Psalm 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
and your word above everything.
3 On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5 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 perceived from far away.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand, 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.
A group of 8 psalms that have come to be known as psalms of David begin here, and conclude the psalms that were thought to be written by David. In verse 1 we see David giving thanks to God with his whole heart. He is bold enough to state that he is not afraid of other gods but instead sings praise to the one God in front of those gods.
Different religions and philosophies of faith abound in these days just as they did in David’s time. What are some of the “gods” that you see gaining popularity and attention in these days?
What are some of the ‘gods’ that you find yourself being pulled toward at times?
Take a moment to write down some words of praise to the one God…
Verse 2 speaks of an ability to speak praises to God because of his “steadfast love” and “faithfulness”.
Read Exodus 34:6-7. In this passage in Exodus we see God describe himself as one having “steadfast love” and faithfulness. What do those two terms mean to you?
Those two descriptions of God’s care have been used by generations as a basic profession of Israel’s faith throughout scripture, in worship, and in several places in the psalms. They are frequently paired in the psalms as the basis for an appeal to God for help or as a profession of trust. It is as if they are repeatedly used as a confession of God’s character.
Think about the things that are weighing heavy on your heart right now. Find comfort and a listening ear in God who is faithful and offers his steadfast love. Spend a few moments giving those things over to God with all this in mind.
Verse 3 reminds us that when we call upon God we are heard. As we trust God with our cares and concerns we are reminded that he will answer and our “strength of soul” is increased. May you feel your own strength of soul increased as you feel God’s presence in the issues you have laid before him.
In verses 4-6 David moves from his own personal prayer and thanksgiving to a proclamation that all the world will praise God as well. The kingdom of God is called to mind as we think of it’s arrival in this world now, with the coming of Christ, and the eventual fullness of the kingdom of God when Christ returns and the world is set right in the way it was created to be.
There is a sense that God’s goodness is so great–that all the world will one day proclaim it and sing praises to Him. These verses echo the Lord’s prayer in many ways “thy kingdom come, thy will be done”. Spend a few moments in silence pondering the kingdom of God and God’s will in your life.
How do the two go hand in hand?
Verse 7 proclaims the truth that even when we are in the midst of trouble God is there, preserving us and protecting us. Who are your “enemies” in these days? Can you sense God preserving you?
Remember the song “He’s got the whole world, in His hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands…”? Verses 7 and 8 speak of God’s hands three times: God stretches out His hands to us, he delivers us by His right hand, and we are the work of his hands.
No matter what you are experiencing, God is with you. This passage is a grand reminder that God is with each one of us. You are invited to close this time praying for eyes to see the ways that God’s hands are on your life.
Feel free to post your comments below.