January 27 — The Lord Saved Me (Ps. 116:5-6)
       Psalm 116:5: “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.”
       Psalm 116:6: “The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.”
 Verse 5: “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.”
 These characteristics remind us of Exodus 34:6 as Moses requested to see the Lord: “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness’” (NIV).
 Here the Psalmist describes the Lord in 3 ways. He is: (1) “gracious”; (2) “righteous”; and (3) “full of compassion.”
 Anne Graham Lotz said: “You and I need to learn to interpret our circumstances by His love, not interpret His love by our circumstances!” (Just Give Me Jesus, 203).
 Is there anything in your life this morning that you dread or are concerned about? That if you meet those circumstances today, you will not find an adequate Lord? And that one of these 3 words will prove His adequacy? He is “gracious and righteous…[and] full of compassion.” O what a great God we have! What joy fills our hearts as we’re drawn to Him who is “gracious,” who is “righteous,” who is “full of compassion.”
 Because the Lord is gracious, righteous, and full of compassion, the Lord reached down and made a rescue and spared the life of David in this situation.
 Verse 6: “The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.”
 Here in verse 6 the Lord does 2 things. He (1) “protects” and (2) “saved.”
 The way “The Lord protects” is He is constantly watching over us.
 Jeremiah 16:17: “My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes” (NIV).
 Psalm 19:7: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (NIV).
 C.H. Spurgeon said: “simple though I was, the Lord did not pass me by. Though reduced in circumstances, slandered in character, depressed in spirit, and sick in body, the Lord helped me.”
 Psalm 34:6: “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles” (NIV).
 Chip Ingram says: “Getting the big picture will help us endure the raw deal—the lost relationship, the lost money, the gossip, the betrayal, and the painful disappointments that come our way in this fallen world—without destroying our lives and turning us into bitter, vengeful people.” (I Am With You Always, 32)
 I find myself praying with Bishop Andrewes: “…Abide with us, o Lord, for it is toward evening, and the day of our life is far spent.”

 In answer to my cry, I find myself singing “Love Lifted Me”: “I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I. Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; he will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves. He’s the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey; He your Saviour wants to be, Be saved today. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.”