Psalms 138 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 138

Give Thanks to the Lord

Of David.

138:1   I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
2   I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.¹
3   On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased.²
4   All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5   and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
    for great is the glory of the LORD.
6   For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he knows from afar.
7   Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
  you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand delivers me.
8   The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Footnotes

[1] 138:2 Or you have exalted your word above all your name
[2] 138:3 Hebrew you made me bold in my soul with strength

Commentary

Our response to a faithful God.

v1-2: "I will," a conscious decision to praise God; a response of the will, not just of the emotions. The whole heart is involved, Ps 9.1; 111.1; the Hebrew word refers to the will and the feelings; this is the real person, the driving force of a person's life. We praise God, for this is a response of the spirit; thus the whole person is given over to honouring Him.

Testimony before the "gods," for God is unique.

God has exalted, over all things, His Word and His Name. The Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth; there is a quality of worship that truly honours God. It emphasises the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom God has revealed Himself, and it is governed by His Word.

v3: The powerful encouragement of answered prayer. This feeds our praise, and encourages further prayer - an upward spiral of spiritual experience.

v4-5: Testimony to others, beyond the borders of Israel. There is an important truth that every knee shall one day bow before the true God, and the Lord Jesus Christ (Is 45.23; Phil 2.10-11).

v6: The personal, compassionate God, concerned for the lowly. He condescends to look on us.

v7: Confident of God's deliverance.

v8: Phil 1.6; the Lord's plan for me; to change and mature and perfect me; not by fear or repression, but by His mercy.