The Road to Thanksgiving (An Exposition of Psalm 116) - Pt.5

This great personal psalm of thanksgiving was used in the congregational liturgy of the Jewish church.  It was part of the Egyptian Hallel.   I have already suggested that the form and structure of the psalm transmitted the core message.  That message was this: When we reflect on the mercies of God it results in a life-changing contemplation of His works and a commitment to live in loyalty to Him.  We see that pattern in the first half of the psalm and it is repeated in the second.  Note:

The Circumstance

¹⁰ I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; ¹¹ in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” 

In the midst of the trial, the psalmist still trusted, still believed.  He was able to see through the men that harassed him and saw them for who they are: vain, empty and liars.

The Contemplation

¹² What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? 

Based upon the goodness of God and His faithfulness, the psalmist then goes into his own thoughts and asks this important question: "What shall I return to the Lord?"   Or, "How can I repay the Lord?" Of course the question is rhetorical and there is no answer.  In fact there should not be an answer.  It is a vain thing to try to pay back God (see Romans 11:35-36),   As we see in verse 17 below, gratitude is often expressed in asking God for more!

At this point we need to be careful.  The psalmist is not suggesting that a committed lifestyle is a means of repaying God for His goodness. To repay grace annuls grace. But there is a pious response that is normal. True gratitude does promote holy living. It's the result of, not in payment for God's goodness.  

The Commitment

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 a token 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). At the time of the thank offering, he called again "on the name of the LORD" (cf. vv.2, 17); but this time, not to ask for deliverance, but to thank the Lord and praise his holy name for his fidelity to his promises." [1] All this adds up to one word: worship!   We say thank you by worshiping. 

In tomorrow's blog we will look more closely at this "commitment" that the psalmist makes.

Father, in Your deliverance You help us see things more clearly.  Your deliverance also gives discernment.  We start to see people for who they really are by seeing You for who You really are. When You hear and respond to our need there is something within our independent, self-sufficient, merit-seeking, pride that wants to pay you back.  How foolish!  We cannot.  Your grace simply brings us to our knees in humble, thankful worship.  Your mercies cause us to value You, honor You, love You more and more.  Your precious promises make You more precious.  Thank you, Father, for Your grace to us this day.  May this day resound in worshipful living and Christ-centered loving.  Amen!

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1. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Psalms/Exposition of Psalms/BOOK V: Psalms 107-150/Psalm 116: Be at Rest, for the Lord Is Good/VI. Vows of Thanksgiving (116:12-14), Book Version: 4.0.2

NOTE:

A. Part 1 of this article is found HERE.

B. Part 2 of this article is found HERE.

C. Part 3 of this article is found HERE.

D. Part 4 of this article is found HERE.

The Road to Thanksgiving (An Exposition of Psalm 116) - Pt.2

Psalm 116 is definitely a personal song of thanksgiving for God's deliverance.  It's a song where the expression of gratefulness is extended to a commitment to a life of worship. Although the Septuagint divides the psalm into two, the structure is more complicated than that.  In fact there is little consensus about the structure.  This is my understanding of the structure.  It is neither dogmatic nor authoritative, but I believe the form does give a message.

The basic premise of my suggestion is found in verses 7 and 12.  At these two points the author breaks away from the recitation of God's goodness and his commitment to be loyal to speak to himself.   This forms an outline that could be described as:

• Circumstance
• Contemplation
• Commitment

Except for the "introduction" (vv1-2), that pattern seems to emerge. For example,notice the diagram to the right.   If this is the pattern that the human author and the Divine author intended (and I believe it is), then the structure of the message is in itself a message to us.  Not unlike the famous quotation from Marshall McLuhan: The medium is the message.

What is the message?  Is it not:

When God intersects with our lives in redemptive grace we ought to consider thoughtfully our response and seriously commit to a life worthy of that mercy.

So as we enter Psalm 116, this is the framework which guides our meditation and study.  "Look what God has done!"  "What does that mean to me?"   "What should my response look like?"   My "thanksgiving" ought to be thoughtful and expressive.   Let me give a practical example:

Let's assume I am praying for the a certain circumstance to change.  I need a new job.  God gives me just what I ask for.  It seems to fit the bill.  Casually we often with deep sincerity publicly and privately say to God, "Thank you!"  But what if I stop and think.  What should my contemplation of this answer to prayer look like?  What if following the pattern of the psalmist, I counsel my soul regarding its finding rest and peace in God, both now and in the future?  What if I ask myself, "What does a thankful life look like now that God has mercifully met my need?

Thankfulness without thoughtfulness is trivial.  Response without resolution is irrational.  We don't deepen our thankfulness in order to pay-back God.  We respond with this depth of genuine gratefulness because that it is the natural follow-through of true thanks.  One might argue that there really isn't true thankfulness unless there is that careful consideration and commitment.

Father, how can I say thanks?  This is the question.  I know that a fast and furious kiss on the cheek doesn't say thanks.  I know that a thoughtless, mechanical, habitual word or thought in passing doesn't say thanks.  Father, you have done so much for me.  You have given Your life that I might be redeemed and free.  Grant me the grace of this psalm to carefully consider the implications of this for my life; and to live a life worthy of Your great love for me.



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A. Part 1 of this article is found HERE.