Run The Play - Psalm 116

Welcome

Announcements

†CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 116:12-14

Paul Mulner, Elder

Minister: What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?

Congregation: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

†PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION

†OPENING PSALM OF PRAISE #9B

“Wholehearted Thanksgiving”

†CONFESSION OF SIN & ASSURANCE OF PARDON

based on Psalm 116

Minister: Call on the name of the Lord! “O Lord,” we pray, “deliver our souls.” Before the Lord, we confess our sins.

TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION

Minister: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple, and saves those who are brought low. Return, precious souls, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Congregation: I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE 1 Thess. 4:13-18 Austin Prince

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!” (Psalm 96:8, ESV)

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

†HYMN OF PREPARATION #446

“Be Thou My Vision”

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy scripture to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such a way hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our savior Jesus Christ.

SERMON Psalm 116 // Run The Play

TEXT Psalm 116

Psalm 116 ESV

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; 9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.” 12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

AFTER SCRIPTURE

Turn my heart toward your statures and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; renew my life according to your word.

Introduction Perhaps you’ve heard of a trend that’s grown popular in recent years called “deconstructing” your faith. In short, it’s when people grow skeptical of their beliefs and their upbringing in the church. They look back and see it as restrictive, oppressive, or even abusive, and as a result, they reevaluate their faith. Some break down what they once held dear, keeping only what they deem valuable and discarding the rest. More often, though, they walk away from faith entirely. Now, it’s true that abuses can happen in the church at the hands of wicked or foolish people, giving someone legitimate reason to question everything. But for many jumping on this bandwagon, it’s less about that and more about wanting to run headlong into their sin without restrictions. The church—and God— are standing in the way. They want to sleep with their girlfriend, but God says no, so they think, “Maybe I should question God’s existence altogether. That’ll show Him.” They want to cheat, or keep their addictions or live for themselves, and God says no, so the easiest route is to question God Himself. “Did God really say?” Tale, literally, as old as time.

In Psalm 116, David takes the opposite approach. Instead of questioning God to justify chasing his own sin, David deconstructs sin and temptation to run harder toward God. “Maybe,” David muses, “my skepticism should target the empty promises of temptation that never deliver. Maybe I should doubt my own strength and self-reliance. Maybe I should question the power of man.” David flips the script and calls sin’s bluff. If you’re ever in a season of doubt—or tempted into one—his example here is brilliant. Make sure your doubts aren’t just a mask for finding God inconvenient. Ensure they also point the other way: be skeptical of sin, idols, and temptations too.

Outline (survey of the text) The Faithfulness of God (vv. 1-9) The Feebleness of Man (vv. 10-16) The Festival of the Saints (vv. 17-19)

The Faithfulness of God (vv. 1-9) “I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!’ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 116:1–9, ESV)

(start here)

“I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1–2, ESV)

David first directs his skepticism toward what actually responds to him in his distress. In Psalm 115, he famously wrote, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.” (Psalm 115:4–8, ESV)

The idols of this world are lifeless and non-responsive. We can cry out to money, sex, fame, or anything else promising relief—things that shimmer with an illusion of life—but they don’t answer in our distress. David says he loves the Lord because God hears his voice and bends down to listen. One thing David cherishes is that God answers prayer.

David’s Prayer Answered “The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!’ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.” (Psalm 116:3–6, ESV)

We might know conceptually that God can answer prayer, but do we love it the way David does here? That God hears—that He’s really there, listening, and willing to help? Sometimes we shy away from saying we love God for answering prayer because we don’t truly expect Him to. We hesitate to ask for specific things, fearing the answers. Instead, we pray vaguely, taking pride in praying while avoiding the risk of noticing whether He responds. But David loves that God hears his cries and delivers him. His relationship with God through prayer fuels his love.

Prayer isn’t a blank check—say the words, and God does whatever you want. Scripture teaches us to be specific, persistent, and then rest in God’s will. He will answer, maybe not as you expect, but always for your good. The problem isn’t unanswered prayer; it’s our fear of answers we don’t want.

In contrast, when we cry to the world for help, our pleas fall on deaf ears and dead bones. Those things can’t respond or save, leaving us heavy, burdened, ashamed, and restless.

Rest “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” (Psalm 116:7, ESV)

Because God hears our prayers—because we’re not shouting into a void—because His presence is near to the frightened and vulnerable, David says his soul can rest. What picture comes to mind when you think of rest? Maybe you’re on vacation with a drink and a book, watching a game, or sitting in a favorite chair. Maybe you’re with loved ones, or maybe alone. Those moments are a grace in this life, but they’re just a shadow of true rest. They can lift us briefly, but they can’t sustain the soul. The Lord can. He hears us and is near, dealing with us bountifully. His rest is full and real, His forgiveness final, His support constant—sending the Holy Spirit to bear the fruits of His love and strength in us.

David once sought rest elsewhere and found only a mirage. Turning from his skepticism of sin and comparing it to God’s faithfulness, he says:

Deliverance and Uprightness “For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 116:8–9, ESV)

In this beautiful triad, David highlights God’s all-encompassing faithfulness. His soul is delivered from death—the ultimate redemption, stripping death of its sting. His eyes are freed from tears—God is near to the brokenhearted, lifting immediate burdens and quiet sorrows.

“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8, ESV). “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes…” (Revelation 21:4, ESV).

His feet are kept from stumbling—the Lord, a good shepherd, guides to still waters, transforming us from pride and envy to humility and love.

We walk in the land of the living—not as the walking dead or wounded, but with hope, help, and rest. This isn’t wishful thinking; the Lord answers, He’s here, and we walk by faith, upheld through all things.

The Feebleness of Man (vv. 10-16)

“I believed, even when I spoke: ‘I am greatly afflicted’; I said in my alarm, ‘All mankind are liars.’ What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.” (Psalm 116:10–16, ESV)

(start here)

The Feebleness of Man “I believed, even when I spoke: ‘I am greatly afflicted’; I said in my alarm, ‘All mankind are liars.’” (Psalm 116:10–11, ESV)

In his affliction, David surveys the world and finds no redeemers. “All mankind are liars” isn’t just frustration—it’s his conclusion that hope isn’t found in people. No one can or will redeem him like the Lord. Even the mightiest are mere men, lacking the love and nearness God offers.

So David turns to praise: “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 116:12–13, ESV)

He lifts the cup of salvation—likely a drink offering of thanksgiving—acknowledging God’s countless benefits. At Passover, Christ lifted a similar cup, calling it the new covenant in His blood, giving thanks to the Father. What David knew—that God, not the world, is the true redeemer—found fulfillment in Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him.

God’s Care vs. Man’s Indifference “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.” (Psalm 116:15–16, ESV)

David sees that the saints’ lives are precious to God. He cares deeply, His greatness making Him more present, not distant. All of God focuses on all of you—never half-hearted or sporadic. He doesn’t tire of compassion. When I hear of distant tragedies, my heart stirs briefly, but it’s hard to sustain care. Not so with God. The saints’ deaths are precious too—their burdens end, and redemption welcomes them to eternal life. We are His delight.

David contrasts this with human security. Where else is such love found? So much of life is transactional—employers value us for profit, not affection. What benefit do we bring God? Yet He loves us. David calls himself God’s servant, a slave freed from worldly chains. The world’s slavery is drudgery; God’s slavery is joy and freedom.

The Festival of the Saints (vv. 17-19) “I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 116:17–19, ESV)

Having deconstructed sin, David resolves that God deserves his praise. His ambitions widen: he’ll offer thanksgiving, fulfill vows before God’s people, and praise in Jerusalem.

Praise is a sacrifice—not of bulls or goats, but a grateful heart. It takes effort, perception, and courage to give credit where it’s due. Despite God’s abundant grace, we often need stirring to praise. David is determined to give it, seeing gratitude as worship’s highest form—appreciating who God is and what He’s done. We should speak of God’s goodness near and far—to our families, friends, and beyond. The church’s eager desire is to expand this praise across the earth, offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving to all.

What is the application here?

David is teaching us to run the play—to contemplate and meditate on the history and promises of sin, to gather all its lies into a big pile and take a deep breath of its foul stench so we never forget its true nature. He encourages us to apply this understanding to the temptations we face daily: "If I give in to my lusts right now, what will happen? If I remain bitter, what will happen? If I treat the people in my life and home as obstacles and consider myself above all, what will happen?" After the fleeting feeling of relief or pleasure, I will be left empty, even more so than before. I will hurt others along the way, carry more burdens, and find that the oasis was filled with mud. But what if I walk with the Lord? What if I call out in prayer? What if I follow Christ and let the seed of my life fall into the ground and die? For David, this led to life and vitality. It allows us to see God's faithfulness. He is the one who listens to our cries, collects our tears in a bottle, and sees our lives as precious. He never lets us down.

This Psalm encourages us to turn to God in prayer more readily. "The Lord has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live" (v.2). The idols of this world are silent and indifferent, but God answers us when we call. To see those answers more clearly and frequently, we are encouraged to pray persistently and specifically, noticing how God shows up in the details of our lives. The access we have to Him in our joys and trials brings us rest. We have help in times of trouble and a friend closer than a brother. Don't abandon prayer because you fear the answers. Don't try to simplify or soften the complexity of God's sovereignty by praying vaguely and keeping your hopes low. Pray specifically, lean into Him, and see what He does. Tell Him the exact dollar amount of the upcoming bill. Give Him names, dates, and times when you need deliverance. He is the one who keeps your feet from stumbling as you walk in the land of the living.

This Psalm compels us to praise and create memorials to God's faithfulness, both privately and publicly. We can follow the examples of David in this Psalm and others, the songs of Moses, the twelve stones of Joshua, and many more. We should make an effort to mark and remember God's goodness, how He has dealt bountifully with us and answered our prayers. This might be as personal as keeping a journal or writing our own songs. David's resolve at the conclusion of this Psalm is to praise in the presence of all God's people. What would this look like as the spheres of your life expand? We should acknowledge God's goodness in our homes, sharing stories around the dinner table about what God is doing in our lives—how He is faithful and answers our calls for help. How has God been faithful to Mom, Dad, or our family? We should pause and recognize Him. Our children should grow up saying they have witnessed too much to be deceived by idols; they have seen and heard far too much of God's work to be swayed by doubt. As we extend into the church, something we already do, we should mark God's faithfulness among one another. During our weekly prayer time, which already happens, we should also remember to note when God has answered the prayers we have prayed together. We are not endlessly asking—He is responding. As we come to take communion together in a moment, we lift up the cup of thanksgiving, the cup of the Lord's blood, the shepherd who sought the sheep at the cost of His own life. There is no one to trust like the Lord.

Exhortation:

So, here is the exhortation: Step back and survey your world. Follow the hands of God and remember their strength and tender care. Look down the path He has led you on and marvel. Return to the field you purchased when you followed the Lord, and count all the pieces of gold you found there. Gratitude and recollection should bring you private comfort and compel you to public worship.

†HYMN OF RESPONSE #465

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Leader: Lift up your hearts!

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The Apostles’ Creed p. 851

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

Minister: Here is the table of the Lord, we are gathered to his supper for a foretaste of things eternal. All who have faith in the risen lord and are united with his church in baptism are invited to come. Come, you who are fearful, to find peace in him. Come, you who are weak, to be made strong in faith. Come, you who are broken, and be made whole. It is not I who invite you, but the Lord. You who trust in him, come.

Congregation: What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward us? We will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast. O taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed are they who trust in him.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS

SHARING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

CLOSING PRAYER

†OUR RESPONSE

“Come, Thou Almighty King”

To the great one in three eternal praises be,

hence evermore. His sovereign majesty

may we in glory see, and to eternity love and adore.

†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord makes His face to shine upon you and is gracious to you. The Lord lifts up His countenance upon you and gives you peace. Amen.

Grace Notes:

In Psalm 116, the Psalmist compares the the strength and responsiveness of the world to the strength and responsiveness of God. His soul needs rest and his life needs redemption, but the world’s offers are all a mirage—the idols are deaf, dumb, and don’t asnwer his prayers. This Psalm teaches us to “run the play”—walk the path of wisdom which can see the dead end from afar without walking down it by experience. But the Lord has dealt with him bountifully, hearing his prayers, acknowledging the smallest of concerns and tears, and showing himself mighty to save. The Psalmist’s resolve upon reflection is to praise, privately and publically — the acknowledge what the Lord has done and to appreciate it in the hearing of others — to stirr others up to take stock of their own situations and do the same.

This Psalm exhorts us to seek the Lord more quickly in prayer. We do not need to try any other means of hope and redemption. We have done that our whole lives and know that those wells are empty. Instead, we should turn right away to the Lord who hears us—the one who is near and responsive. Nothing is too small for us to mention.

We are also encouraged to pray specifically. We often won’t know if God anwers our prayers because we don’t ask with any clarity or distinction. Sometimes we try to shield ourselves from being let down by asking for things vaguely. Sometimes we ask vaguely because we don’t give much attention or hope to prayer at all. But the Psalmist is overwhelmed that God shows up and hears of his heart and the needs of his life. Let us be quick to do the same.

The Psalmist’s example is also to make a public testimony of God’s faithfulness. We, too, should take effort to mark the goodness of God, telling stories of His provision, comfort, and strength. Our church members and our children should be shielded from the temptation to “deconstruct” their faith in part because they have simply been witness to too much of the power and faithfulness of God to be duped by the lie of His powerlessness or distance from them.