David believed God

I ws reading Psalm 116 this morning, simply desiring a fresh perspective since we have spent so many months in the Gospel of John. I was struck by the simplicity of this Psalm, and by the powerful application to our own lives as believers.

"I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, save me!"

The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

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

For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumblng, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
I believed; therefore, I said, "I am greatly afflicted."
And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."

How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
O LORD, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD - in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the LORD.

David's experience:

• David recognized that he was in need
• He cried out to the LORD
• In the middle of sorrow and trouble, he asked the LORD to save him
• The LORD heard his cry and saved him from death.
• He was freed from his chains of sorrow and trouble.

David's response:

• He believed.
• He understood that his salvation was from the LORD, and not coincidental, nor his own doing.
• He responded with a heart of love and devotion - a desire to "repay the LORD for His goodness."
• He recognized his own - and all mankind's - sinfulness, his affliction, the reality that indeed, "all men are liars." For us to receive LIFE, we must recognize our need for a Savior!
• He lifted up the cup of salvation - interesting that this sounds much like Jesus' words to his disciples that they were to "drink this cup in remembrance." Though David did not live in Jesus' day, he got it - that there was a cup of salvation poured only by his God.
• He fulfilled his vows in the presence of the people - he lived out his faith in community, publicly, where all could see his commitment to the LORD. He demonstrated transparency and openness.
• He "sold himself" into servanthod to the LORD - realizing that God had freed him from the chains that had been binding him to trouble and sorrow, and that true freedom comes in total submission to God's hands and His plans.
• He praised the Lord!

David demonstrated a heart for God - loving the LORD with all his heart, soul, mind and strength.