I am set free, and in my gratitude to God, I choose to remain His faithful servant.
“O LORD, surely I am Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds.” (v.16) This affirming declaration appears in the midst of Psalm 116, a psalm often associated with the “Egyptian Hallel” sung during Passover (Psalm 113-118). In this verse, the psalmist gratefully proclaims dedication to the LORD, repeating “I am Your servant” for emphasis and highlighting a faithful heritage by calling himself “the son of Your handmaid.” This underscores the speaker’s humble status before God, as well as the enduring legacy of belief passed on from his mother. By stating, “You have loosed my bonds,” the psalmist praises God as the Deliverer, the One who rescues from oppression and sets His people free both physically and spiritually.
The psalm, which elsewhere describes the cords of death and the terrors of Sheol (Psalm 116:3), comes to a high point of thanksgiving in verse 16, with the writer joyfully acknowledging that the same God who rescues from death and suffering is the One who grants real freedom. Repeatedly calling himself a servant reflects true devotion: the psalmist is joyfully bound to the LORD by gratitude, even as he is released from the chains of affliction. Viewed through the broader lens of the Hallel psalms, this verse can also be seen as a foreshadowing of the Messiah’s redemptive work, loosening spiritual bonds and urging believers to devote themselves fully to God.
By emphasizing the contrast between bondage and freedom, “You have loosed my bonds” lifts our hearts to remember that God’s salvation not only preserves life but also restores and liberates us for service. The verse reminds us that we are not only spared from peril but offered a new life under the caring reign of the LORD, where our greatest joy is found in belonging wholly to Him.
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Psalms 116:16 meaning
“O LORD, surely I am Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds.” (v.16) This affirming declaration appears in the midst of Psalm 116, a psalm often associated with the “Egyptian Hallel” sung during Passover (Psalm 113-118). In this verse, the psalmist gratefully proclaims dedication to the LORD, repeating “I am Your servant” for emphasis and highlighting a faithful heritage by calling himself “the son of Your handmaid.” This underscores the speaker’s humble status before God, as well as the enduring legacy of belief passed on from his mother. By stating, “You have loosed my bonds,” the psalmist praises God as the Deliverer, the One who rescues from oppression and sets His people free both physically and spiritually.
The psalm, which elsewhere describes the cords of death and the terrors of Sheol (Psalm 116:3), comes to a high point of thanksgiving in verse 16, with the writer joyfully acknowledging that the same God who rescues from death and suffering is the One who grants real freedom. Repeatedly calling himself a servant reflects true devotion: the psalmist is joyfully bound to the LORD by gratitude, even as he is released from the chains of affliction. Viewed through the broader lens of the Hallel psalms, this verse can also be seen as a foreshadowing of the Messiah’s redemptive work, loosening spiritual bonds and urging believers to devote themselves fully to God.
By emphasizing the contrast between bondage and freedom, “You have loosed my bonds” lifts our hearts to remember that God’s salvation not only preserves life but also restores and liberates us for service. The verse reminds us that we are not only spared from peril but offered a new life under the caring reign of the LORD, where our greatest joy is found in belonging wholly to Him.