John Calvin Commentary Psalms 116:16

"O Jehovah, truly I am thy servant: I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid; Thou hast loosed my bonds." — Psalms 116:16 (ASV)

Come, O Jehovah! because I am your servant. As, in the former verse, he gloried that in him God had given an example of the paternal regard which He has for the faithful, so here he applies, in a special manner, to himself the general doctrine, by declaring that his fetters had been broken, because he was included among the number of God’s servants.

He employs the term fetters, as if someone, with hands and feet bound, were dragged by the executioner. In assigning, as the reason for his deliverance, that he was God’s servant, he by no means boasts of his services, but rather refers to God’s unconditional election; for we cannot make ourselves His servants, since that is 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 dedicate themselves to the service of God, and place themselves under His protection, so that they may have no fear for their safety while they have Him as their defense.