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[1] Note how 1–2 and 17–19 are linked by I will call; 3–4 and 15–16 by death entangled … death … freed and O Lord; 5–7 and 12–14 by been good, ‘provided in full’ and his goodness, ‘his full provision’. All this focuses a bright spotlight on vs 8–11, the centrality of faith. The key-words I believed (10), stand at the mid-point between new life enjoyed (8–9) and old life endured (10–11). Just as, of old, it was a great cry for help (Ex. 2:23–24) that initiated the exodus acts of God so, faith working by prayer remains the greatest force available to God’s earthly people (J.A. Motyer, “Psalms” in New Bible commentary: 21st century edition. Rev. ed. / edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970 (4th ed.) [Ps 116:1]). |
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[2] Verse 3 is alluded to in Acts 2:24, “But God
raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony [lit. birth pains {odin}] of death, since it
was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” |
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[3] See Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:15; 103:8;
145:8. |
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[4] See Job 28:13; Ps.27:13; 52:5; 142:5; Isa.38:11; 53:8; Jer.11:19; Ezek.26:20 |
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[5] Paul quotes the first half of v.10a in 2 Corinthians 4:13, “But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak.” Even though Paul only quotes a little smidge of the Psalm, Paul is quoting the very center and heart of the Psalm. On several other occasions writers of the New Testament quote the “center” of Psalms: Hebrews 2:12 with Psalm 22:22; Psalm 45:11 with 1 Peter 3:5-6 (cf. Eph.5:21-33). See also Hebrews 10:5-7 with Psalm 40. |
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[6] Verse 11 is alluded to in Romans 3:4, “May it never
be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is
written, ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are
judged.’” |
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[7] “In 1787, through William Wilberforce’s influence, Richard Johnson [1753-1827], an ardent evangelical, was appointed chaplain to the 730 convicts being transported in the first fleet of ships sent out to Botany Bay, New South Wales. As Botany Bay proved too poor in land and water for a settlement, the company sailed north to Port Jackson (Sydney Harbor). There Johnson conducted the first Christian worship service on Australian soil on February 3, 1788, preaching on the text, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?" (Ps. 116:12). “At his own expense Johnson built the first Australian church. It was burned down in 1798 by convicts enraged by the governor’s decree for compulsory church attendance-an attempt to improve the community’s morals. Johnson also established the first schools in the colony in 1793. He returned to England in 1800 (Douglas, Who’s Who in Christian History).” |
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[8] “there is no such thing as untimely death. For the Lord, death is too valuable a thing to be squandered” (J.A. Motyer, ibid., [Ps 116:15]). |
