I was inspired to read Psalm 116 this morning. Often I don't have an idea of where to go or start, what to read or where I am in the general study.
Last night I re-read Timothy 1&2 and felt I would do a deeper study and write there.. and yet here I am in Psalms.

Hallel Psalms.

Psalms 113—118 are known as the Hallel Psalms, or simply the Hallel (Hallel means “praise”). While many psalms praise God, this set of psalms became associated with Passover due the mention of the deliverance from Egypt in Psalm 114. The focus on the exodus is the reason these psalms are also sometimes referred to as the Egyptian Hallel. These psalms were recited at Jewish feasts, especially Passover. Depending upon which tradition was being followed, one or two of the psalms were recited before the meal, and the rest after.

Here is a brief description of each of the Hallel Psalms:

Psalm 113 is a short psalm of praise without reference to any historical context. Verse 3 may be the best known from this psalm: “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!” (ESV).

Psalm 114 is also a short psalm that poetically relates the Hebrews’ deliverance from Egypt: “The sea looked and fled. . . . The mountains skipped like rams. . . . [the Lord] turns the rock into a pool of water” (verses 3–4, 8).

Psalm 115 is slightly longer and contrasts those who trust in the Lord with those who trust in the idols of the surrounding nations. “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them” (verses 4–8, ESV).

Psalm 116 is written from the perspective of an individual who has been delivered from a dire situation. “I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live” (verses 1–2, ESV).

Psalm 117 is both the shortest psalm and the shortest “chapter” in the Bible, with only 2 verses (although psalms are not technically chapters). This is the whole psalm: “Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (ESV).

Psalm 118 is the longest of the Hallel Psalms. It admonishes both the nation and the individual to praise the Lord and expresses confidence that the Lord will save those who call on Him. It begins and ends with the well-known exhortation, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (ESV). Also well-known is verse 14: “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (ESV).

Very Interesting to me. I have never heard this or how the Psalms are often broken into groups like this.

Where I went was first from the wonderful idea that God Hears me. Personally, me.

He inclined His ear to ME. WOW.

Psalm 116

¹ I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.

So a Psalm of celebration. For Me.
It is beautiful.

And What will I GIVE TO GOD for all his benefits given to me?

Verse 12-14

What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
¹³ I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the Lord.
¹⁴ I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people.

I will first "give" Receivership of even more of His benefits, His grace and His mercy.
WOW. All God really wants is for us to Receive and Believe on His Son Jesus Christ.
And the I will pay vows, I will sing, I will be public.

But then:
As I learned of this Hallel grouping... and read and was reminded that Jesus and the disciples SANG, as was the Jewish custom, at the Last Supper....

MATTHEW 26:30

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

I realized these were Psalms, songs, customary to sing and celebrate for Passover.
THIS made Psalm 116 very different For Me.

Now, I am imagining Jesus singing these words the night of His betrayal and arrest, the night of His knowing of His next steps. Wow. read this NOW. For Him.

RIGHT?!!

Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death

116 I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
² Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

³ The ^[a]pains of death surrounded me,
And the ^[b]pangs of Sheol ^[c]laid hold of me;
I found trouble and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

⁵ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
⁶ The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
⁷ Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

⁸ For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.
⁹ I will walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.
¹⁰ I believed, therefore I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted.”
¹¹ I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.”

¹² What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
¹³ I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the Lord.
¹⁴ I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints.

¹⁶ O Lord, truly I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;
You have loosed my bonds.
¹⁷ I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord.

¹⁸ I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people,
¹⁹ In the courts of the Lord’s house,
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

^[d]Praise the Lord!

Imagine, oh my heart.... Moving from me to Him...  Knowing the next events are at hand.
A day later, 24 hours later, in the tomb.

This Prayer. This song. Wow.

It changes it all For Me and makes it more direct, meaningful and impactful.
Right through the heart.