Psalm 116:1-7 "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. (2) Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. (3) The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. (4) Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. (5) Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. (6) The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. (7) Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee."
I used more Scripture than usual this morning. There are 19 verses in this
Psalm where the Psalmist is explaining why he loves the Lord. I'm sure that if
each of us listed our reasons, the entire Bible would not be able to contain
them all. In fact, the entire world would not be able to contain all of them.
As I read these 7 verses, my mind went in two directions concerning the
explanation of loving God. But first, I ask a difficult question: Do I really
love God? You might say that is a question that doesn't even need to be
asked; yet, I think it does. Second, my question would be, "How much do I
love God?" Jesus said, "IF you love me, keep my
commandments."
The Psalmist openly declared his love for the Lord. He stated that as long as
he lived, he would call upon the name of the Lord. In other words, his trust
and confidence was complete only in the mercy, love, grace, and power of the
Lord. He recognized the many times that God had delivered him from struggles,
troubles, and trials. He testified that the only reason he was alive to write
those words was because the Lord had preserved him in all those times. He
loved the Lord because of the sweet peace that had been given to him through
his daily walk with the Lord. I found it very interesting that this Psalm
begins with those four words, "I love the Lord." Earlier, I asked the
question, "Do I really love my Lord?" If so, when was the last
time I actually told him of my love. When was the last time that my prayer
consisted of simply saying, "Lord, I love you!" There is rest
and comfort to be found in the grand truth that God loves me and I love Him.
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
1 There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
it sounds like music in my ear,
the sweetest name on earth.
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
because he first loved me!