Psalm 116:1-7 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, save me!” The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
Yesterday I preached a message called, “You’re Going to Make It” in which we saw the writer of Psalm 116 was overwhelmed with trouble and sorrow, but overcame with God’s help. Let me remind you of the steps the Psalmist took:
- He whispered his prayers to God. The picture here that the Psalmist is painting is that God is bending down and turning his ear (vs 2) to him in order to intently hear what he is saying. It should comfort all of us to know that God will come close to us in our time of trouble, and that He is so interested in hearing our problems that He is leaning in close to hear us. Why? Why is God willing to bend down and listen to us talk to Him about our pain? Verse 5 holds the answer: “The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
- The Psalmist took action to welcome God’s help and perspective on His situation. Look at verse 4: “Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, save me!” God acts when we call on his name.
- The Psalmist took time (Psalm 116:17) to thank God for rescuing him. “I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill 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.”
Through private tears and pain He called upon the Name of the Lord, but now, we see him calling upon the Name of the Lord in the presence of all of the people. He was making a thank offering to the Lord in the courts of the Tabernacle where everyone could see him. His private pain was turned into a public testimony.
He said he had made some vows, some promises to God that he intended to fulfill. Can you picture how that might have happened? Things were out of control in his life. He was going under. He felt like life was being squeezed out of his body and he cried out, “God if you just save me, I’ll serve You!” “God if you rescue me, I will tell everyone about You.” “God if You will help me, I will give my life to You!” I don’t know what vows he made, but he intended to make good on them in front of everyone.
Have you ever been there? Have you found yourself making promises to God if he would heal or help or deliver that you would give Him your life? Have you made good on those promises? Have you adequately expressed your thanks to God for saving your life? Have you let your story of rescue been used to encourage others? One way we thank God appropriately is by lifting His name up in front of other people.
I want to reassure you today that you can make it. You will make it if you will whisper your needs to God and call upon His name. Be sure to celebrate His goodness to you by thanking Him and by giving Him credit as you lift up your story for others to hear.
Pastor Melissa
