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Psalms 116:4-8 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

4 Then called I upon the name of Jehovah: I beseech thee, Jehovah, deliver my soul.

5 Gracious is Jehovah and righteous; and our God is merciful.

6 Jehovah keepeth the simple: I was brought low, and he saved me.

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

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

Commentary on Psalms 116 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


PSALM 116

Ps 116:1-19. The writer celebrates the deliverance from extreme perils by which he was favored, and pledges grateful and pious public acknowledgments.

1, 2. A truly grateful love will be evinced by acts of worship, which calling on God expresses (Ps 116:13; Ps 55:16; 86:7; compare Ps 17:6; 31:2).

3, 4. For similar figures for distress see Ps 18:4, 5.

gat hold upon me—Another sense ("found") of the same word follows, as we speak of disease finding us, and of our finding or catching disease.

5-8. The relief which he asked is the result not of his merit, but of God's known pity and tenderness, which is acknowledged in assuring himself (his "soul," Ps 11:1; 16:10) of rest and peace. All calamities [Ps 116:8] are represented by death, tears, and falling of the feet (Ps 56:13).

9. walk before the Lord—act, or live under His favor and guidance (Ge 17:1; Ps 61:7).

land of the living—(Ps 27:13).

10, 11. Confidence in God opposed to distrust of men, as not reliable (Ps 68:8, 9). He speaks from an experience of the result of his faith.

11. in my haste—literally, "terror," or "agitation," produced by his affliction (compare Ps 31:22).

12-14. These are modes of expressing acts of worship (compare Ps 116:4; Ps 50:14; Jon 2:9).

13. the cup of salvation—the drink offering which was part of the thank offering (Nu 15:3-5).

14. now—(compare Ps 115:2). "Oh, that (I may do it)" in the presence, &c.

15, 16. By the plea of being a homeborn servant, he intimates his claim on God's covenant love to His people.

17-19. An ampler declaration of his purpose, designating the place, the Lord's house, or earthly residence in Jerusalem.