Psalm 117

I. Overview/Summary statement/Declaration Psalm 116: 1-2

Psalm 116:1–2 CSB

1 I love the Lord because he has heard my appeal for mercy. 2 Because he has turned his ear to me, I will call out to him as long as I live.

I love the Lord!

Because…

· Heard my appeal for mercy

· Turned His ear to me.

[Therefore] I will call out to Him as long as I live.

· When we know who He is (self-revelation), we call out for help/mercy.

· He hears and responds

1 John 5:15 - 14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.

Mercy is part of His nature so it is according to His will. Shows dependence.

James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

· Salvation – Romans 10:13 – “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

· Times of trouble – His greater will might be to save you through affliction, but He is merciful IN the affliction

Romans 8:28

John 16:33

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Because Christ has conquered the world, your affliction is purifying/sanctifying and only HE knows to what degree you and I are called to endure affliction.

In the storms, you can ride the waves of his grace and not abandon ship. There’s no reason to abandon if He’s captaining the ship.

· As He responds – gives us peace as we endure affliction or delivers us through it – this causes us to love Him and trust Him more. Remember, none of us knows which God will do nor how long that will last. ONLY HE KNOWS.

· As we love and trust Him more, we call on Him more, and the growth cycle continues.

II. It was as bad as it could get (3-4)

(Psalm 116:3 ) Ropes of death wrapped around me, torments of Sheol overcame me.

Psalm 116:3 CSB

3 The ropes of death were wrapped around me, and the torments of Sheol overcame me; I encountered trouble and sorrow.

Either a deadly illness or perhaps a dangerous enemy.

I am thankful for this descriptions because we find ourselves in afflictions where it seems it could get no worse and there is no way out – we WILL be defeated, destroyed, etc. – “this is too much!”

(Psalm 116:4 ) Then I called on the Lord: Lord, save me!”

Psalm 116:4 CSB

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”

Couple of things:

1. Notice when he called on the Lord – last resort!

We have to learn to call to God early and often!

2. It’s never too late to call on God.

The psalmist learned this…

III. The Lord is merciful and revealed His character to the psalmist (5-9)

God’s actions led to the psalmist knowing who the Lord is:

(Psalm 116:5 ) The Lord is:

Psalm 116:5 CSB

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.

· Gracious – “Disposed to bestow favors or blessings. Friendly. Kind”

· Righteous – Just, free from guilt or wrong-doing. Good

· Compassionate – To show kindness or forgiveness. To take pity and to love.

(Psalm 116:6 ) The Lord:

Psalm 116:6 CSB

6 The Lord guards the inexperienced; I was helpless, and he saved me.

· Guards/protects the inexperienced (or simple)

Kidner: “‘The Simple’ is a revealing description to use, for in the Old Testament it has no trace of merit. ‘The silly’ would hardly be too strong a term for these gullible, feckless people who roam the pages of Proverbs drifting into trouble. It is humble of the psalmist to identify with them; It is humble of God to have time for them (if ‘them’ is the right pronoun for us to use).”

· Rescues/saves the helpless

This revelation leads to an important practice we need to master: self-exhortation (Psalm 116:7 )

Psalm 116:7 CSB

7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

In light of God’s goodness, exercise your gift of faith based on who you know God is, preaching truth to yourself, choose/determine to rest in him (even if the storm is still raging!)

(Psalm 116:8 ) He, again, grounds this exhortation in God’s actions.

Psalm 116:8 CSB

8 For you, Lord, rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

IV. What if I doubt/struggle to trust? (Psalm 116: 10-11 )

Psalm 116:10–11 CSB

10 I believed, even when I said, “I am severely oppressed.” 11 In my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”

God’s gift of faith is enduring and you will find that even in the darkest storm; even when you lost your cool, you faith still held!

I have been in spiritual battles throughout my life when everything seemed to be stripped away and I doubted everything and everyone – yet my faith held.

We need those times to demonstrate to ourselves that our faith is real and not just theory from a religious teacher. We don’t like them, but we need them.

V. Response (12-19)

1. Worship (Psalm 116: 13-14 )

Psalm 116:13–14 CSB

13 I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. 14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

Psalm 116:17–19 CSB

17 I will offer you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the Lord’s house— within you, Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

2. Unconditional Surrender resulting infreedom (Psalm 116: 15-16 )

Psalm 116:15–16 CSB

15 The death of his faithful ones is valuable in the Lord’s sight. 16 Lord, I am indeed your servant; I am your servant, the son of your female servant. You have loosened my bonds.

(15) Such freedom that even death is a win!

Psalm 118:6 – The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?