1 I love Jehovah, for he hath heard my voice, my supplications.
2 For he inclined his ear unto me, and I will call [upon him] in my days.
3 Bands of death compassed me, and straits of Sheol seized me: I found trouble and sorrow;
4 And on Jehovah’s name I call; I pray, O 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 to 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.
9 I will walk before Jehovah in lands of the living.
10 I believed, for I speak; as for me, I was greatly afflicted.
11 I said in my haste (alarm), All mankind [are] false.
12 How shall I requite to Jehovah all his bestowals upon me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation (pl.) and call on the name of Jehovah.
14 I will pay my vows to Jehovah, yea in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the eyes of Jehovah [is] the death of his saints.
16 Yea, O Jehovah, for I [am] thy servant. I [am] thy servant, son of thy handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 To thee will I sacrifice the sacrifice of praise, and on Jehovah’s name will I call.
18 My vows to Jehovah I will pay, yea before all his people,
19 In the courts of Jehovah’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye Jah.
Notes on Psalm 116
Here we see the lovingkindness of Jehovah (Who is therefore loved) in delivering the simple ones, the righteous remnant from under the shadow of death that oppressed them. But the truth of this habitually applies to the suffering Christian (2 Cor. 4), and not merely at a special time or Jacob’s hour, when he is to be delivered out of it. The “haste” is not carnal precipitancy, but of such alarm as would make one hurry away at once. Comfort comes, but Jehovah is trusted in faith, which is better still. The end is praise of Jah.