Psalms 116

i. 1. Answered prayer evokes love and lifelong praise (Psalms 116:1-4). 2. Jehovah has proved Himself true to His revealed character by His gracious dealings with the Psalmist, who can now look forward to a prolonged life of tranquil service (Psalms 116:5-9). ii. 1. In his sorest trouble he had not lost faith, and now he will give thanks for Jehovah’s mercy (Psalms 116:10-14). 2. Jehovah’s care for His beloved ones, illustrated by his recent experience, shall be gratefully acknowledged by the public performance of his vows and eucharistic sacrifices in the Temple (Psalms 116:15-19). The Psalm thus falls into two main divisions, each with two subdivisions. The LXX, followed by the Vulg., divides the Psalm into two, and according to their numeration Psalms 116:1-9 form Psalms 114; Psalms 116:10-19 form Psalms 115. The separation of the Ps. into two is doubtless wrong, but it recognises that a fresh division begins at Psalms 116:10. ‘I believed’ corresponds to ‘I love’ in Psalms 116:1. Psalms 115 is a congregational prayer; Psalms 116 is an individual thanksgiving for deliverance from imminent danger of death. The language is general, and the precise nature of the danger does not appear: most likely it was sickness. In many points the Psalm reminds us of Hezekiah’s thanksgiving (Isaiah 38). But whatever it was, the danger had been extreme, and the thanksgiving is correspondingly earnest. The Psalmist was familiar with older Psalms, and freely adapts language from them (especially Psalms 18, 27, 31, 56) but gives it fresh force from the depths of his own recent experience. The strong Aramaic colouring of the language[75], together with this free use of earlier Psalms, points to a late, possibly a very late, date. It is however hardly probable that the Hasidaeans of the Maccabaean period (1Ma 7:13 ff.) are meant by the ‘saints’ (chasîdîm) of Psalms 116:15. [75] For the form of suffix in Psalms 116:7 cp. Psalms 103:3 ff. That in Psalms 116:12 is the regular Aramaic form. See Ges.-Kautzsch, Gramm. § 91, 2. R. 2.Part of this Psalm is used in the office for the Thanksgiving of Women after Child-birth.

Psalms 116:1-2

1, 2. Answered prayer demands lifelong love and gratitude.

Psalms 116:2

2. Because … therefore] Better For … and. inclined his ear] Psalms 17:6 and often. as long as I live] Lit. in my days (Isaiah 39:8). Cp. Psalms 63:4, in my life.

Psalms 116:3-4

3, 4. The Psalmist’s prayer in peril. Cp. Psalms 18:4-6.

Psalms 116:4

4. the name of Jehovah, more emphatically than Jehovah alone, denotes His revealed character (Exodus 34:5), to which the Psalmist appealed, and not in vain.

Psalms 116:5-6

5, 6. The character of Jehovah, realised in the Psalmist’s experience.

Psalms 116:6

6. the simple] Those whose want of wisdom and experience exposes them to danger. Cp. Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:130. LXX τὰνήπια, babes; cp. Matthew 11:25. I was brought low] Cp. Psalms 79:8; Psalms 142:6. and he helped me] R.V. saved. Cp. Psalms 116:13.

Psalms 116:7-9

7–9. The Psalmist encourages himself with the recollection of God’s mercy.

Psalms 116:8-9

8, 9. Taken almost verbatim from Psalms 56:13 (hence the transition to the second person), with the change of light to lands, suggested by Psalms 27:13. The free and joyous service of God in the land of life and light is the contrast to that paralysis of existence in Sheol which he had dreaded. Cp. Isaiah 38:3; Isaiah 38:11.

Psalms 116:10-14

10–14. Faith’s triumph must be followed by grateful thanksgiving.

Psalms 116:12

12. ‘Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi?’ was the question which Richard of Bury, bishop of Durham 1334–1345, the most learned man of his country and age, asked himself repeatedly, and answered by making provision for a band of poor scholars to serve God and His Church. See Lightfoot’s Leaders of the Northern Church, p. 105.

Psalms 116:13

13. the cup of salvation] Lit. salvations; the cup to be drunk as a part of the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psalms 116:14) for great and manifold deliverance. Cp. ‘the cup of blessing’ in the service of the Passover (Matthew 26:27). call upon] Rather, proclaim the name of Jehovah, acknowledging that to Him alone is my gratitude due.

Psalms 116:14

14. This verse which is repeated as Psalms 116:18 is omitted in the best MSS of the LXX, and may have been inserted here by mistake. Its omission would make the stanza Psalms 116:10-13 agree in length with the corresponding stanza Psalms 116:1-4; still, the repeated resolution of thanksgiving is not out of place.

Psalms 116:15-19

15–19. Jehovah’s care for His beloved ones has been illustrated in the Psalmist’s experience, and for these mercies he will give public thanks in the Temple.

Psalms 116:16

16. Lit. I beseech thee, Jehovah, for I am thy servant. The precative interjection would naturally be followed by an imperative, as in Psalms 116:4 b, hear me, or the like; but the Psalmist breaks off into thanksgiving. thy servant, [omit and] the son of thy handmaid] So Psalms 86:16. ‘The son of thy handmaid’ is a synonym for ‘thy servant,’ but denoting a closer relationship, for servants ‘born in the house’ (Genesis 14:14) were the most trusted dependents. Cp. ‘of the household of God,’ Ephesians 2:19. It is hardly, as Delitzsch thinks, an allusion to the piety of the Psalmist’s mother. loosed my bonds] He had been like a prisoner condemned to death, Psalms 116:3. Cp. Psalms 107:10; Psalms 107:14.

Psalms 116:17

17. Unto thee will I offer … and proclaim the name of Jehovah, as Psalms 116:13. sacrifice of thanksgiving] See Leviticus 7:11 ff.

Psalms 116:18

18. As in Psalms 22:25 stress is laid upon the public confession of gratitude. Cp. Psalms 66:13.

Psalms 116:19

19. Praise ye the Lord] Hallelujah, probably, with LXX, to be transferred to the beginning of Psalms 117.