Reflections from Psalm 116:1-9

Reflections from Psalm 116:1-9

Do you ever wake up feeling like you are being visited by an unseen darkness — a dark gloom casting its encroaching shadow over you? Or maybe you just have had a great victory and now distress, sorrow, and possibly terror are feeding upon you? Something more than just tired; something more than from the natural realm. What is this? What happened? Psalm 116 give some great insight.

Psalm 116:1-9

“I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!" Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living.”

First, the unknown psalmist (referred to as “Psalmist” henceforth) is reflecting back on an experience they had had saying that God had heard them when they had called upon Him. And because the intervention by God was seemingly so profound, Psalmist would now call upon Him as long as they lived! This adds to the weightiness of the experience Psalmist must have had—that now after being rescued by God in this attack they declare that He is worthy of the rest of their life!

Death, referred to in both verses 3 and 8, can be personified according to the Hebrew Lexicon. Listen to what the Psalmist is saying in verse 3, “The cords of (D)death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.” Sheol is the underworld, grave, hell, pit, abode of the dead, the place of no return, and “cord” can be anything from a cord, a rope, a territory, a band, or even a company. Doesn’t it sound like an unseen visitor, Death, paid the Psalmist a visit? Psalmist doesn’t fear for his life, rather he talks about his soul; his soul is who Death sees as its prey.

But, Psalmist has an encounter with the mighty Lord! His soul was in danger; he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord heard and delivered him! Psalmist, through this attack comes to know God as gracious, righteous, and compassionate. (We do come to know God better through our trials.) Psalmist says that God rescued his soul from (D)death, his eyes from tears, and his feet from stumbling. And that now because the Lord had dealt bountifully with him, he was returning to the land of the living. Do you ever feel like you too need to return to the land of the living? Maybe it could also be stated as, “You need a breath of fresh air."

So what’s my point? Many of us who sincerely live for the Lord and who are trying to make an impact in our culture—whether in or out of the church—are under assault by (D)death. We may feel (and that is a big word, because (D)death does prey on our emotions big time!) sad or strangled, or fretful, or like we are sinking into a black hole. If that fits how you feel—you are probably having an encounter with (D)death! But, there is good news! Jesus won and because He won we win too! It will take a bit of work to resist the devil, but be assured that Jesus won the victory over him and that victory is ours to walk (and stand) in. So resist your adversary and call upon the Name of the Lord! Prepaid freedom! Prepaid victory!

1 Peter 5:8-11 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist (to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose) him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”