Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Psalms 116

PSALM 116

Psa 116:1-19. The writer celebrates the deliverance from extreme perils by which he was favored, and pledges grateful and pious public acknowledgments.

1-2. A truly grateful love will be evinced by acts of worship, which calling on God expresses (Psa 116:13; Psa 55:16; 86:7; compare Psa 17:6; 31:2).

3-4. For similar figures for distress see Psa 18:4, 5.

gat hold upon me--Another sense ("found") of the same word follows, as we speak of disease finding us, and of our finding or catching disease.

5-8. The relief which he asked is the result not of his merit, but of God's known pity and tenderness, which is acknowledged in assuring himself (his "soul," Psa 11:1; 16:10) of rest and peace. All calamities [Psa 116:8] are represented by death, tears, and falling of the feet (Psa 56:13).

9. walk before the Lord--act, or live under His favor and guidance (Ge 17:1; Psa 61:7).

land of the living--(Psa 27:13).

10-11. Confidence in God opposed to distrust of men, as not reliable (Psa 68:8, 9). He speaks from an experience of the result of his faith.

12-14. These are modes of expressing acts of worship (compare Psa 116:4; Psa 50:14; Jon 2:9).

15-16. By the plea of being a homeborn servant, he intimates his claim on God's covenant love to His people.

17-19. An ampler declaration of his purpose, designating the place, the Lord's house, or earthly residence in Jerusalem.