Good morning,
This week we will look at Psalm 116, Salvation (Monday), Psalm 115 Confidence in God (Tuesday), 1 Peter 4:12-5:14 (Wednesday), Psalm 113, Bless the Lord (Thursday), and Psalm 112, The blessings and responsibilities of a righteous life (Friday).
People in the Old Testament were saved. The standard was the same. They needed to repent of their sins and by faith call upon the name of the Lord. Psalm 116 shows us this. We will see the Psalmist desire a relationship with God. We see God’s mercy, graciousness, righteousness, deliverance, and love. The Psalmist calls upon the Lord, believes on the Lord, walked with the Lord, and is thankful.
“I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.6 The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.16 O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.19 In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.”
The Psalmist calls upon the Lord four times in this Psalm. His focus is on the Lord. He knows he is wicked and that God is righteous. He knows God is merciful. That is what he wants.
Then he believes on the Lord, begins walking with the Lord, and serves God with thanksgiving.
Is this a picture of our lives? Are we serving the Lord? Do we do it out of an attitude of thanksgiving? Is our relationship to God really precious to us?
It was to the Psalmist.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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