In The Word
Read: Psalm 116
Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death.
116 I love the Lord, because He hears
My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death encompassed me
And the terrors of Sheol came upon me;
I found distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I beseech You, save my life!”
5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is compassionate.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
7 Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For You have rescued my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
My feet from stumbling.
9 I shall walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.
10 I believed when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted.”
11 I said in my alarm,
“All men are liars.”
12 What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
13 I shall lift up the cup of salvation
And call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I shall pay my vows to the Lord,
Oh may it be in the presence of all His people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His godly ones.
16 O Lord, surely I am Your servant,
I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid,
You have loosed my bonds.
17 To You I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And call upon the name of the Lord.
18 I shall pay my vows to the Lord,
Oh may it be in the presence of all His people,
19 In the courts of the Lord’s house,
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
What a most powerful Psalm! Here is a man close to death (Psalm 116:3) who called upon the Lord for his deliverance and received salvation (Psalm 116:6). “I love the Lord because He hears me,” (Psalm 116:1) is much different than what we read yesterday of the dumb-and-deaf man-made idols! This psalmist has had a miraculous healing, and he wanted everyone to hear about it. “I want to pay my vows before your people” (Psalm 116:14, 18); he had to tell everyone what God had done for him.
Sometimes it takes a life-changing experience to really find out what kind of relationship we have with our Heavenly Father. Those of us who have never really taken the time to know Him have difficulty coming to Him in a time of need. We don’t know what to say or ask for. That is why it’s so important to spend time with the Father every day studying His Word, journaling your conversations with Him, and writing His answers. When that difficult time comes, you can have that relationship where you can ask right away for your needs to be met. “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous, yes, our God is compassionate” (Psalm 116:5). You would only know that if you spent time with Him. These daily devotions are meant to help you in that walk. These are meant to help explain the daily Bible readings in simple terms so that you may know Him. After your devotional reading, take time to journal your thoughts, your dreams, and the love you have for your Heavenly Father. He will begin to speak into your heart, revealing His true nature to you, developing that relationship you’ve always wanted.