Psalm 116:5-11

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 116:10-19

The Septuagint and some other ancient versions make these verses a distinct psalm separate from the former; and some have called it the Martyr's psalm, I suppose for the sake of Ps. 116:15. Three things David here makes confession of:? I. His faith (Ps. 116:10): I believed, therefore have I spoken. This is quoted by the apostle (2 Cor. 4:13) with application to himself and his fellow-ministers, who, though they suffered for Christ, were not ashamed to own him. David believed the being,... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:9

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. As in the sight of the omniscient God, according to his word and will, and in such manner as to please him. So Enoch's walking with God is by the apostle explained of pleasing him; compare Genesis 5:22 , and so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions render it, "I will please the Lord"; or, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions; "that I may please the Lord"; be grateful to him; or walk gratefully and acceptably before him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:10

I believed, therefore have I spoken ,.... Here the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, begin a new psalm, but without any foundation in the original; nor is it countenanced by the Targum; and is manifestly against the connection with the preceding verses. David expresses his faith in relation to what goes before, though the particulars of it are not mentioned, but are left to be supplied from thence: he not only believed there was a God, but that this God was gracious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 116:11

I said in my haste, all men are liars. The sin of lying is common to man; there is a natural proneness and propensity to it: men go astray from the womb, speaking lies; yet such who have received the grace of God "put it off" with the rest of "the deeds of the old man", and are "children that will not lie". Wherefore, though the greater part of mankind might deserve this character, yet all and every individual of them did not. However degenerate the age was in which David lived, and the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 116:5

Gracious is the Lord - In his own nature. And righteous - In all his dealings with men. Our God is merciful - Of tender compassion to all penitents. read more

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