Preciouse Death

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by elizabethaudet

by elizabethaudet

Psalms 116:1-19; 117:1-2

Psalms 116 and 117 are part of the Passover Psalms which included 113-118. This one however is thought to have been recited by Jesus on the night of His arrest. That was the night He celebrated the Passover with His disciples. (Luke 22:15)
   The division of this 116th Psalm will be shown, as each section is examined separately. Many of the Passover Psalms end with the Hebrew word, "Hallelujah", which is translated in the English as "Praise. Praise the Lord!" This part was shouted out unanimously by the celebrating Jewish national gathering.
To begin the first division of Psalm 116:1-2, the Psalmist personally declared His Love for the Lord. (NKJV)-"I LOVE THE LORD, "
(The Hebrew word "Love suggests a strong emotion of excitement.
The reason is-"Because He has heard my voice and my supplications."
(He hears me! Psalm 18:1, 6-"he heard my voice...")
The reason He heard my voice is "because He inclined His ear to me,"
(He bends from His place of Glory to meet the needs of His people; Psalm 40:1)
"Therefore I call upon Him as long as I live."
   Next we deal with His own experience on the brink of death in Psalm 116:3-4-(TLB)- "Death stared me in the face-I was frightened and sad."
(Psalms 18:3; 86:13; Matthew 27:27-35-Jesus suffered this for us!)
"Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: Lord, Save me!"
(Psalms 18:4-5; 103:8)
   Now we are encouraged to Praise God in Psalm 116:5-7-(CEB)-:
1."The Lord is Merciful and Righteous;"
2. "Our God is Compassionate."
3. The Lord protects simple folk;"
(Simple means "Innocent, clean, untarnished." In Proverbs 1:22 it means also "naive, untested." Whichever you choose to accept as the meaning, He is Merciful in any cases! The next part of the list proves this.)
4. "He saves me whenever I am brought down."
(Jeremiah 6:16; Psalm 13:6-amen.)
5. "I tell myself, 'You can be at peace again, because the Lord has been good to you.' "
(2 Corinthians 13:11-God of Peace"; Philippians 4:9). Praise God!
   Now, let's consider Psalm 116:8-11-(TEV)-which tells us the Psalmist was delivered:
1. "The Lord has saved me from death;
(Job 14:14)
2. "He stopped my tears."
(Psalm 30:5-"Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy comes in the morning.")
3. "He kept me from defeat."
(Psalm 56:13)
4. "And so I walk in the presence of the Lord in the world of the living."
(HALLELUJAH; Psalm 27:13; 2 Corinthians 4:13-14-Hope of the Resurrection is ours also today!)
5. "I kept on believing, even when I said, 'I am completely crushed,"
(Remember 2 Corinthians 4:13)
6. "Even when I was afraid and said, 'No one can be trusted."
(Psalm 31:22-"I said in my haste..."; Romans 3:4)
   In ( NKJV)-Psalm 116:12-14 the Psalmist makes a vow to Praise God. Maybe we should let that be our promise to God, also. So he asks,
"What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?"
( Micah 6:8)
"I will take up the CUP OF SALVATION,"
(Salvation comes from God through Jesus Christ. The cup referred to as Jesus' cup in Matthew 26:27-28; Luke 12:31)
"And call upon the Name of the Lord."
(Genesis 4:26-From the beginning; Job 14:15a; It is up to us to call)
"I will pay my vows to the Lord, now in the presence of His people."
(Payment is made in the doing of the act promised. No big deal, just do it!)
   This brings us to Psalm 116:15-17 which reflects the Psalmist's proclamation about death. (KJV)-"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
(TLB)- says, "His loved ones are very precious to Him and He does not lightly let them die."
(Psalm 72:14)
"O Lord, You have freed me from my bonds and I will serve You forever."
(Psalms 119:125; 143:12; 86:16)
""I will worship You and offer You a sacrifice of Thanksgiving."
(Thanksgiving is a public acknowledgment of God's favors; Leviticus 7:12-Israelite tradition ordered by God for the Peace Offering. Giving of thanks comes after we have made Peace with God. He was our Sacrifice so we can Praise Him before others for the Peace we enjoy!)
   Finally in Psalm 116:18-19 we find we have a debt to pay for what we have vowed to God.-(CEB)-
"I'll keep the promises I made to the Lord in the presence of all the Lord's people, in the courtyard of the Lord's house, which is in the center of Jerusalem (the City of God)"
( Psalm 96:8; that's the place to keep our vows publicly- before all men. He has given us a reason to Praise Him. We need to let the world know this. What better way than by a source which goes out over all the world by air.)
   The shortest Psalm is the most EXPLOSIVE Psalm of all! Psalm117:1 is entitled "a Call For Praise, and Psalm 117:2 is the Reason To Praise.
(TEV)-"PRAISE THE LORD, ALL NATIONS! PRAISE HIM ALL PEOPLES!"
(Romans 15:11-13; Jew or Gentile, all must praise Him for He is worthy of our Praise! That's where we get our Hope, Joy, and Peace by believing in the power of the Holy Spirit!)
(CEB)-"BECAUSE GOD'S FAITHFUL LOVE TOWARD US IS STRONG, THE LORD'S FAITHFULNESS LASTS FOREVER!"
(Amen and Amen! From birth to death and on forever and ever)
   Psalm 100:1-5 says it all-(NKJV)-

"MAKE A JOYFUL SHOUT TO THE LORD, ALL YOU LANDS!

SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS; COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH SINGING.

KNOW THAT THE LORD, HE IS GOD;

IT IS HE WHO MADE US, AND NOT WE OURSELVES;

WE ARE HIS PEOPLE AND THE SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE.

ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING, AND INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE.
BE THANKFUL TO HIM, AND BLESS HIS NAME.

FOR THE LORD IS GOOD:

HIS MERCY IS EVERLASTING,

AND HIS TRUTH ENDURES TO ALL GENERATIONS."

So praise and worship Him!
The final statement in Psalm 117:2 is "Praise the Lord", from the Hebrew, "HALLELUJAH!"

"PRAISE THE LORD!"

   Next time...