Psalm 116:12-14 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits toward me?… I. A VERY SUITABLE INQUIRY. It contains — 1. A remembrance of all His benefits. 2. A recognition of the Lord's consequent claim. 3. A desire appropriately to acknowledge these benefits. 4. An overwhelming sense of inability to acknowledge God's mercy. II. A TRULY REMARKABLE REPLY. 1. Thank God for the cup of communion, and the cup of consolation. The best way to praise Him for mercies past is to accept mercies present, and to anticipate the mercies that are still in store. 2. True prayer is worship, homage. As a sickly flower pent within the cottage window turns itself towards the sun, and by drinking in its beams worships it, so you who have nothing to give to the collection, so you who have no talents for Sunday school teaching, so you whose lives seem to be one dull round, one common task, do worship God in most spiritual fashion by just breathing His air, imbibing His beams, meditating on His mercy, and asking still for more. 3. Praise and prayer are acceptable to God, and better sacrifices could hardly be, but with praising and praying the psalmist links paying. Do not divorce one from the other. Do not rob God. Have you never read of one who, being brought to the place of martyrdom, kneeled down in the mire at Smithfield, and, lifting up his eyes to heaven, said, "I will pay my vows now in the midst of thee, O Smithfield"? The place was red with the blood of saints, and brown with the burning of fires! Ah me! the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places; we have a goodly heritage. Will you pay your vows unto the Lord in the basement of the tabernacle? Smithfield's fires are out, thank God. It should be easier for us to be consecrated, and devoted, and whole-hearted here and now. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?WEB: What will I give to Yahweh for all his benefits toward me? |
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