Psalms 116:1-2, 12-13, 15, 17
“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. What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.”
Psalms 116:1-2, 12-13, 15, 17 NIV
We are told often that we are to love God. But why? To ask such a question seems sacrilegious. After all, are we not meant to love God out of duty? Or, are we not meant to love God because he is eminently lovable?
But then why do our affections sometimes not match our duties. What is it about God that should move us to be so loving towards him, to have our hearts, minds, affections, and wills move towards him in love?
This psalm begins by saying, “I love the Lord, because.” There is a reason that is given for us to love God. And that reason is rescue. We love the Lord because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore we will call on Him as long as we live.
David is extremely overcome with gratitude due to the fact that the Lord had delivered him from death’s door. The situation looked as if he was going to die, but the Lord stepped in.
David asked himself the question as to what He could give to the Lord for His gracious deliverance. In all honesty, we too, have been delivered from death’s door, that is, from eternal death. The Lord rescuing us from damnation, should cause us to also ask ourselves the question?
What shall I render unto the Lord for all of His goodness toward us? The only response we have is to offer our overwhelming, continual thanksgiving and obedience to Him.
When we look at what we have been delivered from, and delivered unto, our praise and worship should be nonstop. Whatever problem or hardship that happens in this life is minuscule compared to our deliverance from eternal death to eternal glory.
David knew, as we do, that there is nothing that we can do to repay the Lord for all His grace and love towards us. There is no payment or reward that we can offer to God that could pay Him back all the wonderful things He has done for us. There is nothing we can do, but we can offer Him our sacrifice of praise.
We can pour out our heart of gratitude to Him for our great salvation. We can tell others of the wonders of His grace and mercy, and we can seek to do His will with a willing and obedient heart that is overflowing with love for our gracious Saviour.
If you are struggling with renewing your commitment to God or with following God or with obeying God in some area of your life, remember then the lesson of this psalm that is confirmed in one way or another throughout this psalm, that God is to be loved because he has rescued you.
Think of the cross. Think of how he rescued you in the story of your own life. Think on his answers to your prayers when in desperate need.
Think of rescue. God is a God of rescue. And as you focus on that,
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (v15) you will find stirred up again within you a renewed loving commitment. “I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving” (v17).
Let us give Him our all. God has done many things for us whether we realize it or not. His blessings to usward are renewed every morning. Day after day, He cares for us. let us never doubt his loving-kindness. Let us instead count his Blessing and it will surprise us what the Lord has done!!!
Father thank You for this day and we just want to thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your Son to die for us so that we might live with You forever. Lord open the windows of heaven and pour out Your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord thank You for the innumerable ways that You demonstrate Your love, protection, and provision toward us. Lord we pray that we may have an attitude of gratitude toward You in all we say and do so that You are praised and glorified in our lives. Lord help us to trust You with all our hearts and in all our ways today. Lord use my friend and I to boldly lift up the cup of salvation to all today. Be a blessing. Love ya.
Father we love you amen !
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