August 22, 2023 — Psalm 116 

“I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, save my life!” Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. The LORD protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I kept my faith, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; I said in my consternation, “Everyone is a liar.” What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.” (Verses 1-15) 

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.” 

“What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?” 

There is an evident tension between these two ways of viewing and speaking about death — death, and final death. If G-d rescues his faithful from the power of death, how can the realm of death lie beyond the help of G-d? The psalm as a song of the Old Testament celebrates the deliverance of life from the snares of death, but it is subject to another reading that will emerge in time, a reading in which it speaks of salvation from the “final death”. 

All people will die — we cannot avoid death. But, we can look forward to eternal life — which, through the cross and the resurrection of Jesus, has defeated “final death”. This is why the Psalmist says “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.” The ones who continue in the good fight of faith to the end, yes will die, but will not experience final death. This is the promise of the resurrection — the Grace of Jesus Christ.  

So then we consider the question: “What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?” 

All we can give to G-d is our prayer, praise and thanksgiving — and then live lives of obedience.  

Let us pray: 

God of mercy and compassion, through the passion and resurrection of your Son you have freed us from the bonds of sin and death. Be with us on our pilgrimage, that may we offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving, fulfill our vows, and glorify you in the presence of all your people; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 

Amen. 

Pastor Dave