Psalm 116

Introduction.—Ps. 116 is a psalm of thanksgiving in which the psalmist celebrates an experience of personal deliverance. The psalm extols God’s saving power.

In the LXX, Ps. 116 appears as two psalms: vs. 1–9 as Ps. 114 and vs. 10–19 as Ps. 115 (see p. 627).

1. Hath heard. The tense of the Hebrew verb permits the translation “is hearing.” The meaning thus suggested is that the psalmist is praising God for repeated answers to prayer.

2. As long. The psalmist pledges consistency in his prayer habits.

3. Hell. Heb. sheХol, not a hell of torment but the figurative abode of the dead, both of the righteous and of the wicked (see on Prov. 15:11). This text lends no support to the doctrine of an ever-burning hell. The psalmist applies the expressions “sorrows of death” and “pains of hell” to himself as descriptive of experiences he passed through in this life and from which he had been delivered. Hence the expression “pains of hell” can have no connection with an experience after death. The trial through which the psalmist passed had evidently brought him nigh to death.

6. The simple. Heb. pethi, “inexperienced youth,” or “simple youth.” The LXX has nepia, “babes,” the word employed in Matt. 11:25. As a loving father guards and guides the tender feet of his infant child, so the Lord in His mercy guides His children along life’s pathway.

7. Rest. True rest is found only by trusting God fully. Such rest banishes anxiety and restlessness (see Matt. 11:29).

9. I will walk. To walk before (literally, “in the presence of”) God means to be in harmony with Him. Two cannot walk together except they be agreed (see Amos 3:3).

10. I believed. Or, “I trusted.”

Therefore. Better, “when.” The psalmist’s request for deliverance was lodged in strong faith.

11. In my haste. Under heavy affliction men often form hasty judgments concerning their fellow men; but hasty speaking is often followed by bitter remorse. Though men appear deceitful and are frequently unreliable, the situation is seldom as hopeless as it at first appears.

12. His benefits. When apparently forsaken by men from whom we expected assistance, we learn to appreciate the help and benefit that come from heaven. The psalmist wonders how he can best express his gratitude to God for all the benefits bestowed upon him.

14. Pay my vows. It is a serious thing not to pay vows made to the Lord (see Acts 5:1–10).

15. Death of his saints. The Lord does not regard with indifference the death of His saints (see Matt. 10:29–39). Guardian angels accompany the saints through the valley of the shadow of death, mark their resting places, and are the first to greet them in the glorious resurrection morning (Ed 305). It is said that many of the persecuted Christians in the early church went to martyrdom repeating this verse and that its message buoyed up their courage as they passed into the dark valley.

17. Thanksgiving. See on Ps. 107:22.

18. Pay my vows. See on v. 14.

19. In the courts. Praise to God is not to be confined to the closet. Men’s voices bearing testimony to God’s goodness should be heard in the assembly of the saints. Public praise as well as private devotion is commended in the Word of God.

Ellen G. White comments

1–8Ed 166

12 PP 187; 5T 87, 220

12–14DA 348; MH 101

13 5T 317

15 5T 317

18, 19 PP 539