the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Psalms 116:1-19
How much more so today can the redeemed of the Lord sing this song of the Israelite being brought back to his country: "I was brought low, and he helped me . . . thou hast delivered my soul from death . ." (vv. 6, 8)! However, when the believer recalls such a great salvation, it causes him to think of the rights which the Saviour has over him.
V. 8 recalls a threefold deliverance: God saves our souls, sustains our hearts which are overwhelmed by affliction and, lastly, keeps us safe from the snares and temptations into which we, in our weakness, run the risk of falling. That is why each of us can ask the question in v. 12: "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" "I love the LORD," the psalmist replies. These are the first words of the psalm and the first effect of the Gospel, forming the foundation of all that follows. Then, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth can confess the name of the Lord (v. 10; 2 Corinthians 4:13). But there is more than one way of witnessing for Him: "I will take the cup of salvation . . . I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving . . . yes, in the presence of all his people" (vv. 13, 17, 14). Let us therefore offer to Him from our hearts these sacrifices of praise, "the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15).
