Psalms 116
Big idea: The only psalm that opens by saying I love Yahweh, and it gives the reason immediately: because he listens to my voice. Not because of his power or his majesty — because he leaned over. What follows is a man working out what to do about it, and his answer is unimpressive on purpose: I will take the cup of salvation and call on his name; I will pay my vows in the presence of all his people. And in the middle sits one of the strangest and most comforting sentences in the book: precious in Yahweh's sight is the death of his saints.
Psalm 116 pays its vows in the courts of the house. Psalm 117 calls the whole world in there with him.
116:1–9 — Return to your rest, my soul
The psalm opens with the reason for the love and it is disarmingly small: 'because he LISTENS to my voice'. Not because he rescued — because he turned an ear. Then the near-death, and the recovery described in a sentence the psalmist says to himself: return to your REST, my soul. The instruction is to stop being on alert, which is harder than it sounds.
1 I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy. 2 Because he has turned his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on Yahweh’s name: “Yahweh, I beg you, deliver my soul.” 5 Yahweh is gracious and righteous. Yes, our God is merciful. 6 Yahweh preserves the simple. I was brought low, and he saved me. 7 Return to your rest, my soul, for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before Yahweh in the land of the living.
116:10–19 — What will I give to Yahweh?
The second half asks what you give back, and answers it four times without ever landing on a payment: take the cup, call on the name, pay the vows, offer thanksgiving. Every response is receiving or speaking. And verse 15 sits in the middle of it — precious in Yahweh's sight is the DEATH of his saints — which is either the strangest comfort in the Psalter or its most costly.
10 I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.” 11 I said in my haste, “All people are liars.” 12 What will I give to Yahweh for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call on Yahweh’s name. 14 I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints. 16 Yahweh, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant girl. You have freed me from my chains. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on Yahweh’s name. 18 I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of Yahweh’s house, in the middle of you, Jerusalem. Praise Yah!
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).