Psalm 116:1-14– The Psalm portion for this coming week is centered on a
question, “What shall I render to the
Lord for all his bounty to me?” (verse12) How can we repay the Lord when we
consider all of the goodness He has showered down upon us? By offering to the
Lord those expressions of devotion, which He desires. The Hebrew word for
“goodness” occurs only here in the Old Testament but represents the same basic
root as “has been good” in verse 7.
Psalm 116
–Paying the Vow of Gratitude
As another
one of the Egyptian Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113-118), sung by Jesus with His
disciples on the night of His betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:30 and Mark
14:26), we can say with G. Campbell Morgan: “Whatever the local circumstances
which gave rise to this song, it is evident that all its rich meaning was
fulfilled, when in the midst of that little company of perplexed souls, the
shadows of the One Death already on Him, Jesus sang this song of prophetic
triumph over the sharpness of the hour of passion to which He was passing. He
has made it over to all His own as their triumph song over death.”[2]
Collect for Psalm 116: God of power and mercy,
through the Passion and resurrection of your Son you have freed us from the
bonds of death and the anguish of separation from you. Be with us on our
pilgrimage, and help us offer you a sacrifice of praise, fulfill our vows and
glorify you in the presence of all your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.[3]
[1] The Risen
Christ, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3] Collect for
Psalm 116, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III ©
1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau Delhi, NY
[4] Ibid, Collect
for Friday of the week of Easter 2
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