Psalm 116

This week, we’re singing Psalm 116:15-19. In this section of the psalm, verse 16 may jump out at you:

O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.

Here’s some brief comments from John Calvin that may shed some light on what’s going on here:

In assigning, as the reason of his deliverance, that he was God’s servant, he by no means vaunts of his services, but rather refers to God’s unconditional election; for we cannot make ourselves his servants, that being an honor conferred upon us solely by his adoption. Hence David affirms, that he was not God’s servant merely, but the son of his handmaid. “From the womb of my mother, even before I was born, was this honor conferred upon me.” He therefore presents himself as a common example to all who shall dedicate themselves to the service of God, and place themselves under his protection, that they may be under no apprehension for their safety while they have him for their defense.

In other words, we are God’s servants first because we have been freed from sin. This is justification (freedom from sin’s penalty) and sanctification (freedom from sin’s power). Second, we are God’s servants because we have been adopted into the family of God. Our relationship with God is both legal and familial. As Paul reminds us:

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:14-15)

Get Ready for Easter!

Updates

Don’t forget to change your clocks Saturday night!
Presbyterian Women meets Thursday at 3 to install new officers.
Within the next few weeks, the Fellowship Hall will be blocked off to put in new floors. Please do not attempt to enter.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid