Psalms 138

Psalms 138:1-6

It is supposed that David penned this psalm on his advancement to the throne. 1. He looks with thankfulness upon the experiences he had had of God’s goodness to him, ver. 1-3. 2. He looks forward with comfort, in hopes, (1.) That others would go on to praise God like him, ver. 4, 5. (2.) That God would go on to do good to him, ver. 6, 7, 8.

¶ A psalm of David.

1. I Will praise thee with my whole heart, before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 2. I will worship towards thy holy temple, and praise thy name, for thy loving kindness, and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 3. In the day when I cried, thou answeredest me: and strengthenedeth me with strength in my soul. 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.

David’s harp is confirmally in tune.

1. He observes, with warm affection and simplicity of heart, to praise God, before the gods, at the presence of kings or magistrates, or the angels, with boldness, not attached to glory in his experience upon God. I will worship towards thy holy temple, to the place of the ark did they always direct their faces, when assembled in the courts of the sanctuary, or worshipping in priests. For the only prayers or praises which attend with acceptance, are those which are offered with our eyes to him, who is the true tabernacle Jesus Christ, by whom we have access unto God.

2. Abundant cause he had for thanksgiving. For thy loving kindness, manifested in all the temporal and faithful blessings bestowed, and for thy truth, having experienced the faithfulness of his promises: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy under great hath God’s name appeared in the works of creation and providence, but greater in his word of grace, wherein the most transcendent displays of his glory are made: or this may refer to Christ, the essential word, who is exalted above every name, and in whom God’s name is magnified, beyond all other revelations formerly made to his church. In the day when I cried, thou amharreest me, attentive to my prayer, and giving all I asked, and frequently me with strength in my soul, that he was enabled to stand under the pressures of affliction and temptation, and to overcome all his enemies; for which ineffectable mercies, he justly owed the grateful return of praise. Note, (1.) They who trust God’s truth, will prove his faithfulness. (2.) When we fly to God in prayer, he will not leave us dethrone. (3.) In all our trials, if God strengthen us in our souls, we shall gain by our afflictions.

3. Others, even all the kings of the earth, shall join his songs, when, hearing the words of his mouth in the preaching of the gospel, the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in, and their kings become nursing fathers, singing in the church of the good ways of the Lord, his mercy, grace, and love in a Redeemer, and accruing to him the great glory which is his due. Hailen it, O Lord, in its season.

4. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. 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: for sale not the works of thine own hands.

Psalms 138:8

This is either the song the kings of the earth sing, or the Psalmist’s protection of his confidence in God.

1. The humble he will regard, the proud he will destroy. Though the Lord be high in glory, exalted above all blessing and praise, yet hath he respect unto the lowly, viz. in their own open confidious of their sin, weakness, and wretchedness, and calming themselves wholly on the riches of God’s grace in the Redeemer; these God regards with love, and delights to bless: but the proud, who are puffed up with worldly advantages, or vain of their attainments in wisdom, or highly stated with the conceit of their own righteousness; such doth God abhore be lawsuits them afar off, sees their inmost soul, and will visit them in his displeasure.

2. The experience the Psalmist had of God’s care, encourages his confidence to trust him at all times. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, and that is often the bitter portion of the dearest faints of God, whom he is pleased to exercise with afflictions, thou shalt revive me when ready to find under the burden, thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, to restrain or destroy them, and thy right hand shall save me, thy power and grace, or Christ, the right hand of the Lord, the Saviour of all who truth in him. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me; in his hands all our concerns for time and eternity are safe; and he who hath begun the good work of his grace in our hearts, will perfect it until the day of his appearing and glory. Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever, and cannot fail me, nor any faithful soul that ever trusts thereon: for sale not the works of thine own hands, perfect the salvation of thy people; and as my soul is thine by creation, redemption, and grace, for sale me not, but love me to the end, that I may be thine for ever.