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Matthew Henry

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 116:3

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 116:3

The sorrows of death - מות חבלי chebley maveth , the cables or cords of death; alluding to their bonds and fetters during their captivity; or to the cords by which a criminal is bound who is about to be led out to execution; or to the bandages in which the dead were enveloped, when head, arms, body, and limbs were all laced down together. The pains of hell - שאול מצרי metsarey sheol the straitnesses of the grave. So little expectation was there of life, that he speaks as if he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 116:1-9

God the Deliverer. I. CELEBRATES A GREAT DELIVERANCE . ( Psalms 116:3-8 .) 1. From threatened death . ( Psalms 116:3 .) 2. From the pains of the unseen world or of death . ( Psalms 116:3 .) 3. His whole nature is troubled and sorrowful . ( Psalms 116:3 .) II. THE MEANS OR INSTRUMENTS OF HIS DELIVERANCE . 1. Prayer . ( Psalms 116:1-4 .) 2. The goodness and mercy of Go d. ( Psalms 116:5 , Psalms 116:6 .) III. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 116:1-19

Danger and deliverance. It is probable that the danger to which the psalmist was exposed was due to a very serious illness, threatening to end in death. It is certain that this is the most common danger we have to confront now. We look, therefore, at— I. A RECURRING EVIL IN OUR MORTAL LIFE — SICKNESS . With so complicated a structure as the human frame, and so intricate a system as that which has to be kept in working order, if we are to be in perfect health, it is no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 116:3

The sorrows of death compassed me ; literally, the cords of death (comp. Psalms 18:4 , where the same expression is used). Death is pictured as seizing his victim and binding him with cords. And the pains of hell gat hold upon me ; or, "the straits of hell" (comp. Psalms 118:5 ; Lamentations 1:3 ). Death and hell (shell) are closely connected together in the prayer of Hezekiah ( Isaiah 38:10 , Isaiah 38:18 ). I found trouble and sorrow; or, "anguish and woe" (comp. Isaiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 116:3

Depression attending sickness. There is a most subtle connection between the body and the mind. This was recognized by the psalmist, when he found such comfort in saying of God, "He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." It is embodied in the familiar idea of the healthy man— Mens sana in corpore sano . The mind can only work through the body as its agent, and is as dependent on its condition as the workman on the state of his tools. The influence of body on mind is fully... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 116:3-4

The experience of a deeply distressed soul. The psalm is the utterance of the glad gratitude of some devout Israelite on his deliverance from mortal sickness. But it is capable of many applications. In the temple service it was used as a psalm of thanksgiving for God's deliverance of Israel from their exile. Many have seen in it the setting forth of the sufferings of our Lord, and have applied the psalm generally to him. Others, again, take it, as do we, as describing, in vivid, impressive... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 116:3-9

The psalmist describes his trouble ( Psalms 116:3 ), his prayer for deliverance ( Psalms 116:4 ), and his actual deliverance ( Psalms 116:5-9 ). read more

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