Canon Rob's Reflections

In this Season of Easter the psalms appointed for each day celebrate God’s presence in the world and in the lives of those who are faithful. Today’s psalm is just one example. It is clearly a personal prayer of thanksgiving and relief having been rescued by God. “I love the Lord for he has heard the voice of my supplication; because he inclined his ear to me on the day I called to him.” [Verse 1.] As is usual, we don’t know what the circumstances were, but the author has prayed that the Lord will save him and his prayer has been answered in the way that he hoped. Not all prayers are answered thus, as some of the psalms make clear. It may also have been your experience too. However, God does answer our prayers, even if not in the way we hoped or expected. It may be a “yes,” a “no” or even “not yet.” Such was the experience of Jesus, not least when he hung dying on the cross. Yet three days later, on that first Easter, the prayer was answered in a way that most could not possibly imagine. Whatever situation the psalmist was in, it was very serious and clearly frightening. He was at death’s door! Verse 2 makes that clear: “The snares of death encompassed me; the pains of hell took hold of me; by grief and sorrow was I held.” It is at this point of desperation that he prays, “O Lord, I beg you, deliver my soul.” [Verse 3.] Whilst not appointed for the day, you may find it helpful to read verses 4 – 9 which show how, coming safely through this awful experience – whatever it was – the author realises just how loving and caring God is. He is “gracious,” “full of compassion” and “watches over the simple.” Realising this, the psalmist writes with certainty, “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” The relief is almost tangible. He knows that God has saved him and it is this truth which the Christian faith proclaims, especially during Eastertide. At least one of my commentaries suggests that Psalm 116 was used at the Passover celebrations: that too being a feast to recall freedom for God’s people. You may also like to read part of the 22nd Chapter of the Second Book of Samuel in the Old Testament. It is the Song of David (later to be King) on the day when he was saved by God from his enemies and from Saul, and begins: “The Lord is my stronghold, my fortress and my champion, my God, my rock where I find safety..” [New English Bible translation.] 


Whatever the cause of his suffering and near death experience, from verse 10 the psalmist considers what he can do to show God how grateful he is that he has been saved. In verse 10 he asks, “How shall I repay the Lord for all the benefits he has given to me?” Firstly, in verse 11, he will offer a sacrifice to God: “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” At the time of writing this psalm it would be usual for someone in the author’s position to offer a ‘libation,’ a drink offering in the Temple, as a thanksgiving for being saved by the Lord. Afterwards he will make a public declaration of what God has done and promise to serve Him in the future. “I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” [Verse 11 and repeated in verse 16 to show just how important it is to do so.] The early chapters of the Book of Leviticus are all about the laws concerning offerings and sacrifices. After the Exodus they became a vital part of the way of life for the Israelites as signs of their obedience to the Lord who rescued them. So the author of Psalm 116 is doing what was expected of him although there is no doubting his gratitude and integrity. As he says in verse 14, “O Lord, I am your servant, your servant, the child of your handmaid: you have freed me from my bonds.” The verse before this is interesting, especially as it is said having been saved from death: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” [Verse 13.] It may suggest that God shares the sorrow of those who grieve, or of the person who has died after a period of suffering. However, included in the psalm during Eastertide, it also raises the hope of eternal life in God’s closer presence.