PSALM CXVI
_The psalmist praises God for his deliverance from thraldom,_
_which he compares to death and the grave_, 1-9.
_The exercises through which he had passed_, 10, 11.
_His gratitude for these mercies, and resolution to live to_
_God's glory_, 12-19.
NOTES ON PSALM CXVI
This Psalm is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:2. _BECAUSE HE HATH INCLINED HIS EAR_] The psalmist
represents himself to be so sick and weak, that he could scarcely
speak. The Lord, in condescension to this weakness, is here considered
as _bowing down his ear to the mouth of the feeble_ _suppliant_, that
he may receive every wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:3. _THE SORROWS OF DEATH_] חבלי מות _chebley
maveth_, the _cables_ or _cords of death_; alluding to their bonds and
fetters during their captivity; or to the cords by which a criminal is
bound who is about to be led out to execution; or to the bandages in
which the dead were envelop... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:5. _GRACIOUS_ IS _THE LORD_] In his own nature.
_AND RIGHTEOUS_] In all his dealings with men.
_OUR GOD_ IS _MERCIFUL._] Of tender compassion to all penitents.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:6. _THE LORD PRESERVED THE SIMPLE_] פתאים
_pethaim_, which all the Versions render _little ones_. Those who are
meek and lowly of heart, who feel the spirit of little children, these
he preserves, as he does little children; and he mentions this
circumstance, because the Lord has a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:7. _RETURN UNTO THY REST, O MY SOUL_] God is the
_centre_ to which all immortal spirits tend, and in connexion with
which alone they can find rest. Every thing _separated_ from its
_centre_ is in a state of _violence_; and, if intelligent, cannot be
happy. All human souls, while sep... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:8. _THOU HAST DELIVERED MY SOUL FROM DEATH_] Thou
hast rescued my _life_ from the _destruction_ to which it was exposed.
_MINE EYES FROM TEARS_] Thou hast turned my _sorrow_ into _joy_.
_MY FEET FROM FALLING._] Thou hast taken me out of the land of
_snares_ and _pitfalls_, and bro... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:9. _I WILL WALK BEFORE THE LORD_] אתהלך
_ethhallech_, I will _set myself to walk_. I am _determined to walk_;
my _eyes_ are now brightened, so that I can _see_; my feet are
_strengthened_, so that I can _walk_; and my _soul_ is _alive_, so
that I can _walk_ with the _living_.
The _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:10. _I BELIEVED, THEREFORE HAVE I SPOKEN_] Distressed
and afflicted as I was, I ever believed thy promises to be true; but I
had great struggles to maintain my confidence; for my afflictions were
great, oppressive, and of long standing.
It is scarcely worth observing that the lette... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:11. _I SAID IN MY HASTE_] This is variously
translated: _I_ _said in my flight_, CHALDEE. In my _excess_, or
ecstasy, VULGATE. In my _ecstasy_, εκστασει, SEPTUAGINT.
[Arabic] _tahayury_, in my _giddiness_, ARABIC. In my _fear_ or
_tremor_, SYRIAC. [Anglo-Saxon], _I quoth in outgoing... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:12. _WHAT SHALL I RENDER_] מה אשיב _mah ashib_,
"What shall I return?"
_FOR HIS BENEFITS_] תגמולוהי _tagmulohi_, "His retributions,"
the returns he had made to my prayers and faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:13. _I WILL TAKE THE CUP OF SALVATION_] Literally,
_The cup_ _of salvation_, or _deliverance, will I lift up_. Alluding
to the action in taking the _cup of blessing_ among the Jews, which,
when the person or master of the family _lifted up_, he said these
words, "Blessed be the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:14. _I WILL PAY MY VOWS UNTO THE LORD NOW IN THE
PRESENCE_ _OF ALL HIS PEOPLE._] He was probably now bringing his
offering to the temple. These words are repeated, Psalms 116:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:15. _PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD_] Many have
understood this verse as meaning, "the saints are too precious in the
Lord's sight, lightly to give them over to death:" and this, _Calmet_
contends, is the true sense of the text. Though they have many
enemies, their lives are prec... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:16. _I_ AM _THY SERVANT_] Thou hast preserved me
alive. I live _with, for_, and _to_ THEE. I am thy _willing domestic,
the son of_ _thine handmaid _- like one born in thy house of a woman
already thy property. I am a _servant_, son of _thy servant_, made
free by thy kindness; but, r... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:17. _I WILL OFFER TO THEE_] As it is most probable
that this Psalm celebrates the _deliverance from Babylon_, it is no
wonder that we find the psalmist so intent on performing the _rites_
of his religion in the temple at Jerusalem, which had been burnt with
fire, and was now revivin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 116:19. _IN THE MIDST OF THEE, O JERUSALEM._] He speaks
as if present in the city, offering his vowed _sacrifices_ in the
temple to the Lord.
Most of this Psalm has been applied to _our Lord_ and his _Church_;
and in this way it has been considered as _prophetic_; and, taken
thus, it i... [ Continue Reading ]