Psalm 116:1-8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 116:1-9

In this part of the psalm we have, I. A general account of David's experience, and his pious resolutions (Ps. 116:1, 2), which are as the contents of the whole psalm, and give an idea of it. 1. He had experienced God's goodness to him in answer to prayer: He has heard my voice and my supplications. David, in straits, had humbly and earnestly begged mercy of God, and God had heard him, that is, had graciously accepted his prayer, taken cognizance of his case, and granted him an answer of peace.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:1

I love the Lord ,.... As the Messiah, David's antitype, did; of which he gave the fullest proof by his obedience to his will; and as David, the man after God's own heart, did, and as every good man does; and the Lord is to be loved for the perfections of his nature, and especially as they are displayed in Christ, and salvation by him; and for his works of creation, providence, and grace, and particularly for his great love shown in redemption, regeneration, and other blessings of grace, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:2

Because he hath inclined his ear unto me ,.... Not as hard of hearing, for his ear is not heavy that it cannot hear; he is quick of hearing, and his ears are always open to the righteous; it rather denotes his readiness to hear; he hearkens and hears, he listens to what his people say, and hears them at once, and understands them, though ever so broken and confused; when their prayers are but like the chatterings of a crane or swallow, or only expressed in sighs and groans, and even without... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:3

The sorrows of death compassed me ,.... Christ, of whom David was a type, was a man of sorrows all his days; and in the garden he was surrounded with sorrow; exceeding sorrowful even unto death, in a view of the sins of his people imputed to him, and under a sense of wrath for them, he was about to bear; and his agonies in the article of death were very grievous, he died the painful and accursed death of the cross. This was true of David, when Saul and his men compassed him on every side,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:4

Then called I upon the name of the Lord ,.... Upon the Lord himself in prayer for speedy deliverance; or "in the name of the Lord" F8 בשם יהוה "in nomine Domini", Montanus, Musculus, Vatablus. , in the name of the Messiah, the only Mediator between God and man; "saying", as follows, and which word may be supplied, O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul ; from these sorrows and pains, from these afflictions and distresses, from death and the grave, and from wrath, and a sense... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:5

Gracious is the Lord ,.... So the psalmist found him, calling upon him; so he is in Christ, the author and giver of all grace, to help in time of need. And righteous ; faithful to his promises, just in every dispensation of his providence, even in afflictive ones; righteous in punishing the enemies of his people, and in saving, justifying, and pardoning them for Christ's sake. Yea, our God is merciful ; compassionate, tenderhearted, a heart full of pity, as a father to his child; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:6

The Lord preserveth the simple ,.... Such as have but a small degree of understanding, either in things natural or spiritual, in comparison of others; babes, as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions render it, so in the Talmud F9 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 110. 2. ; see Matthew 11:25 . Such who are sensible of their lack of wisdom, and what they have they do not lean unto or trust in, but being sensible of their weakness commit themselves to the Lord; they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:7

Return unto thy rest, O my soul ,.... To a quiet and tranquil state after much distress F11 "Remigrat animus nunc denuo mihi", Plauti Epidicus, Acts 4 . Sc. 1. v. 42. ; a soliloquy, an address to his own soul to return to God his resting place, as Kimchi; or to Christ, whose rest is glorious, and which lies in a cessation from a man's own works; not from doing them, but from depending on them, or from labouring for life by them; in a deliverance from the bondage of the law, its curse... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:8

For thou hast delivered my soul from death ,.... From a corporeal death, when his life was in danger, surrounded by Saul's army, in the hand of the Philistines at Gath, and when his son rebelled against him; and from a spiritual death in regeneration, which is a passing from death to life; and from an eternal death, the just wages of sin: and not only so, but even mine eyes from tears ; they were sometimes full of, and shed in great plenty; he watered his couch with them; and especially... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 116:1

I love the Lord because he hath heard - How vain and foolish is the talk, "To love God for his benefits to us is mercenary, and cannot be pure love!" Whether pure or impure, there is no other love that can flow from the heart of the creature to its Creator. We love him, said the holiest of Christ's disciples, because he first loved us; and the increase of our love and filial obedience is in proportion to the increased sense we have of our obligation to him. We love him for the benefits... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 116:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 116:1

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