Psalms 138

Psalms 138:1

Psalm 138: God’s Faithful WordDavid was exuberantly thankful for some great answer to prayer. In this expression of his gratitude, he has left us all a worthy example of how we should respond to God’s wonderful deliverances. Without doubt this Psalm will realize its fullest application when Israel is finally restored under the aegis of Jesus, the Messiah. 138:1 There is nothing half-hearted about David’s thanks. All his powers are employed in blessing Jehovah. And there is nothing timid or private about his worship. He sings unashamedly before the gods, that is, before the kings of the earth. The word “gods” here could also mean angels or idols but the context seems to limit it to the surrounding rulers. 138:2 In accordance with the custom of godly Jews, David bowed down toward the holy tabernacle when worshiping (the temple had not yet been erected). He extolled the name of Jehovah for His steadfast love and faithfulness. It is His love that prompts Him to give us “His precious and very great promises” and it is His faithfulness that insures that every one of them is fulfilled. “For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” The context has to do with the faithfulness of God in keeping His word, and the meaning seems to be that He has not only done what He said He would, but has done much more in addition. Also there may be the thought that “in the abundant fulfilment of His promise (to David) God had surpassed all previous revelation of Himself.” If the verse is applied to the Incarnate Word, then it means, of course, that God has magnified the Lord Jesus above every other manifestation of Himself. 138:3 Verse 3 reveals the immediate occasion for the psalmist’s outburst of praise. In a day of desperate need he had cried out to the Lord and the answer came immediately. A vast supply of strength was poured into his soul, casting out fear and emboldening him to meet danger. 138:4-6 God’s faithfulness in answering David’s prayer is a powerful testimony to the kings of the earth. They know what God had promised, and now they see how the prophecy has been fulfilled. So they too acknowledge how great is the glory of Jehovah. They realize that though God is the exalted One, yet He takes a special interest in the lowly (like David) and keeps tabs on the proud (like David’s enemies). 138:7 It is a beautiful pictureDavid is surrounded by all kinds of foes, all kinds of hazards, all kinds of distresses, yet the Lord enables him to walk safely through them as if they didn’t exist. The same hand that strikes out against his adversaries will save him from disaster. 138:8 With justified confidence, David affirms, “The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.” It is the same confidence that Paul expressed in Phi_1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” The work which His goodness began, The arm of His strength will complete; His promise is Yea and Amen, And never was forfeited yet: Things future, nor things that are now, Nor all things below nor above, Can make Him His purpose forego, Or sever our souls from His love. Augustus M. TopladyYes, His steadfast love endures for ever, and though we are permitted to pray with David, “Do not forsake the works of Your hands,” the fact is that He never can or will.