Daily Thought

This psalm is a thanksgiving for recovery from a severe illness and a reflection on the lessons which this would teach, cp. Ps. 119. 67.

In answer to David’s prayer the Lord preserved his life and he praises Him for this, vv. 1-3. He encourages the godly to join in his thanksgiving, vv. 4, 5, and continues by relating his own appreciation of the Lord’s mercy towards him, vv. 6-10. His prayer was heard and answered, his life was spared that he might praise the Lord and continue in thanksgiving for ever, vv. 11, 12.

Today’s title is the commencement of our psalm. David says he will extol the Lord. ‘Extol’ could be rendered ‘exalt’, a well used word in various Old Testament passages, cp. Ps. 34. 3; Isa. 25. 1. Ideas associated with the word are ‘to be high’ or ‘lifted up’. David continues, ‘for thou hast lifted me up’. He lifts up the Lord because He has lifted up His servant. This relates to physical and spiritual deliverance. David not only recovered his health but he was also delivered from his enemies. He was lifted, or raised up. The idea is ‘drawn me up’ from the depths of trouble and despair, as out of a well. The Christian has been lifted up with Christ and made to sit with Him in heavenly places, Eph. 2. 6.

After his deliverance, David ascribes praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. We are reminded that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world, 1 John 4. 14. The Father also seeks true worshippers, John 4. 23, 24. May we gladly offer our praise and worship to Him for all He has accomplished for us in Christ, Eph. 1. 3.

At the beginning, v. 2, and the conclusion, v. 12, of this psalm, David prays, ‘O Lord my God’. Thomas addressed the Saviour as ‘My Lord and my God’, John 20. 28. The Lord Jesus is nothing less than very God. In effect, Thomas asked, ‘How can He be alive after the horrors of crucifixion?’. The answer is, ‘My Lord and my God’. We, ourselves, are encouraged with the Lord’s further word to Thomas, John 20. 29; cp. Mark 15. 32. As David understands in our psalm, seeing does not automatically lead to believing, but to believe must result in our seeing. ‘O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever’, v. 12.