Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Psalms 138
Psalm 138:3On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
This verse highlights the personal and immediate nature of God's help. When David called, God listened. He responded by providing deep, internal strength.Psalm 138:6For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
Here we see a core truth about God's character: despite His infinite greatness, He is drawn to the humble. This verse contrasts God's nature with worldly power, which often overlooks the lowly.Psalm 138:8The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
This clearly expresses trust in God's sovereignty and love. It assures us that our lives are not meaningless, but are part of a divine plan that God is committed to completing.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Personal Song of Public Praise
This psalm opens as a personal and public declaration of thanks from David. He feels grateful in his heart. He is determined to express it openly, even 'before the gods.' This phrase likely refers to angelic beings or the false gods of other nations, serving as a bold statement that the Lord alone is supreme. This sets a tone of confident worship rooted in a specific, personal experience of God's faithfulness.
From Personal Testimony to Prophetic Vision
The psalm then beautifully transitions from David's own story to a future, prophetic vision. He imagines a day when his personal testimony of God's goodness becomes known to 'all the kings of the earth.' This widens the scope from one person's gratitude to a universal acknowledgment of God's glory. It shows how our individual stories of faith can have a ripple effect, pointing the whole world to God.
A Journey from Personal Thanks to Universal Praise
Psalm 138 unfolds as a powerful testimony of thanksgiving. It begins in verses 1-3 with David's personal and heartfelt praise, recounting how God answered him in a time of need. This personal experience then expands into a confident declaration of God's character and a prophetic vision of future, worldwide worship.
Wholehearted Thanksgiving (Psalm 138:1-3)
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 for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
Commentary:
David praises God with his whole heart because God answered his prayer and gave him inner strength.
Future Praise from Kings (Psalm 138:4-5)
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, 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.
Commentary:
David foresees that even the world's most powerful rulers will one day praise God for His great glory.
The High King and the Humble Heart (Psalm 138:6)
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
Commentary:
Although God is majestic and powerful, He is close to the humble but distant from the proud.
Confidence in God's Unfailing Purpose (Psalm 138:7-8)
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, 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.
Commentary:
David expresses total confidence that God will protect him and complete His purpose for his life because of His eternal love.
God's Faithfulness in Every Circumstance
The Power of Personal Testimony
The psalm is built on David's personal experience of calling out to God and being answered (v. 3). This testimony is not kept private. It becomes the foundation for public praise and a vision of future global worship, showing that our individual stories of God's faithfulness are meant to be shared.
God's Care for the Humble
A central truth is that God, in all His majesty, pays special attention to the lowly (v. 6). This theme contrasts God's nature with human power structures, revealing that true greatness is found in compassion and nearness to the humble, not in aloofness.
Confidence in God's Unfailing Love
The psalm concludes with a powerful declaration of trust in God's 'steadfast love,' which endures forever (v. 8). This is a covenant promise - a binding agreement from God - that gives David the confidence God will see His purposes through to completion in his life, not merely a feeling.
Living Out a Life of Thanksgiving
David's praise is wholehearted and public (v. 1). This challenges you to move beyond quiet, internal gratitude to vocal and visible thanksgiving. It encourages you to share your story of God's faithfulness with others, recognizing that your personal testimony can inspire faith in those around you.
Psalm 138:6 reminds you that God 'regards the lowly.' You can cultivate humility by acknowledging your dependence on Him in prayer, serving others without seeking recognition, and honestly admitting your weaknesses. This posture of the heart invites God's presence, whereas pride creates distance.
When facing difficulties, you can anchor your hope in the promise of Psalm 138:8: 'The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.' Your security doesn't rest on your circumstances but on God's unchanging character and His enduring love. Remind yourself that He is committed to completing the work He has started in you.
God Hears, Strengthens, and Fulfills
Psalm 138 is a powerful reminder that the majestic Creator of the universe is intimately attentive to the cries of the humble. It declares that when we call out to God, He not only answers but provides the inner strength we need to endure. The message conveys deep security: our lives are not random, but are held securely in the hands of a God whose love is eternal and who is committed to fulfilling His good purpose for us.
What This Means for Us Today
This psalm is an invitation to turn personal experience into public praise. David's story of deliverance becomes a song for everyone, even kings, to hear. It calls us to do the same - to take our private moments of God's faithfulness and share them, so others can see and sing of the ways of the Lord.
- What personal story of God's faithfulness can you share with someone this week?
- In what area of your life do you need to trust that God will fulfill His purpose for you?
- How can you practice 'regarding the lowly' in your interactions today?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This psalm of lament over the exile in Babylon provides a backdrop of trouble from which the confident praise of Psalm 138 emerges.
This chapter explores God's intimate knowledge of us, deepening the theme from Psalm 138 that the high and holy God is personally involved in our lives.
Connections Across Scripture
David's victory over Goliath is a prime example of God regarding the lowly and delivering them, a real-life illustration of the principles in Psalm 138.
Paul expresses a similar confidence, stating, 'he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion,' echoing the trust of Psalm 138:8.
Mary's song of praise (the Magnificat) mirrors the themes of Psalm 138, as she praises God for regarding her humble estate and scattering the proud.
Discussion Questions
- David praises God 'before the gods' (v. 1). What does it look like for us to praise God boldly and publicly in our modern world?
- Verse 3 says God 'increased my strength of soul.' Describe a time when God answered your prayer not by changing your circumstances, but by strengthening you internally. What did that feel like?
- How does the truth that 'the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me' (v. 8) change how you view your future, your failures, and your daily decisions?