Walking through Psalm 116: Compassionate Help for the Hurt and Humble

When you’re in hard times, who do you turn to?

Yes, yes, of course—you might be assuming that the correct answer here is Jesus. And you’d be right, and we will be getting there…But before we do, let’s think about the humans we know who aren’t Jesus.

When you are struggling, sad, weary, or overwhelmed, who do you like to talk to? And who do you not like to talk to?

My guess is that, if you’re like most people, you want to talk to someone who is compassionate. Someone who will see your pain and care deeply. Who desires to help you experience less pain. Who will be good to you in your trouble.

When we encounter someone who is lacking compassion during a time that we desperately need it, our pain is multiplied and our tender, wounded spirits can feel entirely crushed.

Taking a moment to consider what compassion feels like and how we have seen and experienced it in the physical world helps us to understand more at a heart-level just how valuable this description of Jesus is in the text we’ll look at today: Psalm 116.

Compassion matters, and it’s exactly the characteristic of Jesus that I want to point to today, as I offer an invitation for you to take hold of who he is for us as believers in a deeper way.

As we move through Psalm 116, I hope you’ll notice where you identify with the author (or tuck it into your pocket for another day) and see how the living Lord interacts with his pain and moves on his behalf.

In Psalm 116, we see a man in desperation—one who feels entirely overwhelmed. Or, as he would put it, “overcome by distress and sorrow”. (Verse 3)

Thankfully, this man knew where to turn when life got the better of him. Calling on the name of the Lord, as we see in verse 4, he seeks salvation from his troubles from one who not only has the power to lift him from his troubles, but the compassion to meet him in the depths.

116:4-5 shows his understanding of Jesus’ response to him when he calls upon his name:

Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”

The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. Psalm 116:4-5

Aren’t you glad that God is not only righteous to execute justice—to point us in the right direction, filled with truth and wisdom—but also, one who is gracious and compassionate?

He’s both a helpful hand, and a warm hug.

This isn’t to say that he won’t provide the discipline we need when our difficult circumstances call for it, but that we can trust his character to be consistently compassionate—especially to the one who is brought low in humility.

When we call on the name of the Lord, we are acknowledging his ways as greater than our own, and are able to come to a deeper place of soul rest than we could if we tried to deal with our troubles solo.

There’s this pair of verses that come up next in Psalm 116 that highlight the fruit of surrender as we trust in the Lord to address what troubles us as only he can…

“The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:6-7

Do you ever come across a word in the Bible and simply have no idea what it means?

“Unwary” was that for me. And when I researched its meaning, the findings were, well, on fire.

Unwary means one who is not alert. One who is foolish, or simple.

And while i don’t believe this is an advocacy to walk in intentional foolishness, it is a beautiful acknowledgement that God looks out for the simple one. Especially the one who is brought low, and calling on his name.

Picture a small toddler. Or the dull sheep of the flock.

Now, I know it might feel a little funny to compare yourself to the “dull sheep in the flock” but sometimes, it’s simply what we are—and he loves us still.

Like a sheep or a toddler wandering along, unaware of real danger, sometimes we can move along in our physical or spiritual life without an attentiveness to potential snares.

When we are wandering along and find ourselves under fierce attack that we weren’t expecting—perhaps because we weren’t on our guard—the Lord protects us, even then. We can call on him and receive his saving help.

There is an innocence, a humility, and a dependence pictured here. One who not only wants the Lord, but desperately needs him.

And he graciously provides.

The only natural response to such a grace is honest gratitude. (Which is exactly how this Psalm wraps up, by the way.)

Verse 12 reads, “What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?”

And then verse 17, “I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.”

There is a gratitude that flows from a deep place in the heart of one who experiences compassion and support in their time of need.

It multiplies into servitude, and overflows—for the glory of Jesus’ Name. Our gracious comforter and mighty rescuer.

May we all humbly turn to Jesus in times of distress, as we receive his loving compassion and saving help.

And may his faithfulness spur on a heartfelt servitude that shows the whole world the Goodness of our Savior King.