Let's read it first. "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now 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 thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD." Psalm 116:12-19

Today of course we shall only study its first verse. And verse 12 is a beauty, loaded with spiritual truth! Out Text begins with a question, a wise one!

In the Bible several kinds of questions are listed. The Queen of Sheba asked King Solomon many "hard" questions, all of which he answered! "And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not." 1st Kings 10:1,3

Paul mentioned "foolish" questions and said to avoid them. "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain." Titus 3:9

Furthermore, "unlearned" questions are specifically mentioned as being causes of disharmony. "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes." 1st Timothy 2:23

But, thank the Lord, there is one more category. Jesus asked questions, many of them! This Divine practice was already underway when the Lord was only  12 years of age too! "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." Remember Luke 2:46, at the Temple? These are "wise" questions! Very wise!

Jesus' question-asking policy continued at least through His Crucifixion on the Cross as well! "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46 both fulfills Scripture, being a quotation from Psalm 22:1, and reveals the heart of our Saviour as He died for sinners.

All that to say this, Psalm 116:12 is a wise question too! "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"

The Psalmist, unnamed as he is, has experienced many episodes of God's Goodness! Earlier he has already testified: "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." Psalm 116:1-2

God has delivered him from some particularly dangerous situation too. "The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. And he helped me." Psalm 116:3-6

What wisdom this really is, Psalm 116:7-8! "Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling." Watch this saint of God shuttle from testimony to prayer, seamlessly! The first sentence testifies! The second prays!

So, having enjoyed God and His Character so freely, the Psalmist wishes to acknowledge such Bounty. "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"

The noun "benefits" is "tagmul," a rare word found only this one time in all the Bible! That's astounding! This is unique and special! It's root, believed to be the verb "gamal," means "to deal fully and completely" with a matter. To "reward, bestow, recompense, ripen" and even "wean!" These are a few of its King James translations.

Hint, God sends us "blessings" that look at first like "trials," with the stated goal of "weaning" us, bringing us to maturity! Causing us to "ripen" spiritually! This point of doctrine is implied in one single definition here! But it's illustrated and taught throughout the whole Word of God, Old Testament and New.

Benefits "toward" me? Yes, and "al" the preposition means "upon, above, to," an all-encompassing kind of thing! God is good all around us!

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"

Since God had been so very good to the Psalmist, he wanted to thank Him in some manner.

The verb "render" translates "shub." Strangely, this means "to return" or "to bring back" or just "to restore." He wants to reciprocate! Of course nothing can be done to really "repay" God for His Goodness! That's impossible!

Grace, by very definition, is God's Gift! And gifts cannot be bought or earned or repaid! They can only be accepted!

But there is nothing wrong with saying "Thanks!"

Expressing love and adoration and worship to the One Who saved us, delivered us, redeemed us!

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"

Now the rest of out Text answers that question!

If God has been good to you, stay with us for the next few days!

You will get a Bible answer on ... "How to thank and worship the Lord for all His Blessings!"

Hope you can hardly wait!

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, VERSE 13:

Our verse today is an answer to a question.

First, the question, from Psalm 116:12. "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"

Then, immediately, comes the answer. Or at least part of the answer. "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD." Psalm 116:13

Those who study the Old Testament system of sacrifices tell us that a "Thank Offering" is here being described.

What must I do as a result of all God's "benefits" toward me?

Thank Him!

Thank Him sincerely!

This "cup," a noun spelled "kos" in Hebrew, is derived from a word meaning "to hold together." That's indeed what a cup does! It "holds" liquid together in a confined and concentrated place.

"Salvation," a classic noun, is "yeshuah." It means "deliverance, victory, or help." It's the root of Bible names such as "Joshua" ... and "Jesus!"

The verb "call" is "qara" and means "to speak out loud," demonstrably and with assertiveness! It can even mean "to accost" a person! Some scholars say it verbally means "to encounter or to befall."

"Name" is the familiar "shem," involving a person's reputation, testimony and character as well as just his name.

When an Old Testament "Thank Offering" was given to the Lord, the cup was filled with wine or oil. Its contents would be poured out on the appropriate offering, a sacrificed animal being consumed on the altar. Earlier, before the Law, just the liquid might be poured on a rock altar somewhere, in an act of worship to God. "And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel." Genesis 28:18-19

The "wine" symbolized "joy!"

The "oil" pictured the Holy Spirit!

The outward act of "calling" on God illustrates a verbal giving of thanks and praise to His Name!

The Psalmist here is thanking the Lord for "saving" him from some earlier calamity. He just said, "The LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling." Psalm 116:7-8

But no doubt his gratitude goes further than that, including his soul's eternal salvation as well.

The verb "take" is spelled "nasa" and literally means "to lift up." Hoisting the filled cup heavenward, thanks and worship are rendered to God ... quite often in the presence of loved ones.

I just noticed one more thing. The noun "salvation" or "yeshuah" is plural here! Indeed! The Psalmist is thanking his God for many deliverances! Numerous victories! Lots of little interventions! Of course the greatest of these is when one's soul is "saved."

Have you thanked God today?

Have I?

We should, if He has loaded us with many benefits!

Psalm 68:19, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."

We thank Thee, dear Lord!

Amen!

                                                                         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell 

LESSON 3, VERSE 14:

How do we respond to God's Goodness, His manifold Blessings, His amazing Grace?

That's exactly what the Psalmist is wondering in our Text. "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" Psalm 116:12

Here's part of his answer, too, and today's Bible Study Verse: "I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people." Psalm 116:14

The verb "pay" is spelled "shalam" in Hebrew. It means, literally, "to be at peace" with someone. See in "shalam" the much more familiar word "shalom." When used as a piel verb, as in our case here, intensive action is being shown! Plus, the idea of "completing or finishing" comes into view. The Psalmist is just not through worshiping yet!

This "vowing" is not an attempt to "even the score" with God! To repay blessing for blessing! That's impossible! Plus, such a scheme would destroy the very concept of Grace. You can't buy a Gift someone has placed in your hands! You can only accept it and give thanks!

Really, this vow-making here, whatever else it is, consists of an attempt to show thanks to the Lord for His Blessings.

One way we can know this is to compare verse 14 here with the soon-coming verse 17-18 couplet. "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving ... I will pay my vows unto the LORD." Here thanksgiving and vowing are definitely linked. 

The Hebrew noun "vow," spelled "neder," means "something promised." In English "vow" is derived from a Latin verb, "vovere," meaning "to solemnly pledge, dedicate or commit." This noun can be located 60 times in Scripture. Vowing is not a rare practice.

In response to God's Goodness, the Psalmist has apparently made some commitments to the Lord. And He plans to keep them!

Whatever these things are, they will be observed "in the presence of all God's people." Here "presence," or "neged" in Hebrew, means "in front of" someone.

We can then make one more observation about these vows. They not only reflect a grateful heart, but also aid public worship! Or at least these did so. They are an attempt to know God better!

Now, do not misunderstand me. I am aware of no place in all the Bible where we are commanded to make vows unto the Lord. These things, if done at all, are purely voluntary!

But, at least in the Psalm 116 context, they can be appropriate in some cases. As "extra" expressions of love and appreciation to the Lord.

Heretofore I've always thought of vows being something made permanently, for the all the remaining days of one's life! But I've just met a Preacher who says a "promise" can be made to God in some area of one's spiritual life, a "vow" to express love and devotion, for a week or month or however long the Holy Spirit leads!

For example, if a Christian is really weak in Bible Study, he might "vow" to spend a hour a day or two hours for that matter ... broken up into smaller portions of time throughout each 24-hour cycle ... and really delve into Scripture! Following that pattern for a month!

That's a voluntary thing altogether!

But it is also an expression of love to the Lord!

Not earning anything at all, just saying "thank you" God for the great Bible You've entrusted us!

By the way, do not ever vow something to God if you are not serious about keeping your word! Listen to Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:4-6. "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" But even this paragraph does not forbid vowing!

Furthermore, the New Testament contains vows, with the Apostle Paul leading the charge!

In a sense, when we respond to the altar calls at Church, a godly Preacher having poured his heart out, we make certain "promises" or "vows" to God.

To start tithing!

To quit some specific sin, smoking or gossiping, just for example.

To read through our Bibles next year!

To attend Church more faithfully!

We may, in God's Eyes, be vowing anyway.

No, I am not giving any "invitations" today!

Just think about it!

It is one more way to show gratefulness to the Lord!

Of course, one can always just say, "Thank You, God!"

Or ... "Lord, I plan to set the alarm clock for 3:00 AM all seven nights this week. I'm going to rise and study the Bible and pray, spending some intimate time with Thee, for a whole hour!"

That's maybe a better way yet ... a way to say "Thank You, Lord! I love You! I want to know You better!"

Or how about this one? "Lord, for all the Services at Church during the next two weeks, I will sing every verse of every hymn the congregation is asked to sing. I will think about the words and try sincerely to worship You through the experience."

Required service?

No!

An idea?

Yes!

If, rather than "earning" something, you are just saying "Thank You!"

Well, if it's not for you ... the Psalmist surely enjoyed it!

Didn't he?

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people."

Maybe some day we will "catch up" with his spirituality!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, VERSE 15:

At first it seems as though the verse is misplaced!

Then, knowing that it's located in the Bible, the very Word of God, we discard that notion. The Bible is wholly inspired of God, without error! "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." Psalm 12:6

Here is the sequence in which today's verse occurs. "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:12-15

There, at the end, verse 15! "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

Verse 12, in essence says, "The Lord has been good to me!"

Verse 13, referring to the Old Testament "Thank Offering" says, "I must express my appreciation to the Lord for such goodness!"

Verse 14 adds, "I shall voluntarily 'promise' God something, not out of duty but out of love! That's how I will thank Him!"

Then, surprisingly, verse 15 inserts, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

Here's what I believe is being said. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to impress this thought on my heart and I prayed and meditated on the Text. IF I ACKNOWLEDGE GOD'S GOODNESS AND TRULY DESIRE TO "THANK" HIM, I WILL JOYFULLY SERVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART. AND, AS AN AID IN STAYING FAITHFUL, I WILL FREELY AND GLADLY MAKE CERTAIN PROMISES ALONG THE WAY, CERTAIN VOWS TO MY WONDERFUL LORD. THESE WILL BE TOOLS TO HELP "SPUR" ME ONWARD IN THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY. AND THESE VOWS, VOLUNTARILY AND LOVINGLY MADE TO GOD, WILL INDEED ACCOMPLISH THEIR TASK. I SHALL COME TO THE TIME OF MY DEATH HAVING SERVED GOD FAITHFULLY! AND SUCH A DEATH, IN GOD'S EYES, WILL BE PRECIOUS!" After all, more than once we are told, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." This was from Matthew 10:22. Better yet, Jesus' longing for us all, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Matthew 25:21

Here's Paul goal, stated in Acts 20:24, years before his death. "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." See? He wanted to die, having been faithful, pleasing His Lord!

Did he do so? You tell me! He said, at the very last, from a Roman dungeon: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." That death was precious to God! Surely!

Now, more particularly, back to Psalm 116:15. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

The adjective "precious," in Hebrew spelled "yaqar," means "valuable, prized, splendid, weighty or important, honorable" and even "costly!" Its verbal "root" means "to esteem," or  "to highly value" something! Plus, it's the first word in the verse, both in Hebrew and English. That fact alone gives it great interpretive priority! Emphasize this preciousness!

Here are some other places the Holy Spirit uses "yaqar" in the Bible. These will help us get a proper Biblical "sense" of the word.

"Yaqar" is once used in reference to young David's reputation. It will be translated, King James Version, "set by." It's from 1st Samuel 18:30. "David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by."

"Yaqar" is the standard descriptive term in the Old Testament for "precious" and "costly" stones too, jewels and such! Things often found on King's Crowns! "It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire." Job 28:16

Here "yaqar" is "brightness." Job 31:26, "If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness."

"Yaqar" is used when describing God too! "How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings." Psalm 36:7

And in Ecclesiastes 10:1 "yaqar" is "reputation!"

The death of a faithful saint, a grateful and dedicated and generous child of God, is absolutely precious in the eyes of the Lord!

It's "valuable!"

"Prized!"

"Highly esteemed!"

"Set by, none like it!"

"More costly than diamonds or rubies!"

"Gloriously bright!"

"Excellent in testimony!"

Oh, to die faithfully serving God, not having "sold out" or "quit" or "compromised" in the battle!

Even Balaam longed for such. He said he did anyway. "Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" Numbers 23:10

Even John on Patmos, in Revelation 14:13, writes: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."

Amen!

But today's point is this.

Do whatever you can to "incite" and "provoke" yourself to good works, to faithful living, to a consistently godly lifestyle!

And one of the most effective tools, in context here, just might be making a few "vows" along the way! Vows to continue serving our glorious Heavenly Father!

After all, Psalm 116 does link the two thoughts, vows and a glorious death! "I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:14-15

Think about it!

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The other words in verse 15 ... are important too! The noun "sight" is taken from the Hebrew word "ayin," meaning an "eye!" In God's Eyesight!

The specific Name of God invoked here is "Yehovah," Jehovah! The covenant-keeping God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob ... and every other ex-sinner saved by Grace!

The word for "death" is "maveth." It can, not always but at times, mean violent death. Once in the King James Text it is translated "slain." Many saints through the years, probably millions of them, have died martyrs' deaths! These would have all been precious to God, indeed! But heart attacks and strokes and worn-out old bodies count too! If a child of God dies, a faithful one still at death, his departure is precious to God!

Then, lastly, comes the noun "saints." It's "chasiyd," literally "kind" ones! Merciful people, gracious in nature and deed! From that basic idea, the word migrated to "set apart" and "different" kinds of people! Then, "holy" ones, godly and pure! God's "crowd!"

LESSON 5, VERSE 16:

It is a Psalm of testimony!

In fact, it's so grace-filled, one might think he or she was reading a New Testament Passage!

Let's take one verse for an example. "O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds." Psalm 113:16

Here "Jehovah" God is being reverently addressed. The heart of that Hebrew Name, "YHVH," houses the verb "to be!" That's why we say our Lord is the God "Who is!" He is eternal! The everlasting "I AM" of Scripture!

And "Jehovah" seems to be God's Name especially when He is entering into covenant relationship with His people! As a Husband to His wife! As a Groom to His bride! As a Father to His children!

We can testify of God's marvelous Grace ... because He has made us His! He saved our lost souls and became our Heavenly Father!

The Psalmist here begins by claiming servanthood to Almighty God!

The noun "ebed" or "servant" is a term that basically means "slave, one in bonds!"

Here's someone humbling himself, demeaning himself nearly, and delightfully claiming to be a mere "servant" of the Most High God!

I am quite happy to be His servant too!

Just a doorkeeper at God's House ... a wonderful position! "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." Psalm 84:10

Paul constantly thrilled at being a "servant" of Jesus Christ, a lowly slave in chains! Here's how the great Apostle began the Epistle of Romans: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God ...." And Titus: "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness ... to Titus, mine own son after the common faith." Titus 1:1

Even the noun "handmaid" hints at "servanthood!" An "amah" is a female slave! A "bondwoman" says the King James Version four times!

Now the identity of this "handmaid" of the Lord is not absolutely certain. She might be the "Church" I suspect. After all, we were born again through the ministry of the local Church! Her preachers and teachers and soul-winners and singers first pointed us to Jesus!

But there is a progression here!

The Psalmist sees God's people advancing! Going from "servants" to "sons!"

Servants of God!

Then, Sons of His Church!

Miraculously born again by the seed of the Holy Spirit!

Via the preaching of the Word!

Genuinely saved!

Jesus once took His Disciples on a similar route, from servanthood to something even better! "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." John 15:15

But look again at today's verse, "O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds." Psalm 116:16

The one thing for which the Psalmist is praising God is His redemption! "Thou hast loosed my bonds," he prays!

The verb "loosed" is "pathach" and means "to open, to break forth, to widen," things like that! And of course, it's a piel verb, revealing intensive action! God has "demolished" our chains of sin! 

The noun "bonds" is "moser," an unusual word, appearing only 11 times in all the Bible! It's root word, "yaser," means "to chasten, discipline, punish, admonish!"

My chains were punishments for my sin! They illustrate the very wages of sin! It dangerous consequences!

But, praise God, they are gone!

In Psalm 30:11-12, the exact verb, in every way identical to "pathach" we just discussed, is rendered as "hast put off." Watch! "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever."

Just like one changes clothes, from rough scratchy sackcloth to smooth symbolic joy, my bonds of iniquity were "put off" too!

How good God has been to us all!

Yes, to those saved by Grace!

First we were Servants!

Next, Sons of servants, handmaids!

Then finally, Freemen, chains and bonds all gone!

See the progression?

Thank you, Lord!

Oh! That's how our Paragraph started! "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" Psalm 116:12 asks. And the answer given is that a "thank offering" is in order! "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD." Psalm 116:13

Yes, we can certainly start with "thanks!"

Is anyone today glad your "bonds" of sin have been broken? Jesus once is prophesied as being the coming "Breaker!"

Here is a description of Israel's future deliverance! Her redemption and liberty! "The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them." Micah 2:13

Folks, that "Breaker" is Jesus!

                                                                      --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, VERSE 17:

Psalm 116, at least the portion of it we have been studying, focuses on the goodness of God!

It goes so far as to ask, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?” Psalm 116:12

The writer is anonymous, no specific Psalmist is named.

Yet the last paragraph of this precious “slice” of Scripture answers that intriguing question. “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”

Today we have reached verse 17. “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.”

The idea of thanksgiving has already surfaced earlier. No doubt verse 13 is referring to the Old Testament drink offering, which was also known as a “thank” offering. “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.”

The noun “thanksgiving” is in Hebrew spelled “todah.” It means “praise or confession or worship,” being derived from “yadah,” a Hebrew root verb. “Yadah” in fact means “to hurl, to throw or to shoot” something! Here obviously “arrows” of gratefulness are being lofted heavenward!

In the King James Version of the Bible “todah” is translated “confession” 2 times and “thanks” 3 times and “thank offerings” 3 times and “praise” 6 times, but “thanksgiving” 18 more times! This gives you an idea of its  grammatical “range.”

The concept of “thanksgiving” being a “sacrifice” is amazing! It is repeated in Hebrews 13:15. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

The noun “sacrifice” is “zebach” and means just what it says! Really, “zabach,” a related verb, means “to slaughter, kill, or slay!” It is, or should be, costly to offer praise and thanksgiving to the Lord! Costly in time and effort and care!

The verb “will offer” is in fact “zabach,” just discussed. But it is framed in the piel stem! This requires an aggressive, dramatic and fervent sacrifice of praise!  This nearly sounds emotional!

Also note that this praise is to be offered, not to one another, not to the Temple (Old Testament) or Church (New Testament) … but “to” the Lord! Just a preposition, “le” means “to, by, for, in” or possibly “at!” Jesus is the Target of our thanks!

But a second response is indicated too. Here’s our verse again: “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.”

To “call” utilizes the verb “kara.” It means “to cry out loud!” To utter an audible sound, a very audible one!

“Name” means much more than just an appellation. More than mere nominative of address! “Shem” always involves One’s character and essence too. That’s what a name really is, anyway! One’s reputation, one’s testimony! That’s why Proverbs says, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." Proverbs 22:1

Needless to say, God’s Name is sterling! Perfect! Ineffable, yet revealed in Scripture!

Usually “to call on the Name of the Lord” suggests prayer. And indeed it does here, but a specific aspect of prayer! Prayers of gratefulness and worship and praise and thanks!

Of course one would only want to do these things … if … the Lord has been good to him!

Remember! That’s the base question of our whole Text, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”

Now we know the answer, or part of it!

Be thankful!

Express that gratefulness prayerfully!

But, the Lord willing, there’s more to come!

It's all voluntarily given, mind you.

No legal requirements!

But don’t miss tomorrow’s lesson!

It’s the “icing” on the cake of gratefulness!

He certainly has indeed been good to us, hasn’t He?

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSE 18:

The Paragraph we have been studying, Psalm 116:12-19, really "hinges" on a question. An excellent question too!

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? This is verse 12, word for word.

The rest of our Text seeks to answer that inquiry.

Twice the giving of thanks is mentioned, once indirectly and once directly.

And twice the making of vows is introduced also!

Here are the "vow" verses:

Firstly, "I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people." Psalm 116:14 links vowing to thanksgiving. Here's how, "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people." The "cup of salvation" is a technical term for the Old Testament drink offering or thank offering!

Secondly, "I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem." Our verse for today, verse 18 here, links vow making to worship!

Maybe we have just been given the two proper motives for any vow the Christian makes!

Here's that initial thrust again. Vow voluntarily! Vow out of thanks to God! Vow because you love Him and want to know Him better!

Then, subsequently, vow in areas that will enhance your worship of the Lord! Your adoration of Him! His preeminence in your life!

Again, our Text for today: "I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem."

The verb "pay" is "shalam," same as back in verse 14. It literally means "to be in a covenant of peace." A "vow" or a "neder" in Hebrew is just "a promise, a commitment, a pledge or covenant," very seriously offered to God.

The noun "presence" is represented by a preposition "le," meaning "to, towards, or regarding."

The courts of the Lord's House are in reality located at the Temple! This is the place of public worship! In the heart of Jerusalem!

I have always been very cautious recommending vows to God's people. Not only because they are far more often seen in the Old Testament than in the New, but because of such "warnings" associated with them! For example, Solomon's advice in Ecclesiastes 5:4-6. "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" Wow!

But the fact remains that twice in Psalm 116 they are mentioned, not in a negative light either!

As aids to thanksgiving!

As aids to faithfulness!

And as aids to worship!

Do remember this too. When a Bride marries, part of the ceremony is the voluntary exchanging of vows. She, out of love, promises some things to the Groom! One certainly can marry without vows. Just sign the papers and mail them to the state. No ceremony is needed really. But yet she, the Bride, desires to say these vows because she loves him so! Plus,  he has vowed so unselfishly to her as well!

Maybe out of love, just sheer love, we should express sincere thanks to our Heavenly Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, by promising him ourselves in a fresh and new way!

Again I simply ask you ...

Think about it!

                                                                       --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, VERSE 19:

The Psalm we have been studying, the 116th, along with its "neighbors" constitute what's called the "Hallel" Psalms. That's right, Psalms 113-118. The noun halel just means "praise" in Hebrew.

Every Jewish boy in Jesus' earthly lifetime would have had these "by heart." His family would have publicly quoted them again and again throughout the whole year. In unison I mean.

The section of Psalm 116 that has especially claimed our attention, verses 12-19, is beautiful!

It asks, then answers, a vital question.

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"

Then comes cascades of good ideas!

Giving thanks!

Prayer!

Vows!

Faithfulness ... until death even!

Testimony!

Thanksgiving again!

Vows a second time also!

And finally, worship!

Voluntary responses, birthed out of hearts in love with Jesus, acknowledging God's multiple blessings and mercies and benefits!

Then, the Psalm ends.

This way, too, "Praise ye the LORD."

That's it!

"Praise ye the LORD."

Psalm 116:19, its very last clause, "Praise ye the LORD."

The verb "praise" is framed as an imperative. We are being commanded to praise God!

Also "praise" is formed as a piel verb, expressing vigorous and heart-felt and diligent action!

Praise God with all thy heart!

"Praise," spelled "halal" as we've already discovered, is from a Hebrew root word that means "to brighten up, to shine, to illuminate!" It depicts a facial expression that's compatible with a redeemed soul!

The the Object of such praise, its Focus, the the Lord Himself!

"Jehovah" or "LORD," all capital letters in our King James Text, is usually represented in the Hebrew language as "yehovah." But here in verse 19, the very end of our Psalm, God's Name is abbreviated. It is simply "yah."

Now watch what happens when these words are linked together. The last sentence of Psalm 116 in the Masoretic Text, the manuscript that gives us our King James Old Testament, reads "halal-jah." 

See it?

Halal-jah!"

But in Hebrew, when words such as these are fused together, a connecting vowel sound is usually added. It is here.

Thus we get, "Halal-u-yah."

Sound it out!

Halalujah!

The "j" gives a "y" sound here so the pronunciation would be ...

HALAL-U-YAH!

It is actually our word "Hallelujah!"

It's Hebrew for ... "Praise ye the Lord!"

Now isn't that the appropriate way for a "Halel" Psalm to end?

I am told by those who should know that this word is the same in every language on earth!

Hallelujah ... Praise ye the Lord!

We should!

He's been that good to us!

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

One more additional paragraph, "halal" in the King James Bible is translated one time "to celebrate!" One might say the Psalm ends in that kind of mood! Great exultation! It is rendered "boast" ten times in our dear old Bibles too! To "praise" God is to "brag" on Him, and rightly so! It is also represented as "commend" two times! And, maybe best of all, it's used in a "marriage" context once as well! To praise Him as such "hints" at a coming Wedding!