Psalm 116:1-19 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. (2) Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. (3) The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. (4) Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. (5) Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. (6) The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. (7) Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. (8) For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. (9) I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 116 is a fascinating psalm that looks ahead to the time of Jesus Christ. It is a Paschal Hallel which means that it was sung during Passover and the Hallel part means that it praises God. Psalm 116 is part of the Hallel psalms which often start with the phrase “Praise ye the Lord” which is what the word “hallelujah” means. Easton’s Bible Dictionary informs us: Praise, the name given to the group of Psalms (Ps. 113 – 118), which are preeminently psalms of praise. It is called “The Egyptian Hallel,” because it was chanted in the temple whilst the Passover lambs were being slain. It was chanted also on other festival occasions, as at Pentecost, the feast of Tabernacles, and the feast of Dedication. The Levites, standing before the altar, chanted it verse by verse, the people responding by repeating the verses or by intoned hallelujahs. It was also chanted in private families at the feast of Passover. This was probably the hymn which our Saviour and his disciples sung at the conclusion of the Passover supper kept by them in the upper room at Jerusalem (Mat_26:30; Mar_14:26).

What a thought that Jesus Christ likely sang this song the night before His crucifixion! This is a joyous psalm that glorifies God and I cannot wait to hear Jesus Christ sing in Heaven. We know that God sings because of Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Jesus Christ would have sung with joy the night before the crucifixion as we see in Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalm 116 looks ahead to the deliverance of the believer during the Great Tribulation and it also speaks to us today. It is a psalm of comfort and joy for the believer in Jesus Christ. It can be outlined in this fashion: verses 1-5 – God hears; verses 6-13 – God helps; verses 14-19 – God is holy.

Psalm 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

What a comforting thought that is: God hears my voice and my prayers. I pray and God hears me, especially when I cry out to Him. I love the Lord! How often have you told God that? I love Jesus Christ! How often have you told Him that? He is real and He loves us – why? Because He loves us. The Bible tells us that He loved us first long before we loved Him. 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. The believer does not need to see Him in order to love God. Peter wrote in reference to Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:. John recorded these words of Jesus Christ in Revelation 3:9 …behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. What a blessed thought that God loves me and loves each of us that have called upon the name of Jesus Christ for salvation and repented of our sins.