Bully's Blog

or Feasts in Psalm 116

I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD In the land of the living.

I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.” I said in my haste, “All men are liars.”

What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.

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

I will pay my vows to the LORD Now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!

Notice that, as in the Creation week, Day 3 ends with the ascension of the Covenant Head (Land/bread and wine), and Day 6 with the response of the Covenant body (Atonement).

Testing under the Law is at the centre. Men have legs, but like the serpent, they have become creeping things in the tomb, the abyss, the lower deck of the ark. The Psalmist believes the Word of the Lord instead of the words of men. He replaces the Adamic serpents and experiences resurrection.

The martyrdom (witness) and resurrection of the two witnesses is always at Step 5, Trumpets.

I think I can also see evidence of the fivefold Covenant pattern (which underlies the sevenfold Feast pattern) in most of these seven verses. Here’s verse 3 (Ascension):

Transcendence: Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.1

Hierarchy: The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. (Authority delegated, the humble exalted) 2

Ethics: Return to your rest, O my soul, 3
for the LORD 4
has dealt bountifully with you.5

Sanctions: For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 6

Succession: I will walk before the LORD In the land of the living. 7

Notice also that, in relation to the post about “plagues and plunder” the other day, “benefits” is at Step 5 in the greater pattern, and “bountifully” is at Step 5 within Step 3.

Also, taking the cup of salvation corresponds to the end of the Nazirite vow. In the seven words from the cross, Jesus’ fifth word was “I thirst.” See Seven Words from the Cross.