RESPONDING TO LOVE

What shall I render to the LORD

For all His benefits toward me?  (Psalm 116:12)

This Old Testament truth finds its New Testament parallel in 1 John 5:19, “We love Him for He first loved us.”  Love given so abundantly by God, ought to be reciprocated by us.  Throughout this Psalm, we encounter that theme.

I love the LORD, because He has heard

My voice and my supplications. 

Because He has inclined His ear to me,

Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.  (v.1-2)

The sacred songwriter found himself in a desperate state (v.3), with no hope except in God—but He found God to be more than enough!  Crying out to Him, he received grace and mercy, dispatched to him from God (v.4-6).  Grace took one arm, mercy the other, and lifted him up, leading him out of his peril.  It was such bountiful blessing (v.7)!  Now, with his soul once troubled, finding rest, he reflects upon the goodness of God.

For You have delivered my soul from death,

My eyes from tears,

And my feet from falling.  (v.8)

God delivered his soul, dried his sobs, and directed his steps.  Faith had brought him the victory (v.9-11).  It wasn’t a lot of faith, but it was enough, for not the measure of faith, but the object of faith is the key.  In fact, when he felt men had abandoned him, he spoke hastily in the bitterness of his soul.  People do fail us.  They do not always stand by us.  God, however, can be utterly trusted.  He may not answer the prayer the way we expect or when we want, but His love directs Him to always do the best—even, when we don’t understand.

What shall I render to the LORD

For all His benefits toward me? 

 I will take up the cup of salvation,

And call upon the name of the LORD. 

 I will pay my vows to the LORD

Now in the presence of all His people.  (v.12-14)

This is how to respond to love: experience satisfaction in drinking deeply of God’s salvation; express supplication in calling continually on God’s name; exhibit service in willing work for God’s cause. 

When God delivers us from death, He extends our time on earth for His purposes.  Then, when life is over, He calls us to an even greater glory (v.15).  The deliverance from death will ultimately yield to the deliverance in death—to heaven, where His love will be known exponentially!  Until then, we will serve Him, worship Him, and gather with His people to sing of His love (v.16-19)!  Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine—and the best is yet to come!

How will you respond to the love of God today?