How well I remember the time in church I read Psalm 116 during testimony service. I had been serving God for about 6 months or so. The day I gave my heart to the Lord Jesus and He told me to read His word starting in Matthew, I think I probably read the entire New Testament that first week. When I finished the New Testament, I started in the Old Testament. When I got to Psalm 116 I was so taken by the words of the Psalm that I read the entire Psalm for my testimony in church.
Psalm 116:1 starts with, "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications." I never thought that God could love a sinner such as I was. Verse 2 goes on and says, "Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." I was so thankful to the Lord Jesus for taking notice of me. Verse 3 says, "The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow." The Lord told me that the direction of my life was leading me to death, and I had a choice to make. Then in tones of the most unutterable love He said, "make Me your choice, I am the only reasonable choice you have." When I turned to the Lord Jesus that day I said in response to the Lord Jesus' wonderful invitation to make Him my choice, "Lord Jesus, if you will help me I will serve you from this day to the day I die!" I meant it then and I mean it now!
Verse 4 says, "Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul." That day, for the first time in my life, I sincerely with a repentant heart called on the Lord Jesus in faith. Verse 5 says, "Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful." I found out that day I surrendered to the Lord that the Lord Jesus is not just righteous but truly gracious and merciful. Verse 6 says, "The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me." When I said I would serve Him if He would help me, immediately He helped me. Verses 7-8 says, "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." What a wonderful and faithful friend He has been to me.
Verses 9-10 says, "I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:" This shall ever be my testimony. Verse 11 says, "I said in my haste, All men are liars." I remember thinking previously that everybody, including my self were all plastic and phony. Verses 12-14 says, "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." Another passage of scripture comes to me which says, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." (See Psalm 122:1) Verse 15 says, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." I'll live for Jesus and if necessary die for Him. Verse 16 says, "O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds." I am so glad that He set me free.
Finally Verses 17-19 says, "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..." This then has been and is my determination until the day Jesus comes back or until the day I die.
"Praise ye the LORD."
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