Monday, March 29, 2010

psalm 116 - a thankgiving psalm

The psalms are narrowed down to three main subjects:
1. Lament
2. Praise
3. Thanksgiving
I've focused a lot on Praise and Lament psalms but right now I want to focus on Thankgiving Psalms.  A Thankgiving Psalm has four characteristics:
1. The call for praise
2. Problem
3. Solution
4. Praise
Now, the 4 characteristics go in the order given. Let's look at psalm 116 for an example:


1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD :
"O LORD, save me!"

5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.

8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

10 I believed; therefore I said,
"I am greatly afflicted."
11 And in my dismay I said,
"All men are liars."

12 How can I repay the LORD
for all his goodness to me?

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 saints.

16 O LORD, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant;
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, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.


The call for praise. It's the first part of verse one, the part in bold.
The problem is in verse 3
The solution is in verse 8
The praise is started in verse 13 but the most of it is in verse 19.

2 comments:

TagDad said...

You took good notes!

LB said...

Thanks!