THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.

Psalm 116

1The Psalmist professeth love and dutiful service to God in return for his deliverance: 12he studieth to express his thankfulness fitly.


1I LOVE the LORD, because 1he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

1 Namely, the LORD.

2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him 2as long as I live.

2 That is, whiles I am alive; or, all the days of my life or suffering. Compare Psalm 137:7.

33The sorrowsa4of death compassed me, and 5the pains of hell 6gatb hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

3 Other, the grieves or smartings.

a 2 Sam. 22:5, 6.

4 That is, which were so great and grievous as death itself; namely, when Saul approached me with his mighty army, 1 Sam. 23:26.

5 That is, which were so grand that they would well have caused my death, and would have brought me to the grave.

6 Hebr. found me.

b got

4Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver 7my soul.

7 That is, my life.

5Gracious is the LORD, and 8righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

8 And therefore He cannot endure His people to be unjustly oppressed.

6The LORD preserveth 9the simple: I was 10brought low, and he helped me.

9 Those who do not rely upon their own courage, but upon the Lord, walking uprightly in His ways.

10 Or, exhausted, macerated, grown thin, that is, I was very near to ruin and ready to perish.

7Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORDc hath 11dealt bountifully with thee.

c Psalm 13:6.

11 Namely, in delivering me out of the hand of Saul.

8For thou hast delivered 12my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

12 That is, me.

9I will walk before the LORD in the land 13of the living.

13 That is, among them who are alive yet upon earth or live and walk yet in this world, as Psalm 27. See the annotation at Psalm 27 on verse 13 and Psalm 56 on verse 13.

1014I believed,d15therefore 16have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

14 Namely, that the LORD would deliver me.

d2 Cor. 4:13.

15 In this sense the Hebrew word is taken likewise in Jer. 29:16.

16 Namely, what faith inspired me in my greatest perplexities. Other, when I spake thus, though I was greatly afflicted. Other, I spake, nevertheless I was much afflicted.

11I said 17in my haste, 18All meneare liars.

17 The sense is: When by reason of my grievous suffering, I made all the haste I could to escape; or, (as others take it) I did let fall hasty and inconsiderate words. See Psalm 31 on verse 22.

18 Namely, whole mankind in general, and every one in particular, so that none can be relied upon at all, but upon the true God alone. Some are of the opinion that David out of human frailty, according to the improbability of the matter, has doubted whether he ever would attain at any time to the promised kingdom (or not).

eRom. 3:4.

1219What shall I 20render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

19 Other, How.

20 Other, render? All his benefits are above me, that is, beyond my ability to recompense the same. See 1 Thes. 3:9. Other, are upon me, that is, I am oversupplied on account of all the benefits which God the Lord has done many times in the past and is still doing this today.

13I will take the cup 21of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

21 Or, of the manifold salvation. As if the prophet said: I shall give solemn and public thanks unto the Lord for all the deliverances which He has wrought for me. He alludes to the manner and custom, practiced about the thanksgiving, when after the offering performed, they made a feast, wherein they rejoiced in the LORD for the mercies and benefits received, giving Him thanks for it; and in token of this joy and thankfulness, as likewise of the brotherly love and unity between the partakers of that feast, they took a cup of wine and all drank out of it. See 1 Chron. 16:2, 3.

14I will pay 22my vows unto the LORD now 23in the presence of all his people.

22 Which I made when I was in deadly danger when Saul and his armies pursued and hunted me from place to place.

23 See 1 Chron. 16:1, 2, 3.

1524Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his 25saints.

24 That is, God shall not think light of, nor shall not revenge the death of his saints. See Psalm 72:14.

25 See the annotation Psalm 4 on verse 3.

16O LORD, 26truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and 27the son of thine handmaid: thou 28hast loosed 29my bonds.

26 As if he said: Since I do so faithfully serve Thee, let it still appear, I pray, that my life is precious in Thine eyes.

27 See Psalm 86:16.

28 By which Thou didst turn Saul back by the news of the Philistines’ invasion, 1 Sam. 23:27.

29 When I was surrounded by Saul and being sufficiently contained in his hands, and was as imprisoned.

17I will offer to thee 30the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

30 Or, the praise-offering, as Psalm 50:14.

1831I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,

31 See the annotation on verse 14; Psalm 61 on verse 5.

19In 32the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

32 Understand here the tent wherein David had placed the ark of the covenant. See 1 Chron. 16:1.