Scripture: Psalm 116
1 I love the Lord, because he hears me;
he listens to my prayers.
2 He listens to me
every time I call to him.
3 The danger of death was all around me;
the horrors of the grave closed in on me;
I was filled with fear and anxiety.
4 Then I called to the Lord,
“I beg you, Lord, save me!”
5 The Lord is merciful and good;
our God is compassionate.
6 The Lord protects the helpless;
when I was in danger, he saved me.
7 Be confident, my heart,
because the Lord has been good to me.
8 The Lord saved me from death;
he stopped my tears
and kept me from defeat.
9 And so I walk in the presence of the Lord
in the world of the living.
10 I kept on believing, even when I said,
“I am completely crushed,”
11 even when I was afraid and said,
“No one can be trusted.”
12 What can I offer the Lord
for all his goodness to me?
13 I will bring a wine offering to the Lord,
to thank him for saving me.
14 In the assembly of all his people
I will give him what I have promised.
15 How painful it is to the Lord
when one of his people dies!
16 I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did.
You have saved me from death.
17 I will give you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and offer my prayer to you.
18-19 In the assembly of all your people,
in the sanctuary of your Temple in Jerusalem,
I will give you what I have promised.
Praise the Lord!
Observation:
The psalmist expresses his continual faith in the Lord who has helped in multiple circumstances in life. He writes: “The Lord is merciful and good; our God is compassionate. The Lord protects the helpless; when I was in danger, he saved me. Be confident, my heart, because the Lord has been good to me.” (Psalm 116:5-7)
Application:
One of the best ways to praise the Lord is to remember his mercy and goodness to us in past circumstances. When you really think about it, the great celebrations in faith are acts of remembrance like the Passover, like Communion, where we remember and are grateful to our God. The psalmist’s faith is fortified when he remembers God’s deliverance in his own circumstances of life. His appropriate response to God’s mercy is to bring an offering and proclaim God’s acts of compassion in the midst of the assembly. Our blessings are not for us alone but should be shared so that others might hear and know of God’s amazing love and provision.
Prayer:
Lord God, we remember your hand of grace and your ever-present help in times of testing and trouble. Thank you for the faith that you have given us and help us to increase our faith in you as we remember every act of provision, mercy, and love. We are especially thankful for our salvation in your Son, our Lord and Redeemer. help us to always remember you and your presence in our lives through your Holy Spirit. Help us to live a life of praising you on a continual basis that others might know of your amazing love and grace. Amen!