He Heard My Voice

Psalm 116:1-19

Psalm 116 is a song of thanksgiving by an unnamed psalmist whom the LORD rescued when death seemed near; he answers by loving God and thanking Him in front of His people.

Lord, I love You, for You have heard my voice and my appeal for mercy. Trouble and sorrow surrounded me, and I called on Your name. You delivered my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling. Now my soul can return to its rest. How can I repay You for all Your goodness to me? I lift the cup of salvation and give You thanks, and I will call on You as long as I live. Amen.

The Scripture

“I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy. Because He has inclined His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live. The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, deliver my soul!” The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD preserves the simplehearted; I was helpless, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I believed, therefore I said, “I am greatly afflicted.” In my alarm I said, “All men are liars!” How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me? I will lift 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. Truly, O LORD, I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have broken my bonds. I will offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving 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 LORD’s house, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!”

— Psalm 116:1-19

Prayer points from Psalm 116:1-19

Tell God you love Him, and name the prayer He heard (v. 1).

Remember before Him the trouble and sorrow you were in (v. 3).

Thank Him that He is gracious, righteous and full of compassion (v. 5).

Let your soul return to rest, and thank Him for His goodness to you (v. 7).

Ask Him how you can give thanks for all His goodness, and offer Him your life (vv. 12–13).

Keep the promises you made to Him, and tell others what He has done (v. 14).

About this verse

Psalm 116 has no heading, so its writer is simply the psalmist. He tells what happened to him: “The ropes of death entangled me,” trouble and sorrow overcame him, and he called out, “O LORD, deliver my soul!” God did. The rest of the psalm is his response. He loves the LORD, he will call on Him as long as he lives, and he looks for a way to give thanks in public: “I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,” and keep his vows in front of all God’s people. Verse 15 adds that even the death of God’s faithful ones is precious in His sight. In Jewish tradition this psalm belongs to the Hallel, Psalms 113–118, sung at Passover and other feasts. This prayer is for anyone giving thanks after God has answered: a recovery, a rescue, or a long trouble finally over.

He Heard My Voice

The Scripture

Prayer points from Psalm 116:1-19

About this verse

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