Psalm 116 ~ the pangs of Sheol

Photo by Ansel Adams

Psalm 116

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11 I said in my alarm,
“All mankind are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay 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, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay 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!

Some days are a winter gray. The Lord isn't just the blue skies of summer, but Lord of the days that are just bleh. To be reminded of an old mistake, to be unfairly finger pointed, to have a miscommunication with a good friend, to say good-bye to someone previously admired, anniversaries spent apart.

Each day has blessings, it is good to acknowledge when it hurts and good to look for the daily blessings. This isn't said as a greeting card. During the times of my life I've had grief, I have not walked alone, but with the Lord and his blessings.

God is a Giver & thrilled to give. The bible is so much about overcoming obstacles and feeling loved during the insecurities of life. With faith, we should always expect the very best. Having lived through my parents divorce, my dad's unfortunate death, a very sick infant growing into a strong boy, the death of another child - I would say one of the best attributes of the Lord is knowing when the wild winds of life howl, God is our refuge.

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death."—Psalm 68:19-20.

<><