Psalm 116

Authorship

This Psalm is anonymous.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. What God did. (1-2)

A. He heard my voice and my supplications–I love Him.

B. He inclined His ear unto me–I will call upon Him as long as I live.

II. What happened to the psalmist. (3)

A. He was compassed by the sorrows of death.

B. The pains of hell had hold of him.

III. What the psalmist did: Called upon the name of the Lord–“I beseech Thee, deliver my soul.” (4)

IV. What God did. (5-8)

A. God was gracious, righteous, and merciful.

B. He preserved the psalmist.

C. Although the psalmist was brought low, God helped him.

D. The Lord dealt bountifully with him so his soul could be at rest.

E. His soul was delivered from death.

F. His eyes were delivered from tears.

G. His feet were delivered from falling.

V. What the psalmist has done and will do. (9-19)

A. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

B. I believed, therefore have I spoken.

C. I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, All men are liars.

D. What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?

1. I will take the cup of salvation.

2. I will call upon the name of the Lord.

3. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people.

E. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

F. O Lord, truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid:

Thou hast loosed my bonds. Because of this:

1. I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.

2. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now:

a. In the presence of all His people.

b. In the courts of the Lord's house.

c. In the midst of Jerusalem.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 116,2 וּבְיָמַי {B} MT, G, Hebr, T // usu: S

Ps 116,3A וּמְצָרֵי {A} MT, G, S, T // err-voc: Hebr clav וּמְצֹרֵי

Ps 116,3B אֶמְצָֽא {A}

Ps 116,8A חִלַּצְתָּ MT, S, T // assim-ctext: G, Hebr clav חִלֵּץ

Ps 116,8B אֶת־עֵינִי מִן־דִּמְעָה {B} MT, G, Hebr, T // homarc: m, S om

Ps 116,10 אֲדַבֵּר {A}

Ps 116,16a {A}

Ps 116,19 הַלְלוּ־יָהּ {B}