that he will gladly and thankfully receive God's mercy vouchsafed to him, and thus show his gratitude for it. And call upon the Name of the Lord (comp. Psa_116:4 and Psa_116:17).
14I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
The Pulpit Commentary
I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people (comp. Psa_116:18, Psa_116:19, where the thought is repeated, and lengthened out). We are not told in Isaiah or 2 Kings that Hezekiah made any vows when he lay on his sick bed, but he may probably have done so. He certainly intended, as soon as his cure was complete, to "go up to the house of the Lord" (2Ki_20:8; Isa_38:22).
I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people (comp. Psa_116:18, Psa_116:19, where the thought is repeated, and lengthened out). We are not told in Isaiah or 2 Kings that Hezekiah made any vows when he lay on his sick bed, but he may probably have done so. He certainly intended, as soon as his cure was complete, to "go up to the house of the Lord" (2Ki_20:8; Isa_38:22).
15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15-16. By the plea of being a homeborn servant, he intimates his claim on God's covenant love to His people.
15-16. By the plea of being a homeborn servant, he intimates his claim on God's covenant love to His people.
The Pulpit Commentary
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints (comp. Psa_72:14). It is not a matter of indifference to God, when and under what circumstances each of his saints dies. Rather, it is a matter of deep concern to him. "In him are the issues of life and death" (Psa_68:20), and he appoints to each man the day and attendant circumstances of his demise.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints (comp. Psa_72:14). It is not a matter of indifference to God, when and under what circumstances each of his saints dies. Rather, it is a matter of deep concern to him. "In him are the issues of life and death" (Psa_68:20), and he appoints to each man the day and attendant circumstances of his demise.
16O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
The Pulpit Commentary
O Lord, truly I am thy servant; rather, even so, O Lord, for I am thy servant. Entitled, therefore, to thy care and consideration. I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid (comp. Psa_86:16). "Thine handmaid"—the Church; or, if the writer is Hezekiah, "thy handmaid, Abiyah, the daughter of Zechariah," who "had under standing in the vision of God" (2Ch_26:5; 2Ch_29:1). Thou hast loosed my bonds. The "cords of death" (verse 3) are probably intended.
O Lord, truly I am thy servant; rather, even so, O Lord, for I am thy servant. Entitled, therefore, to thy care and consideration. I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid (comp. Psa_86:16). "Thine handmaid"—the Church; or, if the writer is Hezekiah, "thy handmaid, Abiyah, the daughter of Zechariah," who "had under standing in the vision of God" (2Ch_26:5; 2Ch_29:1). Thou hast loosed my bonds. The "cords of death" (verse 3) are probably intended.
17I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17-19. An ampler declaration of his purpose, designating the place, the Lord's house, or earthly residence in Jerusalem.
17-19. An ampler declaration of his purpose, designating the place, the Lord's house, or earthly residence in Jerusalem.
The Pulpit Commentary
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Scarcely an actual sacrifice. Rather, simple thanksgiving, which, from a sincere heart, is the best sacrifice (see Psa_50:14 and Hos_14:2). And will call upon the Name of the Lord (comp. Psa_116:4 and Psa_116:13).
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Scarcely an actual sacrifice. Rather, simple thanksgiving, which, from a sincere heart, is the best sacrifice (see Psa_50:14 and Hos_14:2). And will call upon the Name of the Lord (comp. Psa_116:4 and Psa_116:13).
18I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
The Pulpit Commentary
I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. Compare the comment on Psa_116:14, whereof this is a repetition.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. Compare the comment on Psa_116:14, whereof this is a repetition.
19In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
The Pulpit Commentary
In the courts of the Lord's house. Thanksgiving was always most appropriately offered in the temple courts, where close at hand dwelt the mysterious presence of God, and where God had appointed that his worshippers should appear before him. In the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. This expression and the preceding suit well with Hezekiah's authorship of the psalm, as Dr. Kay well argues. Praise ye the Lord. The writer calls on all those present (see Psa_116:18) to join him in singing praise to God (comp. Psa_104:1-35; Psa_105:1-45; Psa_106:1-48; Psa_113:1-9; Psa_115:1-18; Psa_117:1-2.).
In the courts of the Lord's house. Thanksgiving was always most appropriately offered in the temple courts, where close at hand dwelt the mysterious presence of God, and where God had appointed that his worshippers should appear before him. In the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. This expression and the preceding suit well with Hezekiah's authorship of the psalm, as Dr. Kay well argues. Praise ye the Lord. The writer calls on all those present (see Psa_116:18) to join him in singing praise to God (comp. Psa_104:1-35; Psa_105:1-45; Psa_106:1-48; Psa_113:1-9; Psa_115:1-18; Psa_117:1-2.).
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Psalms
Chapter 116
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