The Road to Thanksgiving (An Exposition of Psalm 116) - The Destination

The personal psalm of thanksgiving, now adopted by the worshiping congregation instructs us about genuine expressions of gratitude.  When we are thankful we bring to mind the circumstance that becomes our story.  We contemplate its impact in our lives; and lastly we commit to live differently because of the Lord's help. The second half (like the first) reflects this pattern.  Today we want to look more closely at how the psalmist determined to live because of the Lord's mercy to him.

Psalm 116:13–19 (NIV),

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. ¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. ¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. ¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. ¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, ¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

As an expression of his thanksgiving, the psalmist brings "a thank offering" (v.17) together with a drink offering (cf. Num 28:7), which he calls "the cup of salvation" (v.13). In other words, the answer is "public worship".  "A public display of gratitude meant to bolster God’s reputation." [1]

In a public testimony the writer acknowledges the Lord's great love for his saints.  They are precious to Him; and their adversity and even their death is not treated lightly by our Lord. 

Freed men and women respond to the Lord in gratitude with humble service to Him.  

The paying of vows likely reflects the custom "of making promises to God in gratitude or making a promise to repay in return for divine help." [1]

"Note, Those whose hearts are truly thankful will express their gratitude in thank-offerings. We must first give our ownselves to God as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1, 2 Co. 8:5), and then lay out of what we have for his honour in works of piety and charity. Doing good and communicating are sacrifices with which God is well pleased (Heb. 13:15, 16) and this must accompany our giving thanks to his name."[2] 

The writer teaches us that true gratitude is expressed publicly in worship, service and obedience to the Lord.  He is not suggesting that gratitude is the motivation.  He is suggesting that the natural follow-through of gratitude reflects these expressions.  Gratitude ought to be the ground for all we do.

Father, thank you for Your Word.  Thank you for Your mercies -- even the very breath I have this morning.  Thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ in whom we pray; and who continually intercedes for us.   Today I offer myself as a living sacrifice.  May my life be a public display of worship.  May it be always in service to You.  May the commitments of my heart find complete fulfillment according to Your will.  May gratitude be the ground of all that I do.   For the sake of Christ, 

_________________________________________________

1. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 116:14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

2. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (911). Peabody: Hendrickson.