Psalm 138 — Praise With Your Whole Heart
Introduction: More than seventy of the one hundred fifty psalms in the collection of Psalms are attributed to David. This psalm begins a series of eight psalms as the last ones attributed to David in the collection. There is nothing specific in this brief psalm to reveal when David would have written it because he faced various trials throughout his life.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the American King James Bible.
A — You Have Magnified Your Word
Psalm 138 “1 I will praise you with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise to you. 2 I will worship toward your holy temple, and praise your name for your loving kindness and for your truth: for you have magnified your word above all your name.”
Comments: Even though the psalmist knew that many people all around him held belief in false gods, he was moved so much in his heart that he willingly offered a song of praise to the true and living God. He would bow in worship to the one whose symbolic dwelling is far superior to all others, because it represents the God who has an abundance of truth and loving kindness that is forever worthy of praise. David expressed similar thoughts in Psalm 86:8–12 “Among the gods there is none like to you, O Lord… All nations whom you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord… I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify your name for ever more.” The New Testament also speaks of believing with the whole heart. Romans 10:9–10 “That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.”
B — Great Is the Glory of the Lord
Psalm 138 “3 In the day when I cried you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. 5 Yes, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.”
Comments: What a wonderful thing it is to receive strength in our inner being from the one who can preserve that soul forever! Exodus 15:11 “Who is like to you, O LORD, among the gods? who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Psalm 86:4–9 speaks of lifting up the soul to the Lord and looking forward to a time when all nations shall come and worship before him. Psalm 2:10–12 provides instructions for the kings of the earth: “Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalm 22:27–28 declares “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before you. For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations.”
C — O Lord, Forsake Not the Works of Your Own Hand
Psalm 138 “6 Though the LORD be high, yet has he respect to the lowly: but the proud he knows afar off. 7 Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me: you shall stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me. 8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me: your mercy, O LORD, endures for ever: forsake not the works of your own hands.”
Comments: A few generations before David, Hannah, the mother of Samuel, knew that the LORD preserves his saints. 1 Samuel 2:8–9 “He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes… He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.” 1 Samuel 12:22 “The LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake.” Psalm 138 ends with a clause asking the LORD to not forget the works of his own hand, made in confidence in his everlasting mercy. Isaiah 57:15 “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” James 4:6 “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Even Job knew that his own works could not save him. Job 14:15 “You shall call, and I will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of your hands.”
Reflections in Prayer
Lord Jesus, may I give you praise with my whole heart even as I live in a generation with so many unbelievers all around. Your loving kindness to me and the truth of your Word has magnified your name before me as your Holy Spirit has opened my eyes to see the magnificence of your name which is above all other names in earth and in heaven. In the day when I cried out to you with only the smallest amount of faith, you received me by your grace that I might have the sure hope of eternal life. Regardless of their standing among men, only those who have a humble and contrite heart before you receive your mercy, LORD, and that mercy endures forever. The proud who refuse to humble themselves before you, LORD, will find their eternal end far from you. If the time comes upon me in this life that I am in the middle of great trial because of your enemies, I know that my ultimate salvation is secure in you, LORD. I believe you will not forget the works of your own hand! Hallelujah and amen!
Published 1 April 2014