TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 138:1–5. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
I.How he would praise God, compare Psa 111:1.
1. He will praise him with sincerity and zeal - "With my heart, with my whole heart, with that which is within me and with all that is within me, with uprightness of intention and fervency of affection, inward impressions agreeing with outward expressions." 2. With freedom and boldness: Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee, before the princes, and judges, and great men, either those of other nations that visited him or those of his own nation that attended on him, even in their presence. He will not only praise God with his heart, which we may do by pious ejaculations in any company, but will sing praise if there be occasion. Note, Praising God is work which the greatest of men need not be ashamed of; it is the work of angels, the work of heaven. Before the angels (so some understand it), that is, in religious assemblies, where there is a special presence of angels, Co1 11:10. 3. In the way that God had appointed: I will worship towards thy holy temple. The priests alone went into the temple; the people, at the nearest, did but worship towards it, and that they might do at a distance. Christ is our temple, and towards him we must look with an eye of faith, as Mediator between us and God, in all our praises of him. Heaven is God's holy temple, and thitherward we must lift up our eyes in all our addresses to God. Our Father in heaven.
II.What he would praise God for.
1.For the fountain of his comforts - for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth, for thy goodness and for thy promise, mercy hidden in thee and mercy revealed by thee, that God is a gracious God in himself and has engaged to be so to all those that trust in him. For thou hast magnified thy word (thy promise, which is truth) above all thy name. God has made himself known to us in many ways in creation and providence, but most clearly by his word. The judgments of his mouth are magnified even above those of his hand, and greater things are done by them. The wonders of grace exceed the wonders of nature; and what is discovered of God by revelation is much greater than what is discovered by reason. In what God had done for David his faithfulness to his work appeared more illustriously, and redounded more to his glory, than any other of his attributes. Some good interpreters understand it of Christ, the essential Word, and of his gospel, which are magnified above all the discoveries God had before made of himself to the fathers. He that magnified the law, and made that honourable, magnifies the gospel much more.
2.For the streams flowing from that fountain, in which he himself had tasted that the Lord is gracious, Psa 138:3. He had been in affliction, and he remembers, with thankfulness,
(1.)The sweet communion he then had with God. He cried, he prayed, and prayed earnestly, and God answered him, gave him to understand that his prayer was accepted and should have a gracious return in due time. The intercourse between God and his saints is carried on by his promises and their prayers.
(2.)The sweet communications he then had from God: Thou strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. This was the answer to his prayer, for God gives more than good words, Psa 20:6. Observe,
[1.]It was a speedy answer: In the day when I cried. Note, Those that trade with heaven by prayer grow rich by quick returns. While we are yet speaking God hears, Isa 65:24.
[2.]It was a spiritual answer. God gave him strength in his soul, and that is a real and valuable answer to the prayer of faith in the day of affliction. If God give us strength in our souls to bear the burdens, resist the temptations, and do the duties of an afflicted state, if he strengthen us to keep hold of himself by faith, to maintain the peace of our own minds and to wait with patience for the issue, we must own that he has answered us, and we are bound to be thankful.
III.What influence he hoped that his praising God would have upon others, Psa 138:4, Psa 138:5.
David was himself a king, and therefore he hoped that kings would be wrought upon by his experiences, and his example, to embrace religion; and, if kings became religious, their kingdoms would be every way better. Now,
1.This may have reference to the kings that were neighbours to David, as Hiram and others. "They shall all praise thee." When they visited David, and, after his death, when they sought the presence of Solomon (as all the kings of the earth are expressly said to have done, Ch2 9:23), they readily joined in the worship of the God of Israel.
2.It may look further, to the calling of the Gentiles and the discipling of all nations by the gospel of Christ, of whom it is said that all kings shall fall down before him, Psa 72:11. Now it is here foretold,
(1.)That the kings of the earth shall hear the words of God. All that came near David should hear them from him, Psa 119:46. In the latter days the preachers of the gospel should be sent into all the world.
(2.)That then they shall praise God, as all those have reason to do that hear his word, and receive it in the light and love of it, Act 13:48.
(3.)That they shall sing in the ways of the Lord, in the ways of his providence and grace towards them; they shall rejoice in God, and give glory to him, however he is pleased to deal with them in the ways of their duty and obedience to him. Note, Those that walk in the ways of the Lord have reason to sing in those ways, to go on in them with a great deal of cheerfulness, for they are ways of pleasantness, and it becomes us to be pleasant in them; and, if we are so, great is the glory of the Lord. It is very much for the honour of God that kings should walk in his ways, and that all those who walk in them should sing in them, and so proclaim to all the world that he is a good Master and his work its own wages.
Historical interpretation
Three Centuries of Reception
3 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
“I will confess to you, Lord, with all my heart.” The nature of a wound determines the medication to be applied. Just as the body has wounds of various kinds, so also the soul has its passions and its wounds, and we must do penance in proportion to the nature of our sin. If a person makes confession of all his sins, he is acknowledging his sins to the Lord wholeheartedly. If, for example, someone has committed fornication and he confesses only that and is greedy, or quick-tempered, or a slanderer or blasphemer and is full of faults and vices, his confession is not sincere. The person who repents for all the sins and passions of his soul is the person who is able to say, I confess and give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart. “For you have heard the words of my mouth.” This verse is not found in the Hebrew text. Nonetheless, what it means is, In my confession I have poured out my whole heart, O Lord; I have confessed all my sins and faults, for I have not admitted merely one sin to you, and you have listened to me graciously.
The title of this Psalm is brief and simple, and need not detain us; since we know whose resemblance David wore, and since in him we recognise ourselves also, for we too are members of that Body. The whole title is, "To David himself." Let us see then, what is to David himself. The title of the Psalm is wont to tell us what is treated of within it: but in this, since the title informs us not of this, but tells us only to Whom it is chanted, the first verse tells us what is treated of in the whole Psalm, "I will confess to You." This confession then let us hear. But first I remind you, that the term confession in Scripture, when we speak of confession to God, is used in two senses, of sin, and of praise. But confession of sin all know, confession of praise few attend to. So well known is confession of sin, that, wherever in Scripture we hear the words, "I will confess to You, O Lord," or, "we will confess to You," immediately, through habitually understanding in this way, our hands hurry to beating our breast: so entirely are men wont not to understand confession to be of anything, save of sin. But was then our Lord Jesus Christ Himself too a sinner, who says in the Gospel, "I confess to You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth"? He goes on to say what He confesses, that we might understand His confession to be of praise, not of sin, "I confess to You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." He praised the Father, he praised God, because He despises not the humble, but the proud. And such confession are we now going to hear, of praise of God, of thanksgiving. "With my whole heart." My whole heart I lay upon the altar of Your praise, an whole burnt-offering of praise I offer to You...."I will confess to You, O Lord, with my whole heart: for You have heard the words of my mouth" [Psalm 138:1]. What mouth, save my heart? For there have we the voice which God hears, which ear of man knows not at all. We have then a mouth within, there do we ask, thence do we ask, and if we have prepared a lodging or an house for God, there do we speak, there are we heard. "For He is not far from every one of us, for in Him we live, and move, and have our being." [Acts 17:27-28] Nought makes you far off from God, save sin only. Cast down the middle wall of sin, and you are with Him whom you ask.
It is no secret that angels are frequently present, invisibly, at the side of the elect, in order to defend them from the snares of the cunning enemy and uphold them by the great gift of heavenly desire. The apostle attests to this when he says, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent to serve on account of those who receive an inheritance of salvation?” Nevertheless, we should believe that the angelic spirits are especially present to us when we give ourselves in a special way to divine services, that is, when we enter a church and open our ears to sacred reading, or give our attention to psalm singing, or apply ourselves to prayer or celebrate the solemnity of the mass. Hence the apostle advises women to have a veil over their heads in church on account of the angels. And a prophet says, “I will sing psalms to you in the sight of the angels.” We are not permitted to doubt that where the mysteries of the Lord’s body and blood are being enacted, a gathering of the citizens from on high is present—those who were keeping such careful watch at the tomb where [Christ’s] venerable body had been placed and from which he had departed by rising. Hence we must strive meticulously my brothers, when we come into the church to pay the due service of divine praise or to perform the solemnity of the mass, to be always mindful of the angelic presence and to fulfill our heavenly duty with fear and fitting veneration, following the example of the women devoted to God who were afraid when the angels appeared to them at the tomb, and who, we are told, bowed their faces to the earth.
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Summary
Psalm 138:1 serves as a profound opening to a psalm of thanksgiving, attributed to King David, immediately establishing his unwavering commitment to offering sincere, undivided praise to the Lord. This verse articulates David's resolute intention to honor God not only with the totality of his being but also publicly, even in the presence of formidable earthly powers or spiritual entities. It encapsulates the psalmist's recognition of God's supreme authority and his determination to worship Him with his whole heart, setting the stage for a declaration of divine faithfulness and a prayer for continued strength and deliverance.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 138 initiates a distinct collection of eight psalms (Psalms 138-145) explicitly ascribed to David, marking a shift in tone within the Psalter. This psalm is categorized as a psalm of individual thanksgiving, likely composed after a significant deliverance or answered prayer, contrasting sharply with the lament and sorrow of exile expressed in the preceding Psalm 137. It transitions the reader into a series of psalms that consistently celebrate God's kingship, His steadfast love, and David's profound trust in His divine providence. The verses immediately following Psalm 138:1 elaborate on the specific reasons for David's praise, including God's responsiveness to his supplications and His enduring love and truth, thereby reinforcing the deeply personal yet publicly declared nature of his worship.
Historical & Cultural Context
As a composition by King David, this psalm inherently reflects the life of a monarch frequently embroiled in geopolitical struggles and confronting various adversaries, both human and spiritual. In the ancient Near Eastern milieu, it was common for kings to extol their national deities, often asserting their perceived superiority over the gods of rival nations. David's bold declaration to praise Yahweh "before the gods" (H430, ʼĕlôhîym) carries multifaceted significance within this context. It can be interpreted as a direct challenge to the pagan idols and deities worshipped by surrounding cultures, unequivocally asserting the absolute supremacy of the one true God, Yahweh. Alternatively, it could signify a courageous proclamation before powerful earthly rulers or judges, acknowledging God's ultimate sovereignty over all human authority and political might. Less commonly, it might refer to angelic beings, suggesting praise offered in the divine assembly. Regardless of the precise interpretation, the phrase powerfully underscores a historical and cultural context where the exclusive worship of Yahweh stood in stark, defiant contrast to prevailing polytheistic or humanistic worldviews.
Key Themes
This foundational verse introduces several potent and enduring themes that resonate throughout the Psalter and the broader biblical narrative. David's commitment to praise God "with my whole heart" signifies Wholehearted Devotion, emphasizing that genuine worship transcends mere ritual; it is an all-encompassing engagement of one's entire being—intellect, emotion, and will. This echoes the foundational command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might. By choosing to sing praise "before the gods," David boldly asserts God's Supremacy, proclaiming that Yahweh is incomparably superior to all other perceived powers, whether spiritual or earthly. This highlights God's unparalleled sovereignty and omnipotence, a theme frequently celebrated in the Psalms, as seen in Psalm 96:5, which declares that "all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens". Finally, David's public declaration of praise exemplifies Bold Witness, demonstrating that authentic faith is not concealed but courageously proclaimed, even in the face of opposition or alternative beliefs, serving as a powerful testimony to God's unparalleled greatness.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
A primitive root, literally meaning "to use (i.e. hold out) the hand." Physically, it can mean to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away. More significantly in this context, it means to revere or worship (with extended hands), indicating an active, outward expression of thanksgiving and adoration, often accompanied by physical gestures of uplifted hands, signifying an open and unreserved acknowledgment of God's goodness and power.
This word refers to the physical heart but is used very widely and figuratively in Hebrew thought for the inner self: the seat of feelings, the will, and even the intellect. It also denotes the center of anything. When David declares he will praise God with his "whole heart," it means with complete sincerity, undivided attention, and the full engagement of his mind, emotions, and will, leaving no part of his inner being uncommitted to this act of worship.
This is a plural noun that can refer to "gods in the ordinary sense" (pagan deities), but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God. It can also occasionally be applied by way of deference to magistrates or judges, and sometimes as a superlative (meaning "exceedingly great" or "mighty"). In the context of Psalm 138:1, the KJV translation "the gods" emphasizes the contrast between Yahweh and any other perceived power, whether spiritual (demons, idols) or earthly (human rulers, judges), underscoring God's unique and supreme position above all.
Verse Breakdown
"¶ [A Psalm] of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart"
This opening clause immediately establishes the authorship of the psalm and the psalmist's profound personal commitment to worship. The phrase "I will praise thee" (using yâdâh) signifies a deliberate, volitional act of thanksgiving and adoration. The crucial addition "with my whole heart" (Hebrew: b'khol levavi) underscores that this praise is not merely an outward ritual or a perfunctory obligation, but rather it springs from the deepest, most sincere and undivided part of David's being. It reflects a complete devotion that engages his intellect, emotions, and will, signifying a genuine and unreserved commitment to God.
"before the gods will I sing praise unto thee."
This second clause specifies the context and nature of David's public worship. The phrase "before the gods" (Hebrew: liphnê 'ĕlôhîym) is highly significant and rich in interpretive possibilities. As previously discussed, "gods" (ʼĕlôhîym) can refer to pagan deities, powerful human rulers, or even angelic beings. In any interpretation, David's declaration is an act of bold witness, asserting the absolute supremacy of Yahweh over all other perceived powers or authorities. The verb "sing praise" (zâmar) implies a musical, celebratory, and public act, reinforcing the idea that David's worship is both personal and demonstrative, a fearless proclamation of God's sovereignty in the face of any competing authority or ideology.
Literary Devices
Psalm 138:1 employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message of devotion and divine supremacy. The phrase "with my whole heart" is a clear example of Hyperbole, emphasizing the totality and intensity of David's devotion. While literally impossible to praise with every single part of the physical heart, it powerfully communicates an unreserved, undivided commitment of one's entire being—mind, emotion, and will. The declaration to praise God "before the gods" creates a stark Contrast, highlighting the absolute supremacy of Yahweh over all other perceived deities, idols, or human powers. This contrast elevates the true God to His rightful, unique position, diminishing the status of any rival or false god. The verse also functions as a Declaration or Affirmation, a bold and personal statement of intent to worship, setting the tone for the entire psalm as a testament to God's faithfulness and David's unwavering trust.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalm 138:1 lays a foundational stone for understanding biblical worship, emphasizing that true praise is not merely a ritualistic act but an overflow of a heart wholly devoted to God. It underscores the profound theological truth of God's absolute sovereignty and uniqueness, challenging any notion of competing powers or deities. David's public declaration of praise, "before the gods," serves as a powerful testament to monotheism in a polytheistic world, asserting that Yahweh alone is worthy of such unreserved adoration. This verse reminds believers that our worship is both intensely personal—engaging our entire being—and profoundly public, serving as a witness to God's greatness in a world that often exalts lesser things. It invites us to consider the objects of our own praise and to reorient our affections and allegiances solely towards the One who is truly supreme, recognizing that genuine worship is a complete surrender of self to the One who reigns above all.
Reflection and Application
Psalm 138:1 calls believers today to cultivate a similar spirit of wholehearted worship and courageous witness. In a world saturated with distractions, competing ideologies, and various "gods" of materialism, personal ambition, or self-worship, this verse encourages us to direct our undivided praise and allegiance to the one true God. It challenges us to examine the sincerity and totality of our devotion: Is our praise merely a Sunday morning ritual, or does it flow from a heart fully engaged and surrendered to God, impacting every area of our lives? Furthermore, David's example of praising God "before the gods" compels us to be bold in our faith, unashamedly acknowledging God's sovereignty and goodness in our public lives, regardless of the prevailing cultural currents or the presence of those who reject Him. True worship, as exemplified here, is a fearless declaration of God's supreme power and unwavering faithfulness, motivating us to live lives that consistently proclaim His worth, both personally and publicly, becoming living testimonies to His glory.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "before the gods" mean in Psalm 138:1?
The phrase "before the gods" (Hebrew: liphnê 'ĕlôhîym) is subject to various interpretations, all of which ultimately highlight God's absolute supremacy. It can refer to David praising God:
In any case, it signifies a public, fearless, and defiant declaration of God's unrivaled sovereignty and worthiness of praise.
How does "with my whole heart" relate to other biblical commands?
The phrase "with my whole heart" (Hebrew: b'khol levavi) signifies complete, undivided, and sincere devotion. It resonates deeply with the greatest commandment given in the Torah: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. This concept is foundational to true worship and obedience throughout Scripture, emphasizing that our relationship with God must involve the totality of our inner being—our intellect, emotions, and will—not merely outward actions or ritualistic performance. This principle is reaffirmed throughout the Old Testament and by Jesus Himself in the New Testament, as seen in Matthew 22:37, highlighting that genuine love and praise for God demand our complete and undivided allegiance.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalm 138:1, with its declaration of wholehearted praise before all other powers, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the perfect worshiper, who always did the will of His Father with His whole being, perfectly embodying the "whole heart" devotion David aspired to. More significantly, Christ is the One before whom all "gods," earthly authorities, and spiritual powers ultimately bow. Philippians 2:9-11 declares that God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name above every name, "so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." David's praise "before the gods" foreshadows the universal dominion of Christ, who disarmed the spiritual powers and authorities, making a public spectacle of them by triumphing over them on the cross (Colossians 2:15). In Christ, the bold witness of God's supremacy is fully realized, and through Him, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to offer our own wholehearted praise, knowing that our worship is acceptable to God because of His perfect sacrifice and reigning authority (Hebrews 13:15). He is the true and living God, before whom all other perceived "gods" are exposed as powerless idols, and to whom all creation will one day give praise.