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Psalms 138

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Personal Vow of Thanksgiving 1–3

1
A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. ​
2
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. ​
3
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. ​

Universal Praise for God's Character 4–6

4
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. ​
5
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
6
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. ​

Confidence in God's Enduring Mercy 7–8

7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalms 138

Verse 1

before the gods will I sing praise — Elohim is the name of God and is also used of those to whom God's word came: Christ says 'If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came' (John 10:35). Either way the LORD is 'a great King above all gods' (Ps 95:3). Yadah, 'praise', is to confess with the hand held out, and zamar is to sing with an instrument.

Verse 2

thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name — Gadal, to make great, is the verb of Isa 42:21, 'he will magnify the law, and make it honourable'. What the LORD has spoken is held as high as his name; Christ says 'my words shall not pass away' (Matt 24:35). Prayer 'toward' the temple follows Solomon's, 'when they shall pray toward this place' (1 Kgs 8:30).

Verse 3

strengthenedst me with strength in my soul — Rahab, 'strengthenedst', is to embolden, and oz, 'strength', is power. The 'soul' (nephesh) is where it is given. The answer to the cry came as inward courage as well as relief, as Isaiah says: 'He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength' (Isa 40:29).

Verse 4

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee — The kings come to praise 'when they hear the words of thy mouth' (imrey phicha), so it is the LORD's word that brings them. Other psalms say the same of the nations: 'all the kings of the earth thy glory' (Ps 102:15) and 'all kings shall fall down before him' (Ps 72:11).

Verse 6

the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly — Ram, high, and shaphal, low, are set together: the one on high looks on the low, and the proud (gaeh) he 'knoweth afar off'. Isaiah has the same: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit' (Isa 57:15). James gives the same thought: 'God resisteth the proud' (Jas 4:6, after Prov 3:34).

Verse 8

The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me — Gamar, to bring to completion, is the verb of 'unto God that performeth all things for me' (Ps 57:2). The ground is his chesed, 'mercy', which 'endureth for ever', as in Ps 136. 'Forsake not' is raphah, to let go slack. Paul says 'he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it' (Phil 1:6).