Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Psalms

Psalms 
Day 
Day 256

Psalm 116:3a "The pains of death surrounded me..."

Day 256 – Psalm 116

“The pains of death surrounded me…” Psalm 116:3a

FACING GRIM DEATH

One of the hardest things to face in life is probably “death”. The psalmist shares his thoughts about the time when he encountered death.

“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!'”
Psalm 116:3-4

1. A description of death

a) Pain is associated with death.
i) It is not necessarily physical pain.
ii) It is nevertheless pain that is felt keenly by the psalmist.
b) “The pangs of Sheol laid hold of me”
i) Sheol is another word for “the grave”.
ii) The thought of being put into the grave caused deep pains to be felt.

2. Candid response recorded

a) The thought of death brought forth two responses:-
i) The psalmist felt “troubled”.
ii) He felt a deep sense of sorrow too.
b) Turning to the Lord God in prayer
i) God had heard his prayers and supplications before.
ii) Surely He will hear this prayer too.
iii) A prayer for deliverance from death was brought to the Lord.
iv) The psalmist did not take prayer for granted. He “implored” God in prayer.
v) He begged to be delivered from the jaws of death and Sheol.