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Psalm 116:1–2 and the Other Verses of Psalm 116

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur.  The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites.  Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law.  The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  

While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone or the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2026 would occur during September or October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in March or April, respectively.  Also, if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in February, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of August 12th, 2026, at 12:25 P.M. – August 16th, 2026, at 1:49 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone.  On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset.  The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon.  The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon.  On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verses of the day for August 24th are Psalm 116:1–2.  Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Psalm 116.  

Note:  Unspecified in the Bible is the author of Psalm 116.  

Psalm 116:1

I have loved Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One because He hears my voice, my supplications.

Psalm 116:2

Because He has inclined His ear to me, I call as long as I live.

Note:  The reference to an ear in this verse is an anthropomorphism [an-thruh-puh-MOR-fiz-uhm].  An anthropomorphism is a usage of terminology involving a physical characteristic to describe a characteristic of the Trinity.  The anthropomorphism involving an ear in the phrase He has inclined His ear in this verse is a metaphor that calls attention to God the Father graciously listening to prayers from believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

The calling referenced in this verse involves a call for help.  In the context of this verse, that call for help is a call to God the Father for help from God the Father.  All prayer must be addressed to God the Father.  In that regard, the psalmist recognized that the psalmist needed to pray to God the Father throughout the lifetime of the psalmist.  

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself indicated that all prayer must be addressed to God the Father.  The content of Matthew 6:1–13 covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray.  In that regard, the content of Matthew 6:9 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.  The content of Luke 11:1–4 also covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray.  In that regard, the content of Luke 11:2 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.  

Psalm 116:3

The cords of death have encompassed me, and the distresses/troubles/straits of Sheol have found / met / come upon / taken hold of me.  I find / meet / come upon / take hold of distress and sorrow.

Note:  In this verse, the phrase The cords of death have encompassed me refers to the psalmist having come close to physically dying.  In that regard, the psalmist mentioned Sheol [SHEE-ohl].  The word Sheol [SHEE-ohl] comes from Hebrew.  A synonym for the word Sheol is the word Hades [HAY-deez].  The word Hades comes from Greek.  Sheol/Hades is somewhere under the surface of the earth in a location that is inaccessible to those humans who have not yet experienced physical death.  

Sheol/Hades is different from the Lake of Fire.  The Lake of Fire is the place of judgment for the fallen angels and those who have had the mental capacity to make a decision about whether or not to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior but never believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  For each person who at some time in that personʼs life has the mental capacity to make a decision about whether or not to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, the age of that person when that person first had the mental capacity to make a decision about whether or not to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior can be referred to as the age of accountability of that person.  The age of accountability varies for each individual person.  

Content in 2 Samuel 12:23 indicates that a person who dies before that person has reached the age of accountability receives eternal life.  The content of that verse references King David recognizing that when David died, he would be with his son who had died as a baby.  Below is content related to 2 Samuel 12:22–23.  

Note:  In the below content of 2 Samuel 12:22, the pronoun he refers to David.  

2 Samuel 12:22

Then he says, “While the child was still alive, I have fasted, and I weep, for I have said, ‘Who knows?  Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has been gracious to me, and the child has lived.’  

Note:  The uses of a present tense in the verb says and the verb weep reference what has occurred in the past.  Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.  

2 Samuel 12:23

“However, now he has died; why should I fast?  Am I able to bring him back again?  I am going to him, but he does not return to me.”  

Note:  David indicated that he recognized that he would later be with his son who had died as a baby.  In that regard, David indicated that he recognized that the means by which David would be with that deceased son involved David going to be with that deceased son when David would die rather than that deceased son coming back to be with David before David died.  David is eternally saved; therefore, the content of this verse indicates that Davidʼs son who had died as a baby is also eternally saved.  

Unspecified in the Bible is the location of the Lake of Fire.  Sheol/Hades can also be referred to as the netherworld.  Also, the phrase the netherworld can alternatively be spelled as the nether world.  The word nether means “located down or below.”  

Before the Lord Jesus Christʼs resurrection and ascension to Heaven, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ resided in a pleasant compartment of Hades called Paradise and also called Abrahamʼs Bosom.  After the Lord was resurrected and He ascended to Heaven, the believers who were in Abrahamʼs Bosom were transferred to Heaven.  Now that the Lord has been resurrected and has ascended to Heaven, deceased believers go to Heaven rather than going to Abrahamʼs Bosom.  Unspecified in the Bible are details about how believers were transferred to Abrahamʼs Bosom other than the content of Luke 16:22 mentioning angels carrying the poverty-stricken believer named Lazarus to Abrahamʼs Bosom.  Also, unspecified in the Bible are details about how believers were transferred from Abrahamʼs Bosom to Heaven or how believers are transferred to Heaven.  

Deceased unbelievers resided and still reside in a compartment of Hades called Torments.  They will reside there until the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers, which will occur after the Lordʼs 1,000-year Millennial reign on the earth.  The unbelievers will then be cast into the Lake of Fire.  Satan and the other fallen angels will also be cast into the Lake of Fire.  Another compartment of Hades is Tartarus, which is where those fallen angels who mated with human females—as mentioned in Genesis 6—are currently incarcerated.  

Paradise / Abrahamʼs Bosom is referenced in Luke 16:19–22.  The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.  

Luke 16:19–22

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.  Also, a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores and longing to be fed with the things which were falling from the rich manʼs table.  Nevertheless, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.  Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abrahamʼs bosom, and the rich man also died and was buried.”

Torments is referenced in Luke 16:23–26.  The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.  

Luke 16:23–26

“In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and sees* Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue because I am in agony in this flame.’  Nevertheless, Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things and likewise Lazarus bad things.  Nevertheless, now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.  Also, in all these things, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and none may cross over from there to us.’”

*Note:  The word sees is in the Greek historical present tense.  

Tartarus and the context of the judgment of the angels who mated with human females are referenced in 2 Peter 2:4–5.  

2 Peter 2:4–5

Indeed, if God did not spare—and He indeed did not spare—angels when they sinned but cast them into Tartarus and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment, and did not spare the ancient world but preserved Noah, a preacher [or herald] of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 

Note:  In 2 Peter 2:4, the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek verb that is translated as “cast them into Tartarus” is ταρταρώσας [pronounced tar-tah-ROH-sahs and transliterated as tartarōsas].  That verb is an inflected form of the root word ταρταρόω [pronounced tar-tah-RAH-oh and transliterated as tartaroō].  The verb tartaroō is derived from the Greek noun Τάρταρος [pronounced TAHR-tah-rahs and transliterated as Tartaros], which can be translated as “Tartarus.”  The English noun Tartarus is also derived from the Greek noun Tartaros.  

Regarding terminology, when people use the word hell, they might be referring to Hades/Sheol, and they might be referring to the Lake of Fire.  Also, it is possible that some people are unaware that Hades and the Lake of Fire are different locations.  There are zero indications in the Bible that Satan has a headquarters located in Hades or in the Lake of Fire.  

Psalm 116:4

Then I call upon the name of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One:  “O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, I beseech You, save my life / deliver my soul!”

Note:  The psalmist is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, the psalmist is asking for deliverance from physical death rather than referring to eternal life because the fact that the psalmist is a believer means that the psalmist already has eternal life.  Because the psalmist believed in the Lord as the Savior before the Lord was born as the Human the Lord Jesus Christ, the psalmist did not necessarily know what the Lordʼs name would be.  The same applies to any believer in the Lord as the Savior before the Lord was born.  In that regard, the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed—by means of believing that God the Son would take the form of the One sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed after the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed and before the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believe after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who was judged for the sins of humanity.  

Regarding the phrase deliver my soul in Psalm 116:4, the word soul can be used to refer to life, depending on the context in which the word soul is used.  In the context of this verse, the word soul refers to the life of the psalmist.  In that regard, in the context of this verse, the helplessness of the psalmist involved the danger of physical death.  Regarding the danger of physical death, the content of this verse involves a humble helpless person asking God the Father for help.  

Psalm 116:5

Gracious is Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One and righteous.  Yes, our 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead is compassionate.

Psalm 116:6

Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One preserves the naïve ones / simple ones / simpletons / gullible ones.  I have been brought low, and He saves me.

Note:  In this verse, the Hebrew word that is translated as “naïve ones / simple ones / simpletons / gullible ones” is פְּתָאיִם [pronounced peth-ah-YEEM and can be transliterated as pethayiym].  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  That word is an inflected form of the root word פְּתִי [pronounced peth-EE and can be transliterated as pethiy].  

Psalm 116:7

Return to your rest, O my soul, for Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:8

Certainly, You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

Note:  In this verse, the psalmist switches from talking to himself to talking to God the Father.  

Psalm 116:9

I walk before Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One in the lands of the living.

Note:  In this verse, the psalmist switches from talking to God the Father to talking about God the Father.  Regarding the word before, wherever the psalmist was, the psalmist was in front of God the Father because God the Father is omnipresent [God the Father is everywhere].  

Psalm 116:10

I have believed/trusted when I say, “I have been greatly afflicted.”

Note:  In the context of the content of the verses that precede verse 10, the believing/trusting referenced in verse 10 refers to the psalmist believing/trusting that God the Father would ensure that the psalmist would be delivered from the danger of physical death.  

Psalm 116:11

I have said in my alarm/haste, “Every man a liar.”

Note:  While not every person habitually lies, the psalmist had on some occasion or occasions expressed the sentiment that every person is a liar.  The content of this verse involves the psalmist recognizing that not every person habitually lies and that the psalmist had previously been hasty regarding the sentiment that he had expressed regarding people lying.  Also, the psalmist wrote this verse elliptically, omitting a verb between the phrase Every man and the phrase a liar.  While the verb is could be inserted in between those phrases when translating into English, the omission of the verb is in that sentence can help reflect the agitated state of mind of the psalmist when he was expressing his sentiment regarding people lying.  

In the context of the content of the verses surrounding this verse, the psalmistʼs focus on people lying calls attention to the trustworthiness of people contrasted with the trustworthiness of God the Father.  In that regard, humans other than the Lord Jesus Christ can be untrustworthy.  In contrast, God the Father is trustworthy.  Also, while recognizing that people can be untrustworthy, the psalmist recognized that he should refrain from assuming that all people are untrustworthy.  

It can be tempting to assume that all people are untrustworthy.  Such temptation to be pessimistic can result from a person who is suffering experiencing treatment from others involving, for example, them not helping him, not exhibiting any sympathy towards him, not offering any encouragement from the Word of God, not being interested in hearing about his burden or burdens, or not exhibiting any interest in him whatsoever.  Such uncaring people could include those on whom the suffering person might ordinarily expect to rely, including, for example, relatives, friends, or people to whom the suffering person had shown kindness in the past when those people were suffering.  Regarding the foregoing, when a suffering believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is treated in a callous manner, it is worthwhile for that believer to refrain from assuming that all of humanity is uncaring while at the same time refraining from being dependent on one or more humans other than the Lord Jesus Christ caring about that suffering believer.  Likewise, it is worthwhile for that believer to depend on the Trinity regarding that suffering.  If no humans other than the Lord Jesus Christ do anything to help a suffering believer, that believer can remember that the Trinity will take care of matters for that believer.  

Regarding the Trinity taking care of matters for a suffering believer, each Member of the Trinity performs a different role.  Regarding the roles of the Members of the Trinity, God the Father does the planning, God the Son executes the plan, and God the Holy Spirit reveals the plan.  The Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son.  Regarding the foregoing, God the Father can take care of the matter by planning the perfect solution for the matter.  God the Son, in accordance with God the Fatherʼs plan, can take care of the matter by controlling circumstances.  God the Holy Spirit, also in accordance with God the Fatherʼs plan, can take care of the matter by causing encouraging information from the Word of God to come to the mind of the suffering believer.  

Psalm 116:12

What do I render to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One for all His benefits upon me?

Psalm 116:13

I lift up the cup of deliverances and call upon the name of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is to what the phrase I lift up the cup of deliverances refers in this verse.  The context of the content of this verse and the verse before and the verse after is such that that phrase might refer to offering thanks to God the Father for the deliverances that God the Father provides.  Regardless of to what that phrase refers in this verse, this verse and the verse before and the verse after reference the psalmist thanking God the Father.  

The Hebrew word translated as “deliverances” in this verse is יְשׁוּעוֹת [pronounced yeh-shoo-OHT and can be transliterated as yeshuw`ot and yeshu`ot and yeshuot], which is an inflected form of the root word יְשׁוּעָה [pronounced yesh-OO-ah and can be transliterated as yeshuw`ah and yeshu`ah and yeshuah].  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  The Hebrew word yeshuah can be transliterated into Koine [KOI-nay] Greek as Ἰησοῦς [pronounced ee-ay-SOOS and transliterated as Iēsous].  In that regard, the use of yeshuah foreshadowed the Koine Greek name Iēsous.  The correspondence between yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה) and Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς) is listed below.  

Regarding the use of the Koine Greek letter ς [SIG-muh] to transliterate the Hebrew letter ה [HAY], below are examples of such usage.  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  

• The letter ς [SIG-muh] is used to transliterate the letter ה [HAY] at the end of אֵלִיָּה (Elijah) to result in Ἠλίας (Elias).  

• The letter ς [SIG-muh] is used to transliterate the letter ה [HAY] at the end of יִרְמְיָה (Jeremiah) to result in Ἰερεμίας (Jeremias).  

• The letter ς [SIG-muh] is used to transliterate the letter ה [HAY] at the end of זְכַרְיָה (Zechariah) to result in Ζαχαρίας (Zacharias).  

The Koine Greek name Iēsous is used in the New Testament to refer to the Lord Jesus Christ.  That Koine Greek name is the name from which the English name Jesus is derived.  The correspondence between Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς) and Jesus is listed below.  

Psalm 116:14

I pay my vows to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One in the presence of all His people.

Psalm 116:15

Precious/Valuable in the sight of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is the death of His faithful ones.

Note:  In this verse, the phrase faithful ones refers to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who are faithful in obeying the Word of God.  In other words, they obey the Word of God regularly.  For believers who regularly obey the Word of God, God the Father treats the physical death of each such believer as an important event.  In that regard, each such believerʼs physical death can be described by the term dying grace.  The term dying grace refers to a believerʼs experiencing of physical death while that believer is in fellowship with the Trinity and therefore while that believer is in a condition of contentment.  Regarding a believer being in fellowship with the Trinity, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity and is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of God the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

Psalm 116:16

Oh, now, Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, I am Your servant—I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid.  You have loosed my bonds.

Psalm 116:17

To You I offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I call upon the name of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Psalm 116:18

I pay my vows to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One in the presence of all His people, 

Psalm 116:19

in the courts of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing Oneʼs House, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.  Praise Jah / Yah / I am I am / the existing One [Hallelujah]!

Note:  Unspecified in this psalm is whether the word House in this verse refers to the Tabernacle, the First Temple, or the Second Temple before its expansion.  The Tabernacle—and later, the First Temple after the First Temple replaced the Tabernacle, and then the Second Temple after the First Temple had been destroyed and the Second Temple had been built—is where God the Son was manifested as the Shekinah Glory [shuh-KIGH-nuh GLOR-ee] above the Ark of the Covenant.  The Tabernacle was a tent structure, one third of which was behind a veil near the back of the Tabernacle.  The section of the Tabernacle outside the veil is known as the Holy Place.  The section of the Tabernacle behind the veil is known as the Holy of Holies, the Most Holy Place, or the Holy Place inside the veil.  In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant (also known as the Ark of the Testimony).  

The below link shows the cross-shaped layout of the items in the Tabernacle and in the associated courtyard with the eastward direction pointing downward.  The opening of the courtyard and the opening of the Tabernacle both faced eastward, which is the direction where the sun rises.  With the eastward direction pointing downward, the cross-like layout can be seen from the perspective of an upright cross.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/02Exo-5.jpg

Only the high priest of Israel could enter the Holy of Holies, and he could only do so on one day per year:  the Day of Atonement.  Because the Israelites lived a nomadic lifestyle at times, the Tabernacle and the contents thereof needed to be moved.  It is unspecified in the Bible how the Tabernacle was disassembled.  When it was disassembled, the Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers.  Also, the Ark of the Covenant was carried into battle by the Israelites.  The Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers on such occasions also.  

When the Tabernacle was assembled, if anyone other than the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies, that person would die.  Likewise, if the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on any day other than the Day of Atonement, he would die.  In addition, when the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to follow specific procedures; otherwise, he would die.  Leviticus 16 covers the matter of the high priest and entering the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement.  In that regard, Mosesʼs brother Aaron was the first high priest of Israel.  Also, in Leviticus 16, the Holy of Holies is referred to as the Holy Place inside the veil.  

King Solomon, the third king of Israel, had had the First Temple built.  That Temple can also be called Solomonʼs Temple.  Many years later, in 586 B.C., the First Temple was destroyed by the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of Babylon.  Later, the Second Temple was built.  It was eventually larger than the First Temple.  The Second Temple existed during the time of the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Second Temple can also be called Herodʼs Temple because King Herod, the ruler of Judea under the authority of the Romans, had construction work done in order to expand the Second Temple.  

Sincerely,

John